On This Day for February 18 - Pluto discovered by Clyde Tombaugh, Toni Morrison is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. February 18 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Toni Morrison READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1930 Pluto discovered by Clyde Tombaugh READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2017: American activist Norma McCorvey—the original plaintiff (anonymized as Jane Roe) in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade (1973), which made abortion legal throughout the United States—died at age 69. [Learn about other milestone decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.] 2010: The Web site WikiLeaks began posting classified U.S. government documents provided by army intelligence analyst Bradley (later Chelsea) Manning; it was believed to be the largest unauthorized release of state secrets in U.S. history. 2006: American speed skater Shani Davis became the first black athlete to win an individual Winter Olympics gold medal when he placed first in the men's 1,000-metre long-track final at the Games in Turin, Italy. [Test your knowledge of the Olympics.] 2001: American stock-car racer Dale Earnhardt, Sr., died from injuries suffered during a crash in the final lap of the Daytona 500. [From curling to car racing, sort through the facts in our sports quiz.] 1933: Japanese artist and musician Yoko Ono, who became internationally famous as the wife and artistic partner of musician John Lennon, was born. [Test your knowledge of famous artists.] 1848: Louis Comfort Tiffany—an American designer internationally recognized as one of the greatest proponents of Art Nouveau, particularly in the art of glassmaking—was born. SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1965 Dr. Dre American rapper, hip-hop producer, and entrepreneur 1516 Mary I queen of England 1933 Yoko Ono Japanese artist and musician 1950 John Hughes American film director 1931 Toni Morrison American author 1898 Enzo Ferrari Italian automobile manufacturer SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2021 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help