Today in History for 15th February 2026

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1764 - St. Louis, Missouri founded as a French trading post by Pierre Laclède
1804 - New Jersey becomes last northern state to abolish slavery
1991 - Freighter with dynamite explodes in Phang Nga Thailand, 120 die
1991 - Daily market volatility as Hussein mentions withdrawal, but Bush calls his offer a "cruel hoax"
2018 - German figure skaters Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot set new ISU best free skating score of 159.31 on their way to pairs gold medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics

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Famous Birthdays

1835 - Alexander Stuart Webb, American Union general (medal for gallantry at Battle of Gettysburg), born in New York City (d. 1911)
1883 - Sax Rohmer [Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward], English author (Dr Fu Manchu novels), born in Birmingham, England (d. 1959)
1909 - Harold Beeley, British diplomat to the Arab world, born in Manchester, England (d. 2001)
1923 - Yelena Bonner, Soviet dissident and wife of Andre Sakharov, born in Merv, Turkmenistan, Soviet Union (d. 2011)
1968 - Axelle Red [Fabienne Demal], Belgian pop and soul singer-songwriter ("Sensualité", "Parce que c'est toi"),human rights activist, and UNICEF ambassador, born in Hasselt, Belgium

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Famous Deaths

1713 - Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, English politician and philosopher, dies at 41
1839 - Chevalier de Lorimier, Quebec notary (b. 1803)
1943 - Victor Harris, American organist, composer, conductor (St. Cecilia Society, 1902-36), vocal coach, and educator, dies at 73
1961 - Maribel Vinson, American figure skater (9 time US National Champion) and coach, dies in a plane crash at 49
2025 - Gran Hamada [Hiroaki Hamada], Japanese professional wrestler (New Japan Pro-Wrestling), dies at 74

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