Today in News History

On June 18, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1269, Eleanor of England, Countess of Bar (died 1298) was born. In 1772, Gerard van Swieten, Dutch-Austrian physician and reformer (born 1700) passed away. In 1845, Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran, French physician and parasitologist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1922) was born. In 1913, Wilfred Gordon Bigelow, Canadian soldier and surgeon (died 2005) was born. In 1928, David T. Lykken, American geneticist and academic (died 2006) was born. In 1956, John Scott, English organist and conductor (died 2015) was born. In 1969, Christopher Largen, American journalist and author (died 2012) was born. In 1972, Staines air disaster: One hundred eighteen people are killed when a BEA H.S. Trident crashes minutes after takeoff from London's Heathrow Airport. In 1978, Walter C. Alvarez, American physician and author (born 1884) passed away. In 2007, The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire happened in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine firefighters. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.