Historical Events1764 - St. Louis, Missouri founded as a French trading post by Pierre Laclde1804 - New Jersey becomes last northern state to abolish slavery1991 - Freighter with dynamite explodes in Phang Nga Thailand, 120 die1991 - 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 OlympicsMore Historical Events Famous Birthdays1835 - 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 ("Sensualit", "Parce que c'est toi"),human rights activist, and UNICEF ambassador, born in Hasselt, BelgiumMore Famous Birthdays Famous Deaths1713 - Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, English politician and philosopher, dies at 411839 - 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 731961 - Maribel Vinson, American figure skater (9 time US National Champion) and coach, dies in a plane crash at 492025 - Gran Hamada [Hiroaki Hamada], Japanese professional wrestler (New Japan Pro-Wrestling), dies at 74More Famous Deaths