🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on April 18:

1999 — Wayne Gretzky skated in his final NHL game with the New York Rangers, closing out a 20-year career as hockey’s all-time leading scorer.

1980 — Zimbabwe declared independence from the United Kingdom after years of guerrilla warfare and political struggle under colonial rule.

1945 — Journalist Ernie Pyle was killed by Japanese gunfire on Ie Island while reporting on the Pacific front during World War II.

1906 — San Francisco suffered widespread destruction when a powerful earthquake along the San Andreas Fault struck, igniting fires that devastated the city.

1506 — Pope Julius II laid the cornerstone of the new St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, initiating one of the most ambitious projects of the Renaissance.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On April 18, we’re singing to:

Lucrezia Borgia (1480) — Italian noblewoman infamous for her association with the Italian Renaissance’s political intrigue and her role in the Borgia family's legacy.

Conan O’Brien (1963) — American talk-show host and comedian best known for Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Conan, with a unique, witty style that made him a beloved figure in late-night television.

 🪦Who Died Today?

On April 18, we’re saying goodbye to:

Albert Einstein (1955) — German-American physicist widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time, best known for his theory of relativity and contributions to quantum theory.

Gustave Moreau (1898) — French symbolist painter famous for his mystical, dreamlike works and his influence on the development of modern art.

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