On this day …
February 19, 2018
- In 1674, the Treaty of Westminster transferred ownership of New Amsterdam to the English, who renamed it New York.
- In 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr was arrested for treason.
- In 1847, the first rescuers reached the stranded Donner Party in the Sierras.
- In 1859, Daniel Sickles was the first person to be ruled not guilty by reason of temporary insanity in a murder trial.
- In 1878, Thomas Edison patented the phonograph.
- In 1959, the United Kingdom granted Cyprus its independence.