What Happened on October 18

Poetry & Letters

1775 — Phillis Wheatley, African Poetess, Granted Her Freedom

Phillis Wheatley, the young African woman taught to read in a Boston merchant's household, is at age some twenty-one years declared free of all servitude by Mr. John Wheatley on October 18.

BOSTON, October 18 — Phillis Wheatley, whose poems have lately fixed the attention of the public on both sides of the Atlantic, is this day declared free of all servitude. The young woman, brought from Africa in childhood and instructed in letters by her mistress, has through her own genius composed verses that have been examined and approved by the most eminent critics of England.

Her master, Mr. John Wheatley, having long acknowledged her extraordinary gifts, has now completed his generosity by manumitting her. The poetess, aged some twenty-one years, may now pursue her muse unfettered. Her published volume, dedicated to the Countess of Huntingdon, has already passed through several editions in London.

The case of this African woman, taught to read among the household of a Boston merchant, has been cited in arguments touching upon the capacities of the Negro race.

• African-American poet Phillis Wheatley is freed from slavery.

Source: Wikipedia — African Americans

Orbital Operations

2019 — NASA Conducts First All-Female Spacewalk as Meir and Koch Exit Station

Astronauts replace failed power controller on International Space Station in historic seven-hour EVA.

HOUSTON, October 18 — For the first time in the history of human spaceflight, two women conducted a spacewalk together today. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch floated outside the International Space Station to replace a failed power controller, completing an excursion lasting approximately seven hours.

The assignment had been delayed earlier this week due to spacesuit sizing issues. Both astronauts trained for years for such operations. The power control unit they replaced distributes electricity to two of the station's eight power channels.

• NASA Astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch take part in the first all-female spacewalk when they venture out of the International Space Station to replace a power controller.

Source: Wikipedia — NASA Astronaut Corps

Space Medicine

1963 — French Rocket Launches First Cat Into Space; Capsule Recovered Alive

A black-and-white female among 14 cats trained for the French program endured 9.5 g of acceleration during a 42-second engine burn on the 13-minute flight launched October 18.

ALGIERS, October 18 — A French Véronique AGI 47 sounding rocket launched the first cat into space today from the Centre interarmées d'essais d'engins spéciaux site. The animal, a black-and-white female later designated Félicette, survived the 13-minute flight and capsule recovery.

Félicette was one of 14 female cats trained for this mission by the French space program. Surgeons had implanted electrodes into her skull to monitor neurological activity during ascent. The rocket engine burned for 42 seconds, subjecting the passenger to 9.5 g of acceleration.

The biological data collected will assist research into human spaceflight.

• Félicette was one of 14 female cats trained for spaceflight by the French space program.
• The cat had electrodes implanted into her skull to monitor neurological activity during the flight.
• The capsule was recovered 13 minutes after the rocket was ignited, and Félicette survived the flight.
• Félicette was euthanized two months after the launch for examination of her brain.
• She was launched aboard a Véronique AGI 47 sounding rocket from the Centre interarmées d'essais d'engins spéciaux site in Algeria.

Source: Wikipedia — Félicette

New Publications

1851 — Melville's Whale-Hunting Romance 'The Whale' Appears in London

American author Herman Melville's ambitious new novel, concerning the pursuit of a white whale, is issued by publisher Richard Bentley in three volumes.

LONDON, October 18 — A massive new work of American fiction, bound in three volumes and titled "The Whale," has been issued by the publisher Richard Bentley of New Burlington Street. The author, Herman Melville of New York, has produced a narrative of the whale-fishery that exceeds in scope any previous treatment of the subject.

The novel follows the captain of a whaling vessel and his obsessive hunt for a white whale named Moby Dick. Melville, who spent years among the whalers of the Pacific, has interwoven technical detail with philosophical meditation.

• Herman Melville's Moby-Dick is first published as The Whale by Richard Bentley of London.

Source: Wikipedia — Herman Melville

Privy Council Dispatches

1929 — Women Win 'Person' Status in Canadian Law as Privy Council Overrules Ottawa

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council rules today that women qualify as Persons under Section 24 of the BNA Act, overturning last year's unanimous Supreme Court decision.

LONDON, Oct. 18 — Canadian women are now full legal Persons, entitled to sit in the Senate and hold public office heretofore barred them, by judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council delivered today.

The Lords of Appeal reversed the Supreme Court of Canada in Edwards v. Canada, the so-called "Persons Case" brought by Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Nellie McClung. The Supreme Court had ruled unanimously last year that women were not "qualified Persons" under Section 24 of the British North America Act.

Lord Sankey, Lord Chancellor, read the opinion.

• The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overrules the Supreme Court of Canada in Edwards v. Canada when it declares that women are considered "Persons" under Canadian law.

Source: Wikipedia — Edwards v Canada (AG)

Radio & Electronics

1954 — Texas Instruments Unveils Pocket Transistor Radio; Mass Production Begins

Regency TR-1 goes on sale next month — first consumer device using transistor circuits — no vacuum tubes required

DALLAS, Oct. 18 — The transistor, that tiny semiconductor born of Bell Laboratories research seven years past, enters the American living room today.

Texas Instruments announced production of the Regency TR-1, the first mass-produced transistor radio, a pocket-size receiver requiring no vacuum tubes. The device, developed with Industrial Development Engineering Associates of Indianapolis, will reach dealers next month.

TI President Patrick J. Haggerty called the announcement "a new chapter in electronics."

• Texas Instruments announces the Regency TR-1, the first mass-produced transistor radio.

Source: Wikipedia — Regency TR-1

Mexico City Olympic Bureau

1968 — Beamon Soars 29 Feet 2½ Inches, Shatters Long Jump Mark by Nearly Two Feet

The 22-year-old American's 8.90 m jump, measured by steel tape after the optical device failed, surpassed the 8.35 m record that had stood since 1965.

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 18 — Bob Beamon collapsed to his knees when they told him. Then he wept.

The 22-year-old American long jumper from New York had just sailed 8.90 meters, or 29 feet 2½ inches, at the Olympic Stadium this afternoon, obliterating the world record by 55 centimeters—nearly two feet. The previous mark, 8.35 m, had stood since 1965.

The optical measuring device, designed for ordinary jumps, failed entirely. Officials resorted to steel tape. Beamon's jump exceeded its calibrated range.

Beamon's leap shattered the field.

• Bob Beamon's jump of 8.90 m shattered the previous world record by 55 cm (21+3⁄4 in).
• The optical measuring device failed because it was not designed for such a long jump, forcing officials to use a tape measure.
• Beamon collapsed to his knees in a brief cataplexy attack after being told he broke the record by nearly two feet.
• Defending Olympic champion Lynn Davies told Beamon, 'You have destroyed this event.'
• Beamon's world record stood for 23 years until Mike Powell jumped 8.95 m in 1991.

Source: Wikipedia — 1968 Summer Olympics

Kennedy Space Center Report

1989 — Space Shuttle Atlantis Lifts Off on Mission to Launch Galileo Probe Toward Jupiter

STS-34 carries five astronauts and 2½-ton spacecraft on six-year voyage to study Jovian system

CAPE CANAVERAL, Oct. 18 — Space Shuttle Atlantis roared aloft this afternoon on the 34th shuttle flight, carrying the Galileo space probe bound for Jupiter.

Liftoff came at 12:53 p.m. Eastern time after a four-day delay for weather. The five-member crew, led by Commander Donald E. Williams, will deploy the 2,500-pound Galileo spacecraft Wednesday evening.

The probe, named for the Italian astronomer, carries instruments to study Jupiter's atmosphere and moons through 1997.

• The Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-34 to deploy the Jupiter-bound Galileo space probe.

Source: Wikipedia — Space Shuttle Atlantis

London Fashion

1993 — McQueen Unleashes 'Nihilism' in Brutal Debut at Bluebird Garage

British Fashion Council backs newcomer for first time as bruised, bloodied models parade cellophane and locusts.

LONDON, October 18 — British designer Alexander McQueen staged his first professional runway show, Nihilism, tonight at the Bluebird Garage during London Fashion Week. The British Fashion Council provided backing for the 24-year-old newcomer, the first time the body has supported an unknown designer.

Models appeared bruised and bloodied in transparent garments and extremely low-cut bumster trousers, McQueen's signature cut making its runway debut. The collection featured dresses of cellophane, clay-stained fabrics, and dead locusts pinned as ornament.

Marion Hume of The Independent described the presentation as "a theatre of cruelty" and "a horror show."

The show marks an aggressive entry by the Central Saint Martins graduate into professional fashion.

• Nihilism was staged during London Fashion Week on 18 October 1993 at the Bluebird Garage.
• The British Fashion Council provided backing for Nihilism, the first time they had done so for a new designer.
• Models in Nihilism were styled to look bruised and bloodied in see-through clothes and extremely low-cut bumsters.
• The collection included dresses made from cellophane, stained with clay, or adorned with dead locusts.
• Marion Hume of The Independent described Nihilism as a 'theatre of cruelty' and 'a horror show'.

Source: Wikipedia — Nihilism (collection)

Buenos Aires Bureau

1945 — Perón Weds Actress Eva Duarte in Civil Ceremony

Military officer turned populist leader marries radio and screen star.

BUENOS AIRES, October 18 — In a private civil ceremony today, Argentine military officer and politician Juan Perón married actress Eva Duarte. The union unites the rising figure of the military government with one of the nation's most popular radio performers. The couple met during a 1944 charity gala for earthquake victims in San Juan. Perón, 50, is widowed; Duarte, 26, grew up in the rural town of Los Toldos.

• Argentine military officer and politician Juan Perón marries actress Eva Duarte.

Source: Wikipedia — Argentina

Cologne Music

1887 — Brahms Conducts Final Orchestral Work

Double Concerto for Joachim and Hausmann reconciles old friends.

COLOGNE, October 18 — Johannes Brahms tonight conducted the premiere of his Double Concerto, his final work for orchestra, completing a reconciliation with his estranged friend, violinist Joseph Joachim. The concerto, composed for Joachim and cellist Robert Hausmann, features solo parts for both instruments.

• Brahms conducted the premiere of his Double Concerto on October 18, 1887.
• The Double Concerto was Brahms's final work for orchestra.
• The Double Concerto features solo parts for both violin and cello.
• Brahms composed the Double Concerto for his friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim.
• The Double Concerto was written to help repair Brahms's friendship with Joachim after their estrangement.

Source: Wikipedia — Johannes Brahms

Sitka Territory

1867 — U.S. Takes Possession of Alaska

The U.S. acquired Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in an October 18 ceremony at Sitka, establishing Alaska Day.

SITKA, October 18 — In the latest expansion of American dominion across the North American continent, the United States today took formal possession of Alaska following its purchase from Russia for $7.2 million. The transfer, completed at this remote outpost, establishes the annual observance known as Alaska Day.

• United States takes possession of Alaska after purchasing it from Russia for $7.2 million. Celebrated annually in the state as Alaska Day.

Source: Wikipedia — Alaska Purchase

Soviet Space Directorate

1967 — Venera 4 Becomes First Craft to Probe Venus Atmosphere

Launched June 12, the Soviet probe Venera 4 made its atmospheric entry on October 18.

MOSCOW, October 18 — Venera 4, the Soviet planetary probe launched June 12, has achieved what no spacecraft before it attempted: direct examination of another world's atmosphere while descending through it.

• Venera 4 provided the first chemical analysis of the Venusian atmosphere, showing it to be primarily carbon dioxide with a few percents of nitrogen.
• The probe became the first spacecraft to survive entry into another planet's atmosphere.
• During descent, the capsule measured temperatures from 33 °C at 52 km to 262 °C at 26 km, and pressure up to 22 standard atmospheres.
• The descent lasted 93 minutes, and the heat shield temperature rose to 11,000 °C during atmospheric entry.
• Venera 4's data was analyzed jointly with Mariner 5 data by a Soviet–American working group of COSPAR in 1969.

Source: Wikipedia — Venera 4