WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2010

Today is Wednesday, August 18, the 230th day of 2010. There are 135 days left in the year.

1834 ― Mt. Vesuvius erupts

1868 ― Pierre Janssan discovers helium in solar spectrum during eclipse

1914 ― Pres Wilson issues Proclamation of Neutrality

1954 ― Assistant Secretary of Labor James Wilkins became first black to attend cabinet

1958 ― Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov, published

1961 ― Construction on Berlin Wall completed

1962 ― Peter, Paul & Mary release their first hit ``If I Had a Hammer"

1973 ― Hank Aaron's record 1,378 extra base hit surpasses Stan Musial record

1978 ― Memphis, Tenn., settles with striking police officers and firefighters

1987 ― Philip Rush of New Zealand set record for triple crossing English Channel. His time, 28:21, 10 hours faster than the first man to do it