TODAY IN HISTORY - MARCH 18TH

1068 – An earthquake affects the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula, leaving up to 20,000 dead.

1741 – New York governor George Clarke's complex at Fort George is burned in an arson attack, starting the New York Conspiracy of 1741.

1837 – Grover Cleveland, American lawyer and politician, 22nd and 24th President of the United States (d. 1908) is born.

1850 – American Express is founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo.

1865 – American Civil War: The Congress of the Confederate States adjourns for the last time.

1874 – Hawaii signs a treaty with the United States granting exclusive trade rights.

1892 – Former Governor General Lord Stanley pledges to donate a silver challenge cup, later named after him, as an award for the best hockey team in Canada the Stanley Cup.

1909 – Ernest Gallo, American businessman, co-founded the E & J Gallo Winery (d. 2007) is born.

1918 – Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, American architect, designed the Plaza Hotel (b. 1847) dies.

1925 – The Tri-State Tornado hits the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.

1927 – George Plimpton, American writer and literary editor (d. 2003) is born.

1937 – The New London School explosion in New London, Texas, kills 300 people, mostly children.

1940 – World War II: Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet at the Brenner Pass in the Alps and agree to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom.

1944 – The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy kills 26 people and causes thousands to flee their homes.

1947 – William C. Durant, American businessman, co-founded General Motors and Chevrolet (b. 1861) dies.

1959 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill into law allowing for Hawaiian statehood, which would become official on August 21.

1970 – Queen Latifah, American actress, singer and rapper is born.

1970 – The U.S. postal strike of 1970 begins, one of the largest wildcat strikes in U.S. history.

1974 – Most OPEC nations end a five-month oil embargo against the United States, Europe and Japan.

1979 – Adam Levine, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (Maroon 5) is born.

1990 – In the largest art theft in US history, 12 paintings, collectively worth around $300 million, are stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

1992 – Ryan Truex, American race car driver is born.

2001 – John Phillips, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Mamas & the Papas) (b. 1935) dies.