On This Day, Feb. 18: Church of Scientology founded

UPI Staff
·3 min read
Church of Scientology volunteer minister Richard Royce gives a "nerve assist" to Jackie Arbeiter at the Harrison County Emergency Operations Center in Gulfport, Miss., on September 15, 2005. On February 18, 1954, the Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles. File Photo by Billy Suratt/UPI
Church of Scientology volunteer minister Richard Royce gives a "nerve assist" to Jackie Arbeiter at the Harrison County Emergency Operations Center in Gulfport, Miss., on September 15, 2005. On February 18, 1954, the Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles. File Photo by Billy Suratt/UPI
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1841, the first filibuster in the U.S. Senate began. It ended March 11.

In 1865, after a long Civil War siege, Union naval forces captured Charleston, S.C.

In 1930, dwarf planet Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh.

In 1954, the Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles. L. Ron Hubbard, who founded the church based on his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, died in 1986.

Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt dies in this last lap accident with Ken Schrader in turn four at the 43rd Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida, February 18, 2001. File Photo by Cathy Kapulka/UPI
Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt dies in this last lap accident with Ken Schrader in turn four at the 43rd Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida, February 18, 2001. File Photo by Cathy Kapulka/UPI

In 1967, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb," died in Princeton, N.J., at the age of 62.

In 1979, snow fell in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria for the first known time. It fell a second time in 2016 and a third time in 2018.

On February 18, 1967, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb," died in Princeton, N.J., at the age of 62. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy
On February 18, 1967, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb," died in Princeton, N.J., at the age of 62. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy
File Photo courtesy of NASA
File Photo courtesy of NASA

In 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr., stock-car racing's top driver, was killed in a crash in the final turn of the final lap of the Daytona 500. He was 49.

Ukrainian riot police help an injured officer during a clash with anti-government protesters outside the Parliament building in Kiev on February 18, 2014. File Photo by Sergey Starostenko/UPI
Ukrainian riot police help an injured officer during a clash with anti-government protesters outside the Parliament building in Kiev on February 18, 2014. File Photo by Sergey Starostenko/UPI

In 2003, nearly 200 people died and scores were injured in a South Korea subway fire set by a man authorities said apparently was upset at his doctors.

In 2004, 40 chemical and fuel-laden runaway rail cars derailed near Nishapur in northeastern Iran, producing an explosion that killed at least 300 people and injured hundreds of others.

On February 18, In 1930, dwarf planet Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. File Photo courtesy NASA
On February 18, In 1930, dwarf planet Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. File Photo courtesy NASA
File Photo by Ali Khal/UPI
File Photo by Ali Khal/UPI

In 2006, 16 people died in rioting in Nigeria over published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that enraged Muslims around the world.

On February 18, 2004, 40 chemical and fuel-laden runaway rail cars derailed near Nishapur in northeastern Iran, producing an explosion that killed at least 300 people and injured hundreds of others. UPI File Photo
On February 18, 2004, 40 chemical and fuel-laden runaway rail cars derailed near Nishapur in northeastern Iran, producing an explosion that killed at least 300 people and injured hundreds of others. UPI File Photo

In 2008, two of four masterpieces stolen from the Zurich museum a week earlier, a Monet and a van Gogh, were found in perfect condition in the back seat of an unlocked car in Zurich.

In 2013, eight men disguised as police disabled a security fence, drove two vehicles onto a Brussels airport tarmac and stole diamonds worth $50 million.

In 2014, violence erupted between protesters and security forces in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, eventually resulting in 98 dead with an estimated 15,000 injured and 100 believed missing.

In 2021, NASA's Mars rover Perseverance made a robotic landing on Mars, starting a high-tech mission to hunt for signs of life in an ancient lakebed.

File Photo courtesy of NASA
File Photo courtesy of NASA