On April 18, 1689, Bostonians rebelled against the government of Sir Edmund Andros.
On this day in April, in 2007, the Supreme Court of the United States, split 5 – 4, upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.
April 18 marks the 1772 birthday of David Ricardo, English political economist and one of the most influential thinkers in economic theory. An advocate for free trade and the abolition of slavery, Ricardo’s most famous work is his Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1817).
Common Sense takes the occasion of the word “taxation” to mention that today is Tax Day for most of the nation, except for taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts who have a still extra day to file (but who nevertheless are required to file quarterly payments on April 18). It was postponed three days from April 15, as was explained on Friday in these pages.