February 18

Charles Lewis Tiffany co-founded a stationary and fancy goods store in New York City in 1837 that evolved into Tiffany & Co., the premier purveyor of fine jewelry. He introduced the English sterling silver standard to American consumers, earning industry acclaim. Under his vision, the company pioneered innovative gems and designs, cementing its reputation for elegance. Tiffany’s signature blue box became an enduring symbol of luxury worldwide. By the time of his death, his firm had transformed American taste and set benchmarks for craftsmanship in the jewelry industry.

Born on August 10, 1895, in Stamford, Connecticut, Jack Northrop displayed an early passion for aviation and mechanics. He worked at several aircraft companies before founding the Northrop Corporation in 1939 to pursue innovative designs. Northrop is best known for his work on tailless aircraft and the flying wing concept, influencing modern stealth bomber technology. Despite financial challenges, he secured military contracts for bombers like the P-61 Black Widow and experimental YB-35. His visionary ideas laid the groundwork for the later development of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Northrop's legacy continues through the aerospace company that bears his name, now a leader in defense and aviation.