Moments in time

The History Channel

• On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Henry Wells and William G. Fargo join with several other investors to launch their namesake business. In July 1852, their company shipped its first loads of freight from the East Coast to mining camps scattered around northern California.

• On March 17, 1901, paintings by the late Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh are shown in Paris. Van Gogh had committed suicide 11 years earlier without any notion that his work was destined to win acclaim beyond his wildest dreams. In his lifetime, he had sold only one painting.

• On March 14, 1914, sto...