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On This Day in History — November 18
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Highlights of November 18
- 2017 — Cyclone Numa, a rare "medicane", made landfall in Greece to become the worst weather event that the country had experienced since 1977. Read more
- 2014 — Two Palestinian men attacked the praying congregants of a synagogue in Jerusalem with axes, knives, and a gun, resulting in eight deaths, including the attackers themselves. Read more
- 2011 — The sandbox video game Minecraft exited beta with the official release of version 1.0. Read more
- 2003 — With its ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court made the state the first in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage. Read more
- 1999 — Texas A&M University's Aggie Bonfire collapsed (aftermath pictured), killing 12 people and injuring 27 others, and causing the university to officially declare a hiatus on the 90-year-old annual event. Read more
- 1991 — The current flag of Uzbekistan was adopted, making the country the first newly independent republic in Central Asia to choose a new flag. Read more
- 1991 — Croatian War of Independence: The Yugoslav People's Army captured the Croatian city of Vukovar, ending an 87-day siege. Read more
- 1987 — An underground fire killed 31 people at King's Cross St Pancras tube station in London. Read more
- 1978 — Jim Jones led more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple to mass murder/suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, hours after some of its members assassinated U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan. Read more
- 1977 — Solomon Islands ratified the adoption of a new flag (pictured). Read more
- 1956 — At the Polish embassy in Moscow, a phrase in an address by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was translated into English as "We will bury you", prompting Western envoys to leave the room. Read more
- 1872 — American suffragist Susan B. Anthony (pictured) was arrested and later fined $100 for having voted in the presidential election two weeks earlier. Read more
- 1865 — "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" was published, becoming the first great success of American author Mark Twain. Read more
- 1809 — Napoleonic Wars: In the Bay of Bengal, a French frigate squadron captured three ships carrying recruits for the armies of the East India Company. Read more
- 1583 — The Siege of Godesberg, the first major siege of the Cologne War, began. Read more
- 1210 — Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor, was excommunicated by Pope Innocent III after Otto commanded him to annul the Concordat of Worms. Read more
Events
- 2020 — The Utah monolith, built sometime in 2016 is discovered by state biologists of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Read more
- 2013 — NASA launches the MAVEN probe to Mars. Read more
- 2012 — Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria becomes the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Read more
- 2003 — The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules 4–3 in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and gives the state legislature 180 days to change the law making Massachusetts the first state in the United States to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples. Read more
- 2002 — Iraq disarmament crisis: United Nations weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix arrive in Iraq. Read more
- 1999 — At Texas A&M University, the Aggie Bonfire collapses killing 12 students and injuring 27 others. Read more
- 1996 — A fire occurs on a train traveling through the Channel Tunnel from France to England causing several injuries and damaging approximately 500 metres (1,600 ft) of tunnel. Read more
- 1993 — In the United States, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is approved by the House of Representatives. Read more
- 1993 — In South Africa, 21 political parties approve a new constitution, expanding voting rights and ending white minority rule. Read more
- 1991 — Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon release Anglican Church envoys Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland. Read more
- 1991 — After an 87-day siege, the Croatian city of Vukovar capitulates to the besieging Yugoslav People's Army and allied Serb paramilitary forces. Read more
- 1991 — The autonomous Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia, which would in 1993 become a republic, was established in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read more
- 1987 — King's Cross fire: In London, 31 people die in a fire at the city's busiest underground station, King's Cross St Pancras. Read more
- 1985 — The first comic of Calvin and Hobbes is published in ten newspapers. Read more
- 1983 — Aeroflot Flight 6833 is hijacked en route from Tbilisi to Leningrad. After returning to Tbilisi, the aircraft is subsequently raided on the ground, resulting in seven deaths. Read more
- 1978 — The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet makes its first flight, at the Naval Air Test Center in Maryland, United States. Read more
- 1978 — In Jonestown, Guyana, Jim Jones leads his Peoples Temple to a mass murder–suicide that claimed 918 lives in all, 909 of them in Jonestown itself, including over 270 children. Read more
- 1971 — Oman declares its independence from the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1970 — U.S. President Richard Nixon asks the U.S. Congress for $155 million in supplemental aid for the Cambodian government. Read more
- 1963 — The Bell Telephone Company introduces the first push-button telephone. Read more
- 1961 — Vietnam War: United States President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam. Read more
- 1949 — The Iva Valley Shooting occurs after the coal miners of Enugu in Nigeria go on strike over withheld wages; 21 miners are shot dead and 51 are wounded by police under the supervision of the British colonial administration of Nigeria. Read more
- 1947 — The Ballantyne's Department Store fire in Christchurch, New Zealand, kills 41; it is the worst fire disaster in the history of New Zealand. Read more
- 1944 — The Popular Socialist Youth is founded in Cuba. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: In the first action of the Berlin Air Offensive, four hundred and forty Royal Air Force planes bomb Berlin causing only light damage and killing 131. The RAF loses nine aircraft and 53 air crew. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: German leader Adolf Hitler and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano meet to discuss Benito Mussolini's disastrous Italian invasion of Greece. Read more
- 1929 — Grand Banks earthquake: Off the south coast of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean, a Richter magnitude 7.2 submarine earthquake, centered on the Grand Banks, breaks 12 submarine transatlantic telegraph cables and triggers a tsunami that destroys many south coast communities in the Burin Peninsula. Read more
- 1928 — Release of the animated short Steamboat Willie, the first fully synchronized sound cartoon. Read more
- 1918 — Latvia declares its independence from Russia. Read more
- 1916 — World War I: First Battle of the Somme: In France, British Expeditionary Force commander Douglas Haig calls off the battle which started on July 1, 1916. Read more
- 1910 — In their campaign for women's voting rights, hundreds of suffragettes march to the British Parliament in London. Several are beaten by police, newspaper attention embarrasses the authorities, and the march is dubbed Black Friday. Read more
- 1909 — Two United States warships are sent to Nicaragua after 500 revolutionaries (including two Americans) are executed by order of José Santos Zelaya. Read more
- 1905 — Prince Carl of Denmark becomes King Haakon VII of Norway. Read more
- 1903 — The Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty is signed by the United States and Panama, giving the United States exclusive rights over the Panama Canal Zone. Read more
- 1901 — Britain and the United States sign the Hay–Pauncefote Treaty, which nullifies the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty and withdraws British objections to an American-controlled canal in Panama. Read more
- 1889 — Elisha P. Ferry is inaugurated as first governor of Washington. Read more
- 1883 — In the "day of two noons", American and Canadian railroad companies institute four standard continental time zones, ending the confusion of thousands of local times. Read more
- 1872 — Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women are arrested for voting illegally in the United States presidential election of 1872. Read more
- 1867 — An earthquake strikes the Virgin Islands, triggering the largest tsunami witnessed in the Caribbean and killing dozens. Read more
- 1863 — King Christian IX of Denmark signs the November constitution that declares Schleswig to be part of Denmark. This is seen by the German Confederation as a violation of the London Protocol and leads to the German–Danish war of 1864. Read more
- 1812 — Napoleonic Wars: The Battle of Krasnoi ends in French defeat, but Marshal of France Michel Ney's leadership leads to him becoming known as "the bravest of the brave". Read more
- 1809 — Napoleonic Wars: In a naval action, French frigates defeat British East Indiamen in the Bay of Bengal. Read more
- 1803 — The Battle of Vertières, the last major battle of the Haitian Revolution, is fought, leading to the establishment of the Republic of Haiti, the first black republic in the Western Hemisphere. Read more
- 1760 — The rebuilt debtors' prison, at the Castellania in Valletta, receives the first prisoners. Read more
- 1730 — The future Frederick the Great of Prussia is granted a pardon by his father and is released from confinement. Read more
- 1626 — The new St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is consecrated. Read more
- 1601 — Tiryaki Hasan Pasha, an Ottoman provincial governor, routs the Habsburg forces commanded by Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria who were besieging Nagykanizsa. Read more
- 1493 — Christopher Columbus first sights the island now known as Puerto Rico. Read more
- 1421 — St Elizabeth's flood: A dike in the Grote Hollandse Waard in the Netherlands breaks, killing about 10,000 people. Read more
- 1302 — Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Unam sanctam, claiming spiritual supremacy for the papacy. Read more
- 1210 — Pope Innocent III excommunicates Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV for invading the Kingdom of Sicily after promising to recognize papal control over it. Read more
- 1105 — Maginulfo is elected Antipope Sylvester IV in opposition to Pope Paschal II. Read more
- 1095 — The Council of Clermont begins: called by Pope Urban II, it led to the First Crusade to the Holy Land. Read more
- 401 — The Visigoths, led by king Alaric I, cross the Alps and invade northern Italy. Read more
- 326 — The old St. Peter's Basilica is consecrated by Pope Sylvester I. Read more
Born on November 18
- 2004 — Luka Romero, Mexican-Argentine footballer Read more
- 2002 — Patrick Baldwin Jr., American basketball player Read more
- 2001 — Caleb Williams, American football player Read more
- 1997 — Jacob Bryson, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1997 — Shea Langeliers, American baseball player Read more
- 1997 — Robert Sánchez, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1996 — Akram Afif, Qatari footballer Read more
- 1996 — Christian Kirk, American football player Read more
- 1994 — Akiyuki Hashimoto, Japanese sprinter Read more
- 1994 — Danka Kovinić, Montenegrin tennis player Read more
- 1994 — Bernhard Luxbacher, Austrian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Nathan Kress, American actor and director Read more
- 1992 — Henry Martín, Mexican footballer Read more
- 1992 — Quincy Miller, American basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Steven Skrzybski, German footballer Read more
- 1992 — Joe Thuney, American football player Read more
- 1991 — Ahmed Kelly, Iraqi-Australian swimmer Read more
- 1991 — Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, Thai tennis player Read more
- 1991 — Jameson Taillon, Canadian-American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Arnett Moultrie, American basketball player Read more
- 1989 — Marc Albrighton, English footballer Read more
- 1989 — Lu Jiajing, Chinese tennis player Read more
- 1988 — Jeffrey Jordan, American basketball player Read more
- 1988 — Michael Roach, American soccer player Read more
- 1988 — Marie-Josée Ta Lou, Ivorian sprinter Read more
- 1987 — Jake Abel, American actor Read more
- 1987 — Cal Clutterbuck, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1987 — Yoon Park, South Korean actor Read more
- 1985 — Allyson Felix, American sprinter Read more
- 1984 — Ryohei Chiba, Japanese singer and dancer Read more
- 1984 — Aleksander Ihnatowicz, Polish programmer and actor Read more
- 1984 — Enar Jääger, Estonian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Travis Buck, American baseball player Read more
- 1983 — Jon Lech Johansen, Norwegian computer programmer and engineer, created DeCSS Read more
- 1982 — Justin Knapp, American Wikipedia editor Read more
- 1982 — Damon Wayans Jr., American actor and comedian Read more
- 1981 — Mekia Cox, American actress and dancer Read more
- 1981 — Dianne dela Fuente, Filipino singer and actress Read more
- 1981 — Nasim Pedrad, Iranian-American actress Read more
- 1981 — Vittoria Puccini, Italian actress Read more
Died on November 18
- 2024 — Charles Dumont, French singer and composer (born 1929) Read more
- 2024 — Arthur Frommer, American travel writer (born 1929) Read more
- 2024 — Bob Love, American basketball player (born 1942) Read more
- 2024 — Colin Petersen, Australian drummer, record producer and actor (born 1946) Read more
- 2022 — Tabassum, Indian actress and talk show host (born 1944) Read more
- 2020 — Kirby Morrow, Canadian actor, comedian, and writer (born 1973) Read more
- 2017 — Malcolm Young, Scottish-Australian hard rock guitarist (born 1953) Read more
- 2016 — Sharon Jones, American soul and funk singer (born 1956) Read more
- 2016 — Denton Cooley, American surgeon and scientist (born 1920) Read more
- 2015 — Abdelhamid Abaaoud, Belgian-Moroccan terrorist (born 1987) Read more
- 2015 — Dan Halldorson, Canadian-American golfer (born 1952) Read more
- 2015 — Jonah Lomu, New Zealand rugby player (born 1975) Read more
- 2014 — Dave Appell, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1922) Read more
- 2014 — Pepe Eliaschev, Argentinian journalist and author (born 1945) Read more
- 2014 — Ahmad Lozi, Jordanian educator and politician, 48th Prime Minister of Jordan (born 1925) Read more
- 2014 — C. Rudhraiya, Indian director and producer (born 1947) Read more
- 2013 — Thomas Howard, American football player (born 1983) Read more
- 2013 — S. R. D. Vaidyanathan, Indian nadaswaram player and composer (born 1929) Read more
- 2013 — Ljubomir Vračarević, Serbian martial artist, founded Real Aikido (born 1947) Read more
- 2013 — Peter Wintonick, Canadian director and producer (born 1953) Read more
- 2012 — Emilio Aragón Bermúdez, Spanish clown, singer, and accordion player (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Phoebe Hearst Cooke, American businesswoman and philanthropist (born 1927) Read more
- 2010 — Freddy Beras-Goico, Dominican comedian and television host (born 1940) Read more
- 2010 — Brian G. Marsden, English-American astronomer and academic (born 1937) Read more
- 2009 — Red Robbins, American basketball player (born 1944) Read more
- 2005 — Harold J. Stone, American actor (born 1911) Read more
- 2004 — Robert Bacher, American physicist and academic (born 1905) Read more
- 2004 — Cy Coleman, American pianist and composer (born 1929) Read more
- 2003 — Michael Kamen, American composer and conductor (born 1948) Read more
- 2002 — James Coburn, American actor (born 1928) Read more
- 2001 — Walter Matuszczak, Polish-American football player 1939 All-America, 1941 New York Giants draft (born 1918) Read more
- 1999 — Paul Bowles, American composer and author (born 1910) Read more
- 1999 — Doug Sahm, American singer and guitarist (born 1941) Read more
- 1998 — Tara Singh Hayer, Indian-Canadian journalist and publisher (born 1936) Read more
- 1995 — Miron Grindea, Romanian-English journalist (born 1909) Read more
- 1994 — Cab Calloway, American singer-songwriter and bandleader (The Cab Calloway Orchestra) (born 1907) Read more
- 1994 — Anselm Franz, Austrian jet engine pioneer (born 1900) Read more
- 1994 — Peter Ledger, Australian painter and illustrator (born 1945) Read more
- 1991 — Gustáv Husák, Slovak lawyer and politician, 9th President of Czechoslovakia (born 1913) Read more
- 1987 — Jacques Anquetil, French cyclist (born 1934) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Abhai of Hach (Syriac Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Alphaeus and Zacchaeus; Christian feast day:
Barulas; Christian feast day:
Constant; Christian feast day:
Dedication of Saints Peter and Paul; Christian feast day:
Elizabeth of Hungary (Church of England); Christian feast day:
Juthwara; Christian feast day:
Mabyn (Roman Catholic Church and Anglicanism); Christian feast day:
The main day of the Feast of the Virgen de Chiquinquirá or Chinita's Fair (Maracaibo, Venezuela); Christian feast day:
Maudez (Mawes); Christian feast day:
Nazarius (Nazaire); Christian feast day:
Odo of Cluny; Christian feast day:
Romanus of Caesarea; Christian feast day:
Rose Philippine Duchesne; Christian feast day:
November 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of Army and Victory (Haiti); Independence Day (Morocco), celebrates the independence of Morocco from France and Spain in 1956.; National Day (Oman); Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia celebrates the independence of Latvia from Russia in 1918.; Remembrance Day of the Sacrifice of Vukovar in 1991 (Croatia)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “November 18”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.