On This Day — August 18

🕰️ Notable Events on August 18

• 2017 — 2 people are killed and 8 injured in Turku in the first terrorist attack in Finland in over 70 years. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf resigns under threat of impeachment. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — War of Afghanistan: Uzbin Valley ambush occurs. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — A massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java, affecting almost 100 million people, one of the largest and most widespread power outages in history. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — One year old Zachary Tuner is murdered in Newfoundland by his mother who was awarded custody despite facing trial for the murder of Zachary's father. The case led to reform of Canada's bail laws. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Leading presidential hopeful Luis Carlos Galán is assassinated near Bogotá in Colombia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast, killing 22 people and causing over US$1 billion in damage (1983 dollars). Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Steve Biko is arrested at a police roadblock under the Terrorism Act No. 83 of 1967 in King William's Town, South Africa. He later dies from injuries sustained during this arrest bringing attention to South Africa's apartheid policies. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — In the Korean Demilitarized Zone at Panmunjom, the Axe murder incident results in the death of two US soldiers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Vietnam War: The Battle of Long Tan ensues after a patrol from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment clashes with a Viet Cong force in Phước Tuy Province. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Vietnam War: Operation Starlite begins: United States Marines destroy a Viet Cong stronghold on the Van Tuong peninsula in the first major American ground battle of the war. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Civil Rights Movement: James Meredith becomes the first African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Brojen Das from Bangladesh swims across the English Channel in a competition, as the first Bengali and the first Asian to do so. He came first among 39 competitors. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Julien Lahaut, the chairman of the Communist Party of Belgium is assassinated by far-right elements. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Sukarno takes office as the first president of Indonesia, following the country's declaration of independence the previous day. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — World War II: The Hardest Day air battle, part of the Battle of Britain. At that point, the largest aerial engagement in history with heavy losses sustained on both sides. Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — The Thousand Islands Bridge, connecting New York, United States with Ontario, Canada over the Saint Lawrence River, is dedicated by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing women's suffrage. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — A Great Fire in Thessaloniki, Greece destroys 32% of the city leaving 70,000 individuals homeless. Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — German engineer Karl Jatho allegedly flies his self-made, motored gliding airplane four months before the first flight of the Wright brothers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Major hurricane strikes Martinique, leaving 700 dead. Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — Franco-Prussian War: Battle of Gravelotte is fought. Wikipedia ↗
• 1868 — French astronomer Pierre Janssen discovers helium. Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — American Civil War: Battle of Globe Tavern: Union forces try to cut a vital Confederate supply-line into Petersburg, Virginia, by attacking the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Camila O'Gorman and Ladislao Gutierrez are executed on the orders of Argentine dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1838 — The Wilkes Expedition, which would explore the Puget Sound and Antarctica, weighs anchor at Hampton Roads. Wikipedia ↗
• 1783 — A huge fireball meteor is seen across Great Britain as it passes over the east coast. Wikipedia ↗
• 1634 — Urbain Grandier, accused and convicted of sorcery, is burned alive in Loudun, France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1612 — The trial of the Pendle witches, one of England's most famous witch trials, begins at Lancaster Assizes. Wikipedia ↗
• 1590 — John White, the governor of the Roanoke Colony, returns from a supply trip to England and finds his settlement deserted. Wikipedia ↗
• 1587 — Virginia Dare, granddaughter of Governor John White of the Colony of Roanoke, becomes the first English child born in the Americas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1572 — Marriage in Paris, France, of the Huguenot King Henry III of Navarre to Margaret of Valois, in a supposed attempt to reconcile Protestants and Catholics. Wikipedia ↗
• 1487 — The Siege of Málaga ends with the taking of the city by Castilian and Aragonese forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1304 — The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle is fought to a draw between the French army and the Flemish militias. Wikipedia ↗
• 684 — Battle of Marj Rahit: Umayyad partisans defeat the supporters of Ibn al-Zubayr and cement Umayyad control of Syria. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on August 18

• 1997 — Renato Sanches, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Alīna Fjodorova, Latvian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Morgan Sanson, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Jung Eun-ji, South Korean singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Maia Mitchell, Australian actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Elizabeth Beisel, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Bogdan Bogdanović, Serbian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Elliot Justham, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Jack Hobbs, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Eggert Jónsson, Icelandic footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — G-Dragon, South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Polish mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Evan Gattis, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Ross McCormack, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Andreas Weise, Swedish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Inge Dekker, Dutch swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Bryan Ruiz, Costa Rican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Sigourney Bandjar, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Robert Huth, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Cameron White, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — César Delgado, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Dimitris Salpingidis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Esteban Cambiasso, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Rob Nguyen, Australian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Ryan O'Hara, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Bart Scott, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Jeremy Shockey, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Stuart Dew, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Andy Samberg, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Paraskevas Antzas, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Even Kruse Skatrud, Norwegian trombonist, composer, and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Nicole Krauss, American novelist and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Victoria Coren Mitchell, English journalist and poker player Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Tom Middleton, English DJ and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Jason Furman, American economist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Malcolm-Jamal Warner, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Everlast, American rapper, singer-songwriter, and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Mark Kuhlmann, German rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Edward Norton, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Christian Slater, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Brian Michael Bendis, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Gustavo Charif, Argentinian director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ikue Ōtani, Japanese voice actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Andi Deris, German singer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mark Sargent, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Kenny Walker, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Felipe Calderón, Mexican lawyer and politician, 56th President of Mexico Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Geoff Courtnall, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Huw Edwards, Welsh-English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Timothy Geithner, American banker and politician, 75th United States Secretary of the Treasury Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Bob Woodruff, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Mike LaValliere, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Fat Lever, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Tom Prichard, American wrestler and trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Didier Auriol, French race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Madeleine Stowe, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Denis Leary, American comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Ron Strykert, Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — John Debney, American composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Sandeep Patil, Indian cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Jon Schwartz, American drummer and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Kelly Willard, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Rainer Woelki, German cardinal Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Bruce Benedict, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Taher Elgamal, Egyptian-American cryptographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Tan Dun, Chinese composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Umberto Guidoni, Italian astrophysicist, astronaut, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Louie Gohmert, American captain, lawyer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Marvin Isley, American R&B bass player and songwriter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Elayne Boosler, American actress, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Patrick Swayze, American actor and dancer (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Ricardo Villa, Argentinian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Dennis Elliott, English drummer and sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Nigel Griggs, English bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — James Jones, English bishop Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — John Scarlett, English intelligence officer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Sarah Dash, American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Värner Lootsmann, Estonian lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr., American soldier, lawyer, and author (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Paula Danziger, American author (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Robert Hitchcock, Australian sculptor and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Martin Mull, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Gianni Rivera, Italian footballer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Carl Wayne, English singer and actor (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Adam Makowicz, Polish-Canadian pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Gil Whitney, American journalist (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Maxine Brown, American soul/R&B singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Robert Horton, English businessman (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Johnny Preston, American pop singer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Sheila Cassidy, English physician and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Robert Redford, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Gail Fisher, American actress (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Hifikepunye Pohamba, Namibian lawyer and politician, 2nd President of Namibia Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Vincent Bugliosi, American lawyer and author (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican-American baseball player and soldier (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Gulzar, Indian poet, lyricist and film director Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Michael May, German-Swiss race car driver and engineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Just Fontaine, Moroccan-French footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Roman Polanski, French-Polish director, producer, screenwriter, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Luc Montagnier, French virologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Bramwell Tillsley, Canadian 14th General of The Salvation Army Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Hans van Mierlo, Dutch journalist and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Liviu Librescu, Romanian-American engineer and academic (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Rafael Pineda Ponce, Honduran academic and politician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Hugues Aufray, French singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Marge Schott, American businesswoman (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Sonny Til, American R&B singer (The Orioles) (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Brian Aldiss, English author and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Pierre Grondin, Canadian surgeon and academic (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Anis Mansour, Egyptian journalist and author (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Alain Robbe-Grillet, French director, screenwriter, and novelist (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Lydia Litvyak, Russian lieutenant and pilot (d. 1943) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Zdzisław Żygulski, Polish historian and academic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Godfrey Evans, English cricketer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Bob Kennedy, American baseball player and manager (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Shelley Winters, American actress (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Wally Hickel, American businessman and politician, 2nd Governor of Alaska (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Cisco Houston, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Caspar Weinberger, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 15th United States Secretary of Defense (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Neagu Djuvara, Romanian historian, journalist, and diplomat Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Moura Lympany, English pianist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Max Lanier, American baseball player and manager (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Lucy Ozarin, United States Navy lieutenant commander and psychiatrist Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Romain Maes, Belgian cyclist (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Otto Ernst Remer, German general (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Amelia Boynton Robinson, American activist (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Klara Dan von Neumann, Hungarian computer scientist and programmer (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Herman Berlinski, Polish-American pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Robert Winters, Canadian colonel, engineer, and politician, 26th Canadian Minister of Public Works (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Gérard Filion, Canadian businessman and journalist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Edgar Faure, French historian and politician, 139th Prime Minister of France (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Olav H. Hauge, Norwegian poet and gardener (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Bill Merritt, New Zealand cricketer and sportscaster (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Marcel Carné, French director and screenwriter (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Curtis Jones, American blues pianist and singer (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Enoch Light, American bandleader, violinist, and recording engineer (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Max Factor, Jr., American businessman (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Lucienne Boyer, French singer (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Adamson-Eric, Estonian painter (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Margaret Murie, American environmentalist and author (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Ruth Bonner, Soviet Communist activist, sentenced to a labor camp during Joseph Stalin's Great Purge (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Ruth Norman, American religious leader (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Clemente Biondetti, Italian race car driver (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Jack Pickford, Canadian-American actor and director (d. 1933) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Burleigh Grimes, American baseball player and manager (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Ernest MacMillan, Canadian conductor and composer (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Walther Funk, German economist and politician, Reich Minister of Economics (d. 1960) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — John Anthony Sydney Ritson, English rugby player, mines inspector, engineer and professor of mining (d. 1957) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Nettie Palmer, Australian poet and critic (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
• 1883 — Sidney Hatch, American runner and soldier (d. 1966) Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Alexander Rodzyanko, Russian general (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — Lavr Kornilov, Russian general and explorer (d. 1918) Wikipedia ↗
• 1869 — Carl Rungius, German-American painter and educator (d. 1959) Wikipedia ↗
• 1857 — Libert H. Boeynaems, Belgian-American bishop and missionary (d. 1926) Wikipedia ↗
• 1855 — Alfred Wallis, English painter and illustrator (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
• 1841 — William Halford, English-American lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1919) Wikipedia ↗
• 1834 — Marshall Field, American businessman, founded Marshall Field's (d. 1906) Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — Ernest Noel, Scottish businessman and politician (d. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 1830 — Franz Joseph I of Austria (d. 1916) Wikipedia ↗
• 1822 — Isaac P. Rodman, American general and politician (d. 1862) Wikipedia ↗
• 1819 — Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia (d. 1876) Wikipedia ↗
• 1807 — B. T. Finniss, Australian politician, 1st Premier of South Australia (d. 1893) Wikipedia ↗
• 1803 — Nathan Clifford, American lawyer, jurist, and politician, 19th United States Attorney General (d. 1881) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on August 18 (Calendar.cx)