On This Day — December 18

🕰️ Notable Events on December 18

• 2015 — Kellingley Colliery, the last deep coal mine in Great Britain, closes. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — The first of a series of floods strikes Malaysia. The death toll of all flooding is at least 118, with over 400,000 people displaced. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — The Chadian Civil War begins when rebel groups, allegedly backed by neighbouring Sudan, launch an attack in Adré. Wikipedia ↗
• 2002 — California gubernatorial recall: Then Governor of California Gray Davis announces that the state would face a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform carrying five Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT. Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — First flight of the Russian heavy strategic bomber Tu-160, the world's largest combat aircraft, largest supersonic aircraft and largest variable-sweep wing aircraft built. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Soviet Soyuz Programme: Soyuz 13, crewed by cosmonauts Valentin Lebedev and Pyotr Klimuk, is launched from Baikonur in the Soviet Union. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — The Islamic Development Bank is founded. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Vietnam War: President Richard Nixon announces that the United States will engage North Vietnam in Operation Linebacker II, a series of Christmas bombings, after peace talks collapsed with North Vietnam on the 13th. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Saturn's moon Epimetheus is discovered by astronomer Richard Walker. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Project SCORE, the world's first communications satellite, is launched. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Seventy-seven B-29 Superfortress and 200 other aircraft of U.S. Fourteenth Air Force bomb Hankow, China, a Japanese supply base. Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — World War II: The Battle of the Heligoland Bight, the first major air battle of the war, takes place. Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is founded in Ceylon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — The Chicago Bears defeat the Portsmouth Spartans in the first NFL Championship Game. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — The resolution containing the language of the Eighteenth Amendment to enact Prohibition is passed by the United States Congress. Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — World War I: The Battle of Verdun ends when German forces under Chief of staff Erich von Falkenhayn are defeated by the French, and suffer 337,000 casualties. Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — The Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook, Victoria Narrow-gauge (2 ft 6 in or 762 mm) Railway (now the Puffing Billy Railway) in Victoria, Australia is opened for traffic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat sets the first officially recognized land speed record of 39.245 mph (63.159 km/h) in a Jeantaud electric car. Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Premiere performance of The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — The Al-Thani family become the rulers of the state of Qatar. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — US Secretary of State William Seward proclaims the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, prohibiting slavery throughout the USA. Wikipedia ↗
• 1833 — The national anthem of the Russian Empire, "God Save the Tsar!", is first performed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1793 — Surrender of the frigate La Lutine by French Royalists to Lord Samuel Hood; renamed HMS Lutine, she later becomes a famous treasure wreck. Wikipedia ↗
• 1787 — New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1777 — The United States celebrates its first Thanksgiving, marking the recent victory by the American rebels over British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga in October. Wikipedia ↗
• 1655 — The Whitehall Conference ends with the determination that there was no law preventing Jews from re-entering England after the Edict of Expulsion of 1290. Wikipedia ↗
• 1622 — Portuguese forces score a military victory over the Kingdom of Kongo at the Battle of Mbumbi in present-day Angola. Wikipedia ↗
• 1271 — Kublai Khan renames his empire "Yuan" (元 yuán), officially marking the start of the Yuan dynasty of Mongolia and China. Wikipedia ↗
• Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Roman Republic. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 18

• 2001 — Billie Eilish, American pop singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Byron Buxton, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Ryan Crouser, American shot putter Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Sierra Kay, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Lizzie Deignan, English cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Seth Doege, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Brianne Theisen-Eaton, Canadian heptathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Imad Wasim, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Ayaka, Japanese singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Miki Ando, Japanese figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Yuki Furukawa, Japanese actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — François Hamelin, Canadian speed skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Usman Khawaja, Pakistani-Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Bill Stull, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Paul Harrison, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Derrick Tribbett, American bass player and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Andy Fantuz, Canadian football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Christina Aguilera, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Neil Fingleton, English actor and basketball player, one of the tallest 25 men in the world (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Heinz Inniger, Swiss snowboarder Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Benjamin Watson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Daniel Cleary, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Ali Curtis, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Katie Holmes, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — José Acevedo, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Maria Brink, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Claudia Gesell, German runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Sia Furler, Australian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Randy Houser, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Trish Stratus, Canadian wrestler and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Peter Boulware, American football player and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Knut Schreiner, Norwegian singer, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Fatuma Roba, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Anzhela Balakhonova, Ukrainian pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Raymond Herrera, American drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Barkha Dutt, Indian journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Noriko Matsueda, Japanese pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Spanish tennis player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — DMX, American rapper and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Lucious Harris, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Giannis Ploutarhos, Greek singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Rob Van Dam, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Jonathan Yeo, English painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Santiago Cañizares, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Justin Edinburgh, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Akira Iida, Japanese race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Mario Basler, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Rachel Griffiths, Australian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Alejandro Sanz, Spanish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Casper Van Dien, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Toine van Peperstraten, Dutch journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Mille Petrozza, German singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Gianluca Pagliuca, Italian footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Shawn Christian, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Manuel Peña Escontrela, Spanish footballer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Stone Cold Steve Austin, American wrestler and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Don Beebe, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Norman Brown, American singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Greg D'Angelo, American drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Karl Dorrell, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Pierre Nkurunziza, Burundian soldier and politician, President of Burundi Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Charles Oakley, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Brad Pitt, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Brian Orser, Canadian figure skater and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Leila Steinberg, American singer, producer, author, and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Daniel S. Loeb, American businessman and philanthropist, founded Third Point Management Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Kazuhide Uekusa, Japanese economist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Naoko Yamano, Japanese singer, guitarist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Geordie Walker, English guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Julia Wolfe, American composer and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Jonathan Cainer, English astrologer and author (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Vijay Mallya, Indian businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Bogusław Mamiński, Polish runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — John Booth, English race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Ray Liotta, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Willi Wülbeck, German runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Elliot Easton, American guitarist and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — John Leventhal, American songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Gillian Armstrong, Australian director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Randy Castillo, American drummer and songwriter (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lankan general and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Lizmark, Mexican wrestler (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Leonard Maltin, American historian, author, and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — David A. Johnston, American volcanologist and geologist (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Bill Nelson, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Mimmo Paladino, Italian sculptor and painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Laurent Voulzy, French-English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Leonid Yuzefovich, Russian author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Steve Biko, South African activist, founded the Black Consciousness Movement (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Steven Spielberg, American director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded DreamWorks Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Jean Pronovost, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Crispian Steele-Perkins, English trumpet player and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Bobby Keys, American saxophone player (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Keith Richards, English singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Alan Rudolph, American director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Lenore Blum, American mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Sam Andrew, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Wadada Leo Smith, American trumpet player and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Joan Wallach Scott, American historian, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Ilario Castagner, Italian football manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — John Cooper, English sprinter and hurdler (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Michael Moorcock, English author and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Harold E. Varmus, American biologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Chas Chandler, English bass player and producer (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Joel Hirschhorn, American songwriter and composer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Nancy Ryles, American politician (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Malcolm Kirk, English rugby player and wrestler (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Rosemary Leach, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Jacques Pépin, French-American chef and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Marc Rich, Belgian-American businessman, founded Glencore (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Boris Volynov, Russian colonel, engineer, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Norm Provan, Australian rugby league player, coach, and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Roger Smith, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Alison Plowden, English historian and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Bill Thompson, American television host (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Moose Skowron, American baseball player (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Gino Cimoli, American baseball player (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Józef Glemp, Polish cardinal (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Indian-English caliph and author (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Harold Land, American tenor saxophonist (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Ramsey Clark, American lawyer and politician, 66th United States Attorney General Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Roméo LeBlanc, Canadian journalist and politician, 25th Governor General of Canada (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Cicely Tyson, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Edwin Bramall, Baron Bramall, English field marshal and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Greater London Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Jack Brooks, American colonel, lawyer, and politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Esther Lederberg, American microbiologist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Robert Leckie, American soldier and author (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Ossie Davis, American actor and activist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Douglas Fraser, Scottish-American trade union leader and academic (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Betty Grable, American actress, singer, and dancer (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Alfred Bester, American author and screenwriter (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Willy Brandt, German politician, 4th Chancellor of Germany, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Ray Meyer, American basketball player and coach (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., American general and pilot (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Jules Dassin, American-Greek actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Abe Burrows, American author, playwright, and director (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Eric Tindill, New Zealand rugby player, cricketer, and umpire (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Celia Johnson, English actress (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Paul Siple, American geographer and explorer (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Bill Holland, American race car driver (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Lawrence Lucie, American guitarist and educator (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — George Stevens, American director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Peter Wessel Zapffe, Norwegian philosopher and author (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1897 — Fletcher Henderson, American pianist and composer (d. 1952) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Gerald Barry, English colonel and cricketer (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Edwin Howard Armstrong, American engineer, invented FM radio (d. 1954) Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Gladys Cooper, English actress and singer (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Robert Moses, American urban planner, designed the Northern State Parkway and Southern State Parkway (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — Bhikhari Thakur, Indian actor, singer, and playwright (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1886 — Ty Cobb, American baseball player and manager (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1884 — Emil Starkenstein, Czech pharmacologist, co-founded clinical pharmacology (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
• 1882 — Richard Maury, American-Argentinian engineer, designed the Salta-Antofagasta railway (d. 1950) Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Paul Klee, Swiss-German painter and educator (d. 1940) Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — Joseph Stalin, Georgian-Russian marshal and politician, 4th Premier of the Soviet Union (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
• 1875 — Matt McGrath, Irish-American hammer thrower (d. 1941) Wikipedia ↗
• 1873 — Francis Burton Harrison, American general and politician, 6th Governor-General of the Philippines (d. 1957) Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — Saki, British short story writer (d. 1916) Wikipedia ↗
• 1869 — Edward Willis Redfield, American painter and educator (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1867 — Foxhall P. Keene, American polo player and horse breeder (d. 1941) Wikipedia ↗
• 1863 — Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (d. 1914) Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — Lionel Monckton, English composer and critic (d. 1924) Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — Edward MacDowell, American pianist and composer (d. 1908) Wikipedia ↗
• 1856 — J. J. Thomson, English physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1940) Wikipedia ↗
• 1851 — Graciano López Jaena, Filipino journalist (d. 1896) Wikipedia ↗
• 1849 — Henrietta Edwards, Canadian activist and author (d. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 1847 — Augusta Holmès, French pianist and composer (d. 1903) Wikipedia ↗
• 1835 — Lyman Abbott, American minister, theologian, and author (d. 1922) Wikipedia ↗
• 1825 — Charles Griffin, American general (d. 1876) Wikipedia ↗
• 1825 — John S. Harris, American surveyor and politician (d. 1906) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 18 (Calendar.cx)