On This Day — May 18

🕰️ Notable Events on May 18

• 2015 — At least 78 people die in a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Colombian town of Salgar. Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — The LTTE are defeated by the Sri Lankan government, ending almost 26 years of fighting between the two sides. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — The post Loktantra Andolan government passes a landmark bill curtailing the power of the monarchy and making Nepal a secular country. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirms that Pluto has two additional moons, Nix and Hydra. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Israeli troops finish retreating from the Gaza Strip after occupying it, giving the area to the Palestine to govern. Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Riots in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, caused by the approval of the four Danish exceptions in the Maastricht Treaty referendum. Police open fire against civilians for the first time since World War II and injure 11 demonstrators. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Northern Somalia declares independence from the rest of Somalia as the Republic of Somaliland but is not recognized by the international community. Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — In France, a modified TGV train achieves a new rail world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph). Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Students in Gwangju, South Korea begin demonstrations calling for democratic reforms. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Nuclear test: Under project Smiling Buddha, India successfully detonates its first nuclear weapon becoming the sixth nation to do so. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Apollo program: Apollo 10 is launched. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Israeli spy Eli Cohen is hanged in Damascus, Syria. Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of 310,000 Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and non-Vietnamese members of the French Army from communist North Vietnam to South Vietnam following the end of the First Indochina War, ends. Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier. Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — The First Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China officially convenes in Nanking. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Battle of Monte Cassino: Conclusion after seven days of the fourth battle as German paratroopers evacuate Monte Cassino. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Deportation of Crimean Tatars by the Soviet Union government. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — New Deal: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority. Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — The Bath School disaster: Forty-five people, including many children, are killed by bombs planted by a disgruntled school-board member in Michigan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — After being founded for 20 years, the Government of the Republic of China approves Tongji University to be among the first national universities of the Republic of China. Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears in Venice, California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — World War I: The Selective Service Act of 1917 is passed, giving the President of the United States the power of conscription. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — The first Indian film, Shree Pundalik by Dadasaheb Torne, is released in Mumbai. Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga. Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — The United States Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that the "separate but equal" doctrine is constitutional. Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Khodynka Tragedy: A mass panic on Khodynka Field in Moscow during the festivities of the coronation of Russian Tsar Nicholas II results in the deaths of 1,389 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1863 — American Civil War: The Siege of Vicksburg begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — Abraham Lincoln wins the Republican Party presidential nomination over William H. Seward, who later becomes the United States Secretary of State. Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Opening of the first German National Assembly (Nationalversammlung) in Frankfurt, Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 1843 — The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of Scotland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1812 — John Bellingham is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging for the assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval. Wikipedia ↗
• 1811 — Battle of Las Piedras: The first great military triumph of the revolution of the Río de la Plata in Uruguay led by José Artigas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1804 — Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French by the French Senate. Wikipedia ↗
• 1803 — Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares war on France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1794 — Battle of Tourcoing during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. Wikipedia ↗
• 1783 — First United Empire Loyalists reach Parrtown (later called Saint John, New Brunswick), Canada, after leaving the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1756 — The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1652 — Rhode Island passes the first law in English-speaking North America making slavery illegal. Wikipedia ↗
• 1631 — In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts. Wikipedia ↗
• 1593 — Playwright Thomas Kyd's accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe. Wikipedia ↗
• 1565 — The Great Siege of Malta begins, in which Ottoman forces attempt and fail to conquer Malta. Wikipedia ↗
• 1499 — Alonso de Ojeda sets sail from Cádiz on his voyage to what is now Venezuela. Wikipedia ↗
• 1388 — During the Battle of Buyur Lake, General Lan Yu leads a Chinese army forward to crush the Mongol hordes of Tögüs Temür, the Khan of Northern Yuan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1302 — Bruges Matins, the nocturnal massacre of the French garrison in Bruges by members of the local Flemish militia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1291 — Fall of Acre, the end of Crusader presence in the Holy Land. Wikipedia ↗
• 1268 — The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Siege of Antioch. Wikipedia ↗
• 1152 — The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become king 2 years later, after the death of his cousin once removed King Stephen of England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1096 — First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 872 — Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47. His first coronation was 28 years earlier, in 844, during the reign of his father Lothair I. Wikipedia ↗
• 332 — Constantine the Great announced free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on May 18

• 1999 — Laura Omloop, Belgian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Polina Edmunds, American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Stuart Percy, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Jessica Watson, Australian sailor Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Dimitri Daeseleire, Belgian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Yuya Osako, Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Josh Starling, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Ahmed Hamada, Egyptian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Kevin Anderson, South African tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Oliver Sin, Hungarian painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Henrique Sereno, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ivet Lalova, Bulgarian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Simon Pagenaud, French race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Darius Šilinskis, Lithuanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Joakim Soria, Mexican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Niki Terpstra, Dutch cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Gary O'Neil, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Luis Terrero, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Vince Young, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Jason Brown, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Marie-Ève Pelletier, Canadian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Mahamadou Diarra, Malian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Ashley Harrison, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Reggie Evans, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Michaël Llodra, French tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Diego Pérez, Uruguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jens Bergensten, Swedish video game designer, co-designed Minecraft Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Anna Chatziathanassiou, Greek figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Mariusz Lewandowski, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Milivoje Novaković, Slovenian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Julián Speroni, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Ricardo Carvalho, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Marcus Giles, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Charles Kamathi, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Lee Hendrie, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Danny Mills, English footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Li Tie, Chinese footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Ron Mercer, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Marko Tomasović, Croatian pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Oleg Tverdovsky, Ukrainian-Russian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Jem, Welsh singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — John Higgins, Scottish snooker player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Jack Johnson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Nelson Figueroa, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Donyell Marshall, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Aleksandr Olerski, Estonian footballer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Turner Stevenson, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Brad Friedel, American soccer player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Mark Menzies, Scottish politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Nobuteru Taniguchi, Japanese race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Tina Fey, American actress, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Tim Horan, Australian rugby player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Billy Howerdel, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Martika, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Philippe Benetton, French rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Ralf Kelleners, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Nina Björk, Swedish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Heinz-Harald Frentzen, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Nancy Juvonen, American screenwriter and producer, co-founded Flower Films Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Mimi Macpherson, Australian environmentalist, entrepreneur and celebrity Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Renata Nielsen, Polish-Danish long jumper and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Michael Tait, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Ignasi Guardans, Spanish academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Marty McSorley, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Sam Vincent, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Russell Senior, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Brent Ashton, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Jari Kurri, Finnish ice hockey player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Yannick Noah, French tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Graham Dilley, English cricketer and coach (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Jay Wells, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Rubén Omar Romano, Argentinian-Mexican footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Toyah Willcox, English singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Michael Cretu, Romanian-German keyboard player and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Henrietta Moore, English anthropologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Catherine Corsini, French director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — John Godber, English playwright and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Chow Yun-fat, Hong Kong actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Wreckless Eric, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Alan Kupperberg, American author and illustrator (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Diane Duane, American author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — David Leakey, English general and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — George Strait, American singer, guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Jeana Yeager, American pilot Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Jim Sundberg, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Angela Voigt, German long jumper (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Rod Milburn, American hurdler and coach (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Mark Mothersbaugh, American singer-songwriter and painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Joe Bonsall, American country/gospel singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Yi Mun-yol, South Korean author and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Richard Swedberg, Swedish sociologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Tom Udall, American lawyer and politician, 28th New Mexico Attorney General, United States Senator from New Mexico Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — John Bruton, Irish politician, 10th Taoiseach of Ireland Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Gail Strickland, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Bruce Alexander, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Frank Hsieh, Taiwanese lawyer and politician, 40th Premier of the Republic of China Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Reggie Jackson, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Gerd Langguth, German political scientist and author (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Albert Hammond, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — W. G. Sebald, German novelist, essayist, and poet (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Nobby Stiles, English footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Malcolm Longair, Scottish astronomer, physicist, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Miriam Margolyes, English-Australian actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Gino Brito, Canadian wrestler and promoter Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Erico Aumentado, Filipino journalist, lawyer, and politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Patrick Cormack, Baron Cormack, English historian, journalist, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Giovanni Falcone, Italian lawyer and judge (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Gordon O'Connor, Canadian general and politician, 38th Canadian Minister of Defence Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Janet Fish, American painter and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Brooks Robinson, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Jacques Santer, Luxembourger jurist and politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Luxembourg Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Leon Ashley, American singer-songwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Türker İnanoğlu, Turkish director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Michael Sandle, English sculptor and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Dwayne Hickman, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Bernadette Chirac, French politician, First Lady of France Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — H. D. Deve Gowda, Indian farmer and politician, 11th Prime Minister of India Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Don Whillans, English rock climber and mountaineer (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Don Martin, American cartoonist (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Robert Morse, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Kalju Pitksaar, Estonian chess player (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Clément Vincent, Canadian farmer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Warren Rudman, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Fred Saberhagen, American soldier and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Jack Sanford, American baseball player and coach (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Norman St John-Stevas, Baron St John of Fawsley, English lawyer and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Pernell Roberts, American actor (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Richard Body, English politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Ray Nagel, American football player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Lillian Hoban, American author and illustrator (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Priscilla Pointer, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Jack Whitaker, American sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Jean-Louis Roux, Canadian actor and politician, 34th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Hugh Shearer, Jamaican journalist and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Jamaica (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Bill Macy, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Kai Winding, Danish-American trombonist and composer (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Michael A. Epstein, English pathologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Pope John Paul II, (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Margot Fonteyn, British ballerina (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Bill Everett, American author and illustrator (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Pierre Balmain, French fashion designer, founded Balmain (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Boris Christoff, Bulgarian-Italian opera singer (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Jane Birdwood, Baroness Birdwood, Canadian-English publisher and politician (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Richard Brooks, American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Perry Como, American singer and television host (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Walter Sisulu, South African politician (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Ester Boserup, Danish economist and author (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Fred Perry, English-Australian tennis player and academic (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Irene Hunt, American author and educator (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on May 18 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on May 18

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Ascension Day (CO) · Ascensión del señor (observado) (CO) · National Patriots' Day (CA) · Victoria Day (CA)

🏀 Sports

• NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons — 00:00
• MLS: LAFC @ Nashville SC — 00:00
• Premier League: Burnley @ Arsenal — 19:00
• MLB: Atlanta Braves @ Miami Marlins — 22:40
• MLB: Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays — 22:40
• MLB: Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies — 22:40