On This Day — November 18

🕰️ Notable Events on November 18

• 2013 — NASA launches the MAVEN probe to Mars. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria becomes the 118th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — In the United Kingdom, the Local Government Act 2003, repealing Section 28, becomes effective. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 2002 — Iraq disarmament crisis: United Nations weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix arrive in Iraq. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Aggie Bonfire collapses killing 12 students and injuring 27 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — In the United States, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is approved by the House of Representatives. Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — In South Africa, 21 political parties approve a new constitution, expanding voting rights and ending white minority rule. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon release Anglican Church envoys Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — After an 87-day siege, the Croatian city of Vukovar capitulates to the besieging Yugoslav People's Army and allied Serb paramilitary forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — War on Drugs: U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs a bill into law allowing the death penalty for drug traffickers. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — In Jonestown, Guyana, Jim Jones led his Peoples Temple to a mass murder-suicide that claimed 918 lives in all, 909 of them in Jonestown itself, including over 270 children. Congressman Leo Ryan is murdered by members of the Peoples Temple hours earlier. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Oman declares its independence from United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — U.S. President Richard Nixon asks the U.S. Congress for $155 million in supplemental aid for the Cambodian government. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — The first push-button telephone goes into service. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — United States President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam.[citation needed] Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — The Popular Socialist Youth is founded in Cuba. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: Battle of Berlin: 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Trade union members elect John L. Lewis as the first president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Release of the animated short Steamboat Willie, the first fully synchronized sound cartoon, directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, featuring the third appearances of cartoon characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. This is considered by the Disney corporation to be Mickey's birthday. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Latvia declares its independence from Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Two United States warships are sent to Nicaragua after 500 revolutionaries (including two Americans) are executed by order of José Santos Zelaya. Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Prince Carl of Denmark becomes King Haakon VII of Norway. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1883 — American and Canadian railroads institute five standard continental time zones, ending the confusion of thousands of local times. Wikipedia ↗
• 1872 — Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women are arrested for illegal voting in the United States presidential election of 1872. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is published in the New York Saturday Press. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 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". Wikipedia ↗
• 1809 — In a naval action during the Napoleonic Wars, French frigates defeat British East Indiamen in the Bay of Bengal. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1760 — The rebuilt debtors' prison, at the Castellania in Valletta, receives the first prisoners. Wikipedia ↗
• 1730 — The future Frederick II (known as Frederick the Great), King of Prussia, is granted a royal pardon and released from confinement. Wikipedia ↗
• 1626 — The new St Peter's Basilica is consecrated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1601 — Tiryaki Hasan Pasha, an Ottoman provincial governor, routs the Habsburg forces commanded by Ferdinand the Archduke of Austria during the Siege of Nagykanizsa. Wikipedia ↗
• 1494 — French King Charles VIII occupies Florence, Italy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1493 — Christopher Columbus first sights the island now known as Puerto Rico. Wikipedia ↗
• 1421 — A seawall at the Zuiderzee dike in the Netherlands breaks, flooding 72 villages and killing about 10,000 people. This event will be known as St Elizabeth's flood. Wikipedia ↗
• 1302 — Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Unam sanctam, claiming spiritual supremacy for the papacy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1282 — Pope Martin IV excommunicates King Peter III of Aragon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1210 — Pope Innocent III excommunicates Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV. Wikipedia ↗
• 1180 — Phillip II becomes king of France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1105 — Maginulfo is elected the Antipope as Sylvester IV. Wikipedia ↗
• 1095 — The Council of Clermont begins: called by Pope Urban II, it led to the First Crusade to the Holy Land. Wikipedia ↗
• 401 — The Visigoths, led by king Alaric I, cross the Alps and invade northern Italy. Wikipedia ↗
• 326 — The old St. Peter's Basilica is consecrated. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on November 18

• 1993 — Zhang Zetian, Chinese businesswoman and investor Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Nathan Kress, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Steven Skrzybski, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Ahmed Kelly, Iraqi-Australian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, Thai tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Myk Perez, Filipino singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Lu Jiajing, Chinese tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Natalie Osman, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Jeffrey Jordan, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Michael Roach, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Yoon Park, South Korean actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Allyson Felix, American sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Christian Siriano, American fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ryohei Chiba, Japanese singer and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Enar Jääger, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Travis Buck, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Michael Dawson, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Jon Lech Johansen, Norwegian computer programmer and engineer, created DeCSS Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Greg Estandia, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Dianne dela Fuente, Filipino singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Nasim Pedrad, Iranian-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Vittoria Puccini, Italian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Maggie Stiefvater, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Allison Tolman, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Christina Vidal, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Hamza al-Ghamdi, Saudi Arabian terrorist, hijacker of United Airlines Flight 175 (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Luke Chadwick, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Minori Chihara, Japanese voice actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — François Duval, Belgian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Denny Hamlin, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Dustin Kensrue, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Damien Johnson, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Aldo Montano, Italian fencer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Trent Barrett, Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Shagrath, Norwegian singer-songwriter (Dimmu Borgir Chrome Division, Ov Hell, and Fimbulwinter) Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Dominic Armato, American voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Sage Francis, American rapper (Non-Prophets) Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Matt Welsh, Australian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Mona Zaki, Egyptian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Lucy Akhurst, English actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Shawn Camp, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Anthony McPartlin, English comedian, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — David Ortiz, Dominican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Pastor Troy, American rapper, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Jason Williams, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Chloë Sevigny, American actress and fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Petter Solberg, Norwegian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Nic Pothas, South African cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Jeroen Straathof, Dutch cyclist and speed skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Therese Coffey, English chemist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Terrance Hayes, American poet and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Matthew Rodwell, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Mike Epps, American comedian, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Megyn Kelly, American lawyer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Peta Wilson, Australian model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Sam Cassell, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Ahmed Helmy, Egyptian actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Koichiro Kimura, Japanese mixed martial artist and wrestler (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Duncan Sheik, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Barry Hunter, Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — George Kotsiopoulos, American stylist and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Romany Malco, American rapper, producer, actor, and screenwriter (College Boyz) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Gary Sheffield, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Owen Wilson, American actor, producer, comedian and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Tom Gordon, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Jocelyn Lemieux, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Gavin Peacock, English footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Rita Cosby, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Nadia Sawalha, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Len Bias, American basketball player (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Dante Bichette, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Peter Schmeichel, Danish footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Joost Zwagerman, Dutch author and poet (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Bart Bryant, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Kirk Hammett, American guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Steven Moffat, Scottish screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Elizabeth Perkins, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Yeşim Ustaoğlu, Turkish director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Kim Wilde, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Jimmy Quinn, Northern Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Daniel Brailovsky, Argentinian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Tony Bunn, American bassist, composer, producer, and writer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Noel Brotherston, Irish-English footballer and painter (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Warren Moon, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Jim Weirich, American computer scientist, developed Rake Software (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Carter Burwell, American composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Alan Moore, English author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Kevin Nealon, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Peter Beattie, Australian lawyer and politician, 36th Premier of Queensland Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Delroy Lindo, English actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — John Parr, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Pete Morelli, American businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Justin Raimondo, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Graham Parker, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Rudy Sarzo, Cuban-American rock bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Herman Rarebell, German rock drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Tõnis Mägi, Estonian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Andrea Marcovicci, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Kongō Masahiro, Japanese sumo wrestler (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Ana Mendieta, Cuban-American sculptor and painter (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Jack Tatum, American football player (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Timothy Maude, American general (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Jameson Parker, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Ross Wilson, Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Alan Dean Foster, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Chris Rainbow, Scottish singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Wilma Mankiller, American tribal chief (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan lawyer and politician, 6th President of Sri Lanka Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Wolfgang Joop, German fashion designer, founded JOOP! Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Edwin C. Krupp, American astronomer, archaeoastronomer, author, Director Griffith Observatory Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Leonardo Sandri, Argentinian cardinal Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Linda Evans, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Susan Sullivan, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Gary Bettenhausen, American race car driver (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Angela Watkinson, English educator and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — James Welch, American novelist and poet (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Margaret Atwood, Canadian novelist, poet, and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington, English journalist and politician, Leader of the House of Lords Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Amanda Lear, Hong Kong-French singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Brenda Vaccaro, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Jules Mikhael Al-Jamil, Iraqi-Lebanese archbishop (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Norbert Ratsirahonana, Malagasy politician, Prime Minister of Madagascar Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Ennio Antonelli, Italian cardinal Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Don Cherry, American trumpet player (Old and New Dreams, New York Contemporary Five, and Codona) (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Rudolf Bahro, German philosopher and politician (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Rodney Hall, Australian author and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Vassilis Vassilikos, Greek journalist and diplomat Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Bruce Conner, American painter, photographer, and director (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Danny McDevitt, American baseball player (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Gianna D'Angelo, American soprano and educator (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Salvador Laurel, Filipino lawyer and politician, 5th Prime Minister of the Philippines (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Sheila Jordan, American singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Hank Ballard, American R&B singer-songwriter (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Knowlton Nash, Canadian journalist and author (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Gene Mauch, American baseball player and manager (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Alexander Mackenzie Stuart, Baron Mackenzie-Stuart, Scottish soldier, engineer, and judge (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Anna Elisabeth (Lise) Østergaard, Danish psychologist and politician (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Alan Shepard, American admiral, pilot, and astronaut (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Ted Stevens, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Luis Somoza Debayle, Nicaraguan politician, 70th President of Nicaragua (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Mustafa Khalil, Egyptian lawyer and politician, 77th Prime Minister of Egypt (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Robert Fryer, American playwright and producer (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Ron Suart, English football player and manager (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Jocelyn Brando, American actress (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — İlhan Berk, Turkish poet and author (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Tasker Watkins, Welsh soldier, judge, and politician, Victoria Cross recipient (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on November 18 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on November 18

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Repentance and Prayer Day (DE)