January 18

Tuesday 18, 2005:

A U.N. World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan begins

Saturday 18, 2003:

Canberra firestorm, kills 4 and destroyes 491 homes

Friday 18, 2002:

A Canadian Pacific Railway train carrying anhydrous ammonia derails outside of Minot, North Dakota, killing one man and calling into question the maintenance of CP track and the policy of voice-tracking used by Clear Channel Communications.

Sunday 18, 1998:

Monica Lewinsky affair story on his website The Drudge Report.

Saturday 18, 1997:

Boerge Ousland of Norway becomes the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided.

Wednesday 18, 1995:

In southern France near Vallon-Pont-d'Arc a network of caves are discovered that contain paintings and engravings that are 17,000 to 20,000 years old.

Monday 18, 1993:

For the first time, Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is officially observed in all 50 United States states.

Friday 18, 1991:

Eastern Airlines shuts down after 62 years citing financial problems.

Thursday 18, 1990:

Washington, DC, Mayor Marion Barry is arrested for drug possession in an FBI sting.

Tuesday 18, 1983:

The International Olympic Committee restores Jim Thorpe Olympic medals to his family.

Wednesday 18, 1978:

The European Court of Human Rights finds the United Kingdom government guilty of mistreating prisoners in Northern Ireland, but not guilty of torture.

Tuesday 18, 1977:

Australia's worst rail disaster occurs at Granville, Sydney killing 83.

Saturday 18, 1975:

The Jeffersons debuts on CBS.

Wednesday 18, 1967:

Albert DeSalvo, the "Boston Strangler," is convicted of numerous crimes and is sentenced to life in prison.

Saturday 18, 1964:

The Beatles appear on the Billboard magazine charts for the first time.

Saturday 18, 1958:

Willie O'Ree, the first African American National Hockey League player, make his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins.

Thursday 18, 1945:

Liberation of the Budapest ghetto by the Red Army

Tuesday 18, 1944:

The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City for the first time hosts a jazz concert; the performers are Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw, Roy Eldridge and Jack Teagarden.

Monday 18, 1943:

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: The first uprising of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Wednesday 18, 1939:

Louis Armstrong records Jeepers Creepers.

Saturday 18, 1919:

1919 - Bentley Motors is founded.

Tuesday 18, 1916:

A 611 gram chondrite type meteorite struck a house near the village of Baxter in Stone County, Missouri.

Monday 18, 1915:

Japan issues the "Twenty-One Demands" to China in a bid to increase its power in east Asia.

Wednesday 18, 1911:

Eugene B. Ely lands on the deck of the USS Pennsylvania stationed in San Francisco harbor, marking the first time an aircraft landed on a ship

Saturday 18, 1896:

The X-ray machine is exhibited for the first time.

Monday 18, 1886:

Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England.

Friday 18, 1884:

Dr William Price attempts to cremate the body of his infant son, Jesus Christ Price, setting a legal precedent for cremation in the UK.

Wednesday 18, 1871:

Wilhelm I of Germany becomes the first German Emperor.

Saturday 18, 1862:

The Confederacy suffers its first significant defeat in the American Civil War at the Battle of Mill Springs.

Friday 18, 1861:

Georgia joins the Confederacy.

Sunday 18, 1778:

James Cook is the first known European to discover the Hawaiian Islands, which he names the "Sandwich Islands".

Tuesday 18, 1701:

Frederick I becomes King of Prussia.

Saturday 18, 1670:

Henry Morgan captures Panama.

Friday 18, 1535:

Lima, Peru founded by Francisco Pizarro.

Sunday 18, 1520:

King Christian II of Denmark and Norway defeats the Swedes at Lake Asunde.

Friday 18, 532:

Nika riots in Constantinople fail.

Thursday 18, 474:

Leo II briefly becomes Byzantine emperor

Wednesday 18, 350:

General Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans, proclaims himself Emperor.

More on January, 18

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