July 18

Friday 18, 2003:

2003 - David Kelly is discovered dead after committing suicide.

Wednesday 18, 2001:

In Baltimore, Maryland, a 60-car train derails in a tunnel, sparking a fire that lasts days and virtually shuts down downtown Baltimore.

Saturday 18, 1998:

A 23-foot tidal wave kills nearly 3,000 people in Papua New Guinea.

Friday 18, 1997:

1997 - 8000 low-caste Indians riot in Mumbai (Bombay) following a funeral for 10 children who had been killed by police.

Thursday 18, 1996:

In an event very similar to the Oklahoma tornado that would occur three years later, an F5 tornado hit the town of Oakfield, Wisconsin.

Tuesday 18, 1995:

On the Caribbean island of Montserrat, the Soufriere Hills volcano erupts. Over the course of several years, it devastates the island, destroying the capital and forcing most of the population to flee.

Monday 18, 1994:

A court upholds NBA salary cap and draft rights.

Tuesday 18, 1989:

Rebecca Schaeffer is shot by a crazed fan, prompting California to pass America's first anti-stalking law in 1990.

Saturday 18, 1992:

The ten victims of the La Cantuta massacre disappeared from their university in Lima.

Friday 18, 1986:

1986 - The motion picture Aliens opens in theaters.

Wednesday 18, 1984:

1984 - National Crime Authority. Formed, in Australia.

Sunday 18, 1982:

268 campesinos ("countryside people") are slain in the Plan de Sánchez massacre in Ríos Montt's Guatemala.

Sunday 18, 1976:

Gymnast Nadia Comaneci, aged 14, scores first ever perfect 10 at the Olympics.

Monday 18, 1977:

Vietnam joins the United Nations.

Friday 18, 1969:

1969 - Apollo 11 makes preparations for landing on the Moon.

Thursday 18, 1968:

1968 - Intel incorporated.

Monday 18, 1966:

Gemini 10 launched.

Friday 18, 1947:

President Harry S. Truman signs the Presidential Succession Act into law which places the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore next in the line of succession after the United States Vice President.

Tuesday 18, 1944:

World War II: Hideki Tojo resigns as Prime Minister of Japan due to numerous setbacks in the war effort.

Saturday 18, 1942:

World War II: The Germans test fly the Messerschmitt Me-262 using only its jets for the first time.

Monday 18, 1938:

Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan arrives in Ireland.

Saturday 18, 1925:

Adolf Hitler publishes his personal manifesto Mein Kampf.

Saturday 18, 1914:

The United States Army's Signal Corps is formed, giving definite status to its air service for the first time.

Monday 18, 1898:

Marie and Pierre Curie announce the discovery of a new element and proposed to call it polonium.

Friday 18, 1873:

Oscar II of Sweden-Norway is crowned king of Norway in Trondheim

Thursday 18, 1872:

Britain introduces voting by secret ballot.

Saturday 18, 1863:

American Civil War: The first formal African American military unit, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, unsuccessfully assaults Confederate-held Fort Wagner but their valiant fighting still proves the worth of African American soldiers during the war.

Saturday 18, 1857:

Louis Faidherbe, French governor of Senegal, arrives to relieve French forces at Kayes, effectively ending El Hajj Umar Tall's war on the French.

Sunday 18, 1830:

Uruguay adopts its first constitution.

Saturday 18, 1536:

The authority of the Pope is declared void in England.

Tuesday 18, 1195:

Battle of Alarcos, great victory of Almohad ruler Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al-Mansur over the Castilian King Alfonso VIII

Friday 18, 64:

Great fire of Rome: A fire begins to burn in the merchant area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control while Emperor Nero reportedly plays his lyre and sings while watching the blaze from a safe distance.

Sunday 18, -390:

Battle of the Allia: A Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, leading to the subsequent sacking of Rome.

More on July, 18

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