March 18

Friday 18, 2005:

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube is removed at the request of her husband, fueling a nationwide debate about her.

Saturday 18, 2000:

2000 Taiwanese presidential election: Chen Shui-bian is elected President of the Republic of China.

Tuesday 18, 1997:

The tail of a Russian An-24 charter plane breaks off while en-route to Turkey causing the plane to crash and killing all 50 on board. This leads to the grounding of all An-24s.

Wednesday 18, 1992:

Microsoft ships Windows 3.1.

Sunday 18, 1990:

12 paintings, collectively worth $100 million, are stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. This is the largest art theft in US history.

Saturday 18, 1989:

In Egypt, a 4,400-year-old mummy is found in the Pyramid of Cheops.

Friday 18, 1988:

Alasdair Crawford is born in Warrington, England.

Monday 18, 1985:

The first episode of popular soap Neighbours airs on Australian TV.

Tuesday 18, 1980:

On Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia 50 persons were killed at an explosion of a Vostok-2M rocket on its launch pad during a fueling operation.

Monday 18, 1974:

Oil embargo crisis: Most OPEC nations end a five-month oil embargo against the United States, Europe and Japan.

Thursday 18, 1971:

A landslide at Chungar, Peru crashes into Lake Yanahuani killing 200.

Wednesday 18, 1970:

Lon Nol ousts Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.

Monday 18, 1968:

Gold standard: The U.S. Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve to back US currency.

Thursday 18, 1965:

Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov, leaving his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, becomes the first person to walk in space.

Sunday 18, 1962:

In Luxembourg, Isabelle Aubret wins the seventh Eurovision Song Contest for France singing "Un premier amour" (A first love).

Saturday 18, 1961:

In Cannes, France, Jean-Claude Pascal wins the sixth Eurovision Song Contest for Luxembourg singing "Nous les amoureux" (We the lovers).

Wednesday 18, 1959:

American President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill into law allowing for Hawaiian statehood, which would become official on August 21.

Wednesday 18, 1953:

An earthquake hits western Turkey killing 250.

Sunday 18, 1945:

World War II: 1,250 American bombers attack Berlin.

Monday 18, 1940:

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet at Brenner Pass in the Alps and agree to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom.

Friday 18, 1938:

Mexico nationalizes all foreign-owned oil properties within its borders.

Thursday 18, 1937:

Spanish Civil War: Spanish Republican forces hand the Italian forces a grave defeat at the Battle of Guadalajara.

Wednesday 18, 1925:

The Tri-State Tornado hits the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.

Saturday 18, 1922:

In India, Mohandas Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience. He would serve only 2 years.

Friday 18, 1921:

The second Peace of Riga between Poland and Soviet Union. Despite the recent Polish successes, Soviets annex Ukraine and Belarus. Government of Ukraine emigrates to France. Famine kills millions of Russians.

Thursday 18, 1915:

World War I: Three battleships are sunk during a failed British & French naval attack on the Dardanelles.

Tuesday 18, 1913:

George I of Greece is assassinated.

Thursday 18, 1909:

Einar Dessau uses a short-wave radio transmitter becoming the first to broadcast as a ham radio operator.

Wednesday 18, 1874:

Hawaii signs a treaty with the United States granting exclusive trading rights.

Saturday 18, 1871:

President of the French government Thiers orders evacuation of Paris, a socialist government rules the city.

Saturday 18, 1865:

American Civil War: The Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourns for the last time.

Monday 18, 1850:

American Express is founded by Henry Wells & William Fargo.

Tuesday 18, 1766:

American Revolution: The British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act, which was very unpopular in the British colonies.

Saturday 18, 1673:

John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton sells his part of New Jersey to some Friends (Quakers).

Tuesday 18, 1608:

Sissinios formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia

Sunday 18, 1438:

Albert II of Habsburg becomes King of Germany.

Sunday 18, 1229:

Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor declares himself King of Jerusalem during the Sixth Crusade.

Wednesday 18, 731:

Saint Gregory III begins his reign as a Catholic pope.

Wednesday 18, 37:

The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius' will and proclaims Caligula emperor.

More on March, 18

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