✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 108th day of the year

April 18

A look at April 18 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Jochen Rindt and Audrey Tang, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1980

    Zimbabwe

    The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President. The Zimbabwean dollar replaces the Rhodesian dollar as the official currency.

    Country in Southeastern Africa
  2. 1949

    The Republic of Ireland Act 1948

    The Republic of Ireland Act comes into force, declaring Éire to be a republic and severing Ireland's "association" with the Commonwealth of Nations.

    Law establishing the Republic
  3. 1946

    International Court of Justice

    The International Court of Justice holds its inaugural meeting in The Hague, Netherlands.

    Judicial organ of the
  4. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: The Doolittle Raid on Japan: Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya are bombed.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  5. 1938

    Superman

    Superman debuts in Action Comics #1 (cover dated June 1938).

    DC Comics superhero
  6. 1915

    World War I

    World War I: French pilot Roland Garros is shot down and glides to a landing on the German side of the lines.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  7. 1909

    Joan of Arc

    Joan of Arc is beatified in Rome.

    French folk heroine and
  8. 1689

    Boston

    Bostonians rise up in rebellion against Sir Edmund Andros.

    Capital and largest city
  9. 1521

    Martin Luther

    Trial of Martin Luther begins its second day during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. He refuses to recant his teachings despite the risk of excommunication.

    German priest, theologian and
  10. 1428

    Republic of Venice

    Peace of Ferrara between Republic of Venice, Duchy of Milan, Republic of Florence and House of Gonzaga: ending of the second campaign of the Wars in Lombardy fought until the Treaty of Lodi in 1454, which will then guarantee the conditions for the development of the Italian Renaissance.

    Sovereign state in Italy
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Famous birthday twins

Born on April 18

Jochen Rindt

b. 1942

German-Austrian racing driver

Audrey Tang

b. 1981

Taiwanese Minister of Digital Affairs and programmer

Samuel P. Huntington

b. 1927

American political scientist, author, and academic

Łukasz Fabiański

b. 1985

Polish footballer

Jerzy Stuhr

b. 1947

Polish actor, director, and screenwriter

Tadeusz Mazowiecki

b. 1927

Polish journalist and politician, Prime Minister of Poland

Michael D. Higgins

b. 1941

Irish sociologist and politician, 9th President of Ireland

Karl Josef Becker

b. 1928

German cardinal and theologian

Deaths

  • 1955Albert Einstein, German-American physicist, engineer, and academic
  • 1945Ernie Pyle, American journalist and soldier
  • 1873Justus von Liebig, German chemist and academic
  • 1864Juris Alunāns, Latvian philologist and linguist
  • 1567Wilhelm von Grumbach, German adventurer
  • 727AD 727, Byzantine commander and rebel leader

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Anthusa of Constantinople
  • —Christian feast day: Cyril VI of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Eleutherius and Antia
  • —Christian feast day: Galdino della Sala
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Marie of the Incarnation
  • —Christian feast day: Molaise of Leighlin
  • —Christian feast day: Perfectus
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Savina Petrilli

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