✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 77th day of the year

March 18

A look at March 18 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Ingemar Stenmark and Stéphane Mallarmé, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1996

    Ozone Disco fire

    A nightclub fire in Quezon City, Philippines kills 162 people.

    1996 nightclub fire in
  2. 1994

    Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Bosnia's Bosniaks and Croats sign the Washington Agreement, ending war between the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and establishing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Country in Southeast Europe
  3. 1971

    Peru

    Peru: A landslide crashes into Yanawayin Lake, killing 200 people at the mining camp of Chungar.

    Country in South America
  4. 1944

    Mount Vesuvius

    Mount Vesuvius in Italy erupts, killing 26 people, causing thousands to flee their homes, and destroying dozens of Allied bombers.

    Active stratovolcano in the
  5. 1940

    World War II

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

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1925

    1925 Tri-State tornado

    The 1925 Tri-State tornado hits the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.

    1925 tornado in Missouri,
  7. 1922

    Mahatma Gandhi

    In India, Mohandas Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience, of which he serves only two.

    Indian independence activist (1869–1948)
  8. 1915

    World War I

    World War I: During the Battle of Gallipoli, three battleships are sunk during a failed British and French naval attack on the Dardanelles.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  9. 1608

    Susenyos I

    Susenyos is formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia.

    Emperor of Ethiopia from
  10. 1241

    First Mongol invasion of Poland

    First Mongol invasion of Poland: Mongols overwhelm Polish armies in Kraków in the Battle of Chmielnik and plunder the city.

    Military campaign, 1240 to
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Famous birthday twins

Born on March 18

Ingemar Stenmark

b. 1956

Swedish skier

Stéphane Mallarmé

b. 1842

French poet and critic

Neville Chamberlain

b. 1869

English businessman and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Rudolf Diesel

b. 1858

German engineer, invented the Diesel engine

Grover Cleveland

b. 1837

American lawyer and politician, 22nd and 24th President of the United States

Willy Sagnol

b. 1977

French footballer and manager

Friedrich Hebbel

b. 1813

German poet and playwright

Werner Mölders

b. 1913

German colonel and pilot

Deaths

  • 2017Chuck Berry, American guitarist, singer and songwriter
  • 2016Guido Westerwelle, German lawyer and politician, 15th Vice-Chancellor of Germany
  • 1980Erich Fromm, German psychologist and philosopher
  • 1964J. Sigfrid Edström, Swedish businessman, 4th President of the International Olympic Committee
  • 1913George I of Greece, King of Greece from 1863 to 1913
  • 1907Marcellin Berthelot, French chemist and politician, French Minister of Foreign Affairs

Holidays & observances

  • —Anniversary of the Oil Expropriation (Mexico)
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Aimée-Adèle Le Bouteiller
  • —Christian feast day: Alexander of Jerusalem
  • —Christian feast day: Anselm of Lucca
  • —Christian feast day: Cyril of Jerusalem
  • —Christian feast day: Edward the Martyr
  • —Christian feast day: Fridianus
  • —Christian feast day: Salvator

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