✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 322nd day of the year

November 18

A look at November 18 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Kim Wilde and Allyson Felix, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♏ZodiacScorpio ◈BirthstoneTopaz ❀Birth flowerChrysanthemum
Advertisement 728 × 90 leaderboard

Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1999

    Texas A&M University

    At Texas A&M University, the Aggie Bonfire collapses killing 12 students and injuring 27 others.

    Public land-grant university in
  2. 1993

    South Africa

    In South Africa, 21 political parties approve a new constitution, expanding voting rights and ending white minority rule.

    Country in Southern Africa
  3. 1987

    King's Cross fire

    King's Cross fire: In London, 31 people die in a fire at the city's busiest underground station, King's Cross St Pancras.

    1987 tube station fire
  4. 1971

    Oman

    Oman declares its independence from the United Kingdom.

    Country in West Asia
  5. 1961

    Vietnam War

    Vietnam War: United States President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam.

    1955–1975 war in Southeast
  6. 1940

    World War II

    World War II: German leader Adolf Hitler and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano meet to discuss Benito Mussolini's disastrous Italian invasion of Greece.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1918

    Latvia

    Latvia declares its independence from Russia.

    Country in Northern Europe
  8. 1916

    World War I

    World War I: First Battle of the Somme: In France, British Expeditionary Force commander Douglas Haig calls off the battle which started on July 1, 1916.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  9. 1809

    Napoleonic Wars

    Napoleonic Wars: In a naval action, French frigates defeat British East Indiamen in the Bay of Bengal.

    1803–1815 series of wars
  10. 1493

    Christopher Columbus

    Christopher Columbus first sights the island now known as Puerto Rico.

    Italian navigator and explorer
Advertisement Responsive in-content unit

Famous birthday twins

Born on November 18

Kim Wilde

b. 1960

English singer-songwriter

Allyson Felix

b. 1985

American sprinter

Karl Schranz

b. 1938

Austrian skier

Jacques Maritain

b. 1882

French philosopher and author

Arnett Moultrie

b. 1990

American basketball player

Ted Stevens

b. 1923

American politician

Mahinda Rajapaksa

b. 1945

Sri Lankan lawyer and politician, 6th President of Sri Lanka

Herman Rarebell

b. 1949

German rock drummer and songwriter

Deaths

  • 2002James Coburn, American actor
  • 1978Jim Jones, American cult leader, founded Peoples Temple
  • 1962Niels Bohr, Danish footballer, physicist, and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1941Chris Watson, Chilean-Australian journalist and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Australia
  • 1922Marcel Proust, French author and critic
  • 1886Chester A. Arthur, American general, lawyer, and politician, 21st President of the United States

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Abhai of Hach (Syriac Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Alphaeus and Zacchaeus
  • —Christian feast day: Barulas
  • —Christian feast day: Constant
  • —Christian feast day: Dedication of Saints Peter and Paul
  • —Christian feast day: Elizabeth of Hungary (Church of England)
  • —Christian feast day: Juthwara
  • —Christian feast day: Mabyn (Roman Catholic Church and Anglicanism)

Born on this day?

Make your birthday card.

Drop in your birth year and we'll work out your exact age, the day of the week you were born, your Chinese zodiac, your generation, and the countdown to your next candle.