Discover what happened on July 18 in history as remarkable achievements, historic milestones, technological advances, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on July 18 in History?
Important events on this day include the founding of Intel, Nadia Comaneci earning the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history, Detroit filing for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, the debut of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, and the premiere of The Dark Knight.
JULY 18 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1743 – “The New York Weekly Journal” published the first half-page newspaper ad.
1927 – Ty Cobb set a major league baseball record by getting his 4,000th career hit. He hit 4,191 before he retired in 1928.
1932 – The U.S. and Canada signed a treaty to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.
1936 – The first Oscar Meyer Wienermobile rolled out of General Body Company’s factory in Chicago, IL.
1947 – President Harry Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act. The Act placed the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president.
1964 – Pete Rose, of the Cincinnati Reds, hit the only grand slam home run of his career.
1966 – Gemini 10 was launched from Cape Kennedy on a 70-hour mission that included docking with an orbiting Agena target vehicle.
1968 – Intel was founded in Mountain View, CA.
1969 – Ted Kennedy drove off a Chappaquiddick Island bridge, killing his passenger Mary Jo Kopechne
1976 – Nadia Comaneci became the first person in Olympic Games history to score a perfect 10 in gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics. She would end up getting six more perfect scores, three gold medals, a silver, and a bronze.
1984 – Beverly Lynn Burns became the first female Boeing 747 airline captain in the world.
1985 – At the age of 23, Jack Nicklaus II made his playing debut on the pro golf tour at the Quad Cities Open in Coal Valley, IL.
1986 – The movie “Aliens”, starring Sigourney Weaver, was released in theaters.
1990 – The movie “Arachnophobia” opened in theaters.
1994 – Crayola introduced 16 Magic Scent crayons. They smells included tulips, dirt, coconuts, and shampoo.
2001 – A train derailed, involving 60 cars, in a Baltimore train tunnel. The fire that resulted lasted for six days and closed down downtown Baltimore for several days.
2005 – The iTunes Music Store reached 500 million songs sold.
2008 – The movie “Mamma Mia!” premiered in theaters.
2008 – The movie “The Dark Knight”, starring Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker, premiered in theaters.
2013 – The Government of Detroit, MI, with up to $20 billion in debt, filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. History.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 18:
Baddiewinkle – 98 years old (1928) – Internet personality
Tenley Albright – 91 years old (1935) – Former figure skater and physician
Dion DiMucci – 87 years old (1939) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Jerry Moore – 87 years old (1939) – Football player and coach
James Brolin – 86 years old (1940) – Actor
Joe Torre – 86 years old (1940) – Baseball player, manager, and executive
Martha Reeves – 85 years old (1941) – Singer and politician
Joseph J. Ellis – 83 years old (1943) – Historian and author
Steve Forbes – 79 years old (1947) – Publisher and politician
Carlos Colón Sr. – 78 years old (1948) – Puerto Rican-American wrestler and promoter
Jack Dongarra – 76 years old (1950) – Computer scientist and academic
Shahid Khan – 76 years old (1950) – Pakistani-American businessman and sports executive
Mark Udall – 76 years old (1950) – Educator and politician
Margo Martindale – 75 years old (1951) – Actress
Ricky Skaggs – 72 years old (1954) – Singer-songwriter, mandolin player, and producer
Elizabeth McGovern – 65 years old (1961) – Actress
Wendy Williams – 62 years old (1964) – Talk show host
Dan O'Brien – 60 years old (1966) – Decathlete and coach
Vin Diesel – 59 years old (1967) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
Elizabeth Gilbert – 57 years old (1969) – Author
Penny Hardaway – 55 years old (1971) – Basketball player and coach
Joe Russo – 55 years old (1971) – Director, producer and screenwriter
Torii Hunter – 51 years old (1975) – Baseball player
Daron Malakian – 51 years old (1975) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Crystal Mangum – 48 years old (1978) – Murderer responsible for making false rape allegations in the Duke lacrosse case
Ben Sheets – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player and coach
Deion Branch – 47 years old (1979) – Football player
Joey Mercury – 47 years old (1979) – Wrestler and producer
Kristen Bell – 46 years old (1980) – Actress
David Blu – 46 years old (1980) – American–Israeli basketball player
Ryan Cabrera – 44 years old (1982) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Aaron Gillespie – 43 years old (1983) – Singer-songwriter and drummer
Ben Askren – 42 years old (1984) – Mixed martial artist and boxer
Chace Crawford – 41 years old (1985) – Actor
Mandy Rose – 35 years old (1991) – Wrestler and television personality
Bam Adebayo – 29 years old (1997) – Basketball player
Noah Lyles – 29 years old (1997) – Sprinter
Sarah Kinsley – 26 years old (2000) – Singer-songwriter
Caleb Wilson – 20 years old (2006) – Basketball player
Cameron Boozer – 19 years old (2007) – Basketball player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 18:
- National Caviar Day: Caviar can be expensive, but for one day indulge in the delicacy. Varieties from some fish are cheaper than others, so shop around and try it out.
- Woodie Wagon Day: Ride in style and feel the breeze with a classic car that embodies the essence of the beach culture. Perfect for a sunny day.
- World Listening Day: Rather than simply listening to other people talk, World Listening Day was created to draw attention to the way humans need to be listening to the world around us, including environmental awareness, soundscapes and acoustic ecology. How to Celebrate World Listening Day Get involved with World Listening Day by sharing it...
- Black Leaders Awareness Day: Celebrating influential figures whose leadership, vision, and achievements inspire progress and foster a more inclusive future.
- Insurance Nerd Day: If you have any friends or family who are insurance nerds, thank them for the work they do and see if they have any advice they’re just dying to give you.
- National Sour Candy Day: With loads and loads of different types of delicious candy available in the world, this day is devoted to one type of sweet treat in particular – sour candy! National Sour Candy Day offers an opportunity for all lovers of sour candy to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate this delectable treat...
- National Tropical Fruit Day: Imagine biting into a juicy mango, its sweetness transporting you to sun-drenched tropical lands. National Tropical Fruit Day invites everyone to explore such exotic flavors. This celebration encourages tasting fruits like pineapples, papayas, and kiwis, each offering a unique taste adventure. Beyond their delightful flavors, tropical fruits provide numerous health benefits...
- Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day: Have you ever caught yourself replaying old decisions, thinking, "I should have done this" or "I could have done that"? Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day invites us to let go of these lingering regrets. It's a chance to stop dwelling on missed opportunities and focus on...
- National Dapper Your Data Day: National Dapper Your Data Day invites everyone to give their digital life a smart refresh. It’s a call to tidy up the bits of our online world—photos, files, passwords, browser history—and keep them neat and secure. Through its playful name, the day reminds us we all hold a lot of...
- National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day: Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day is all about a playful mix of sweet and tart. It celebrates a wine that brings together two bold flavors—strawberries and rhubarb—for a drink that feels like summer in a glass. People love it because it’s fun, full of character, and just different enough to surprise...
- Perfect Family Day: Family is the core of who we are. It’s where values take root, where love first feels real, and where support shows up even without words. Perfect Family Day brings that into focus. It reminds us how much the little things matter—meals shared without rush, stories told across the table...
- Nelson Mandela International Day: Recall the remarkable life of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, and see what you can do to help make the world a better place for everyone.
- International Snowdon Race: The International Snowdon Race is a thrilling event that draws runners from around the globe to tackle one of the toughest mountain courses in Europe. Held annually in Llanberis, Wales, the race challenges participants with a 15.35-kilometer course that includes a grueling ascent to the summit of Snowdon, the highest...
- National Moth Week: Sign up for an event or citizen project during Moth Week to get involved, take and post photos, and get a good look at the interesting varieties of moths out there.
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