What Happened on October 18?

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births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON OCTOBER 18

Explore the most important historical events that happened on October 18, featuring key moments that shaped the world.

Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)

Year: 1748

Signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ends the War of the Austrian Succession.

American Revolutionary War

Year: 1775

American Revolutionary War: The Burning of Falmouth (now Portland, Maine).

Frendraught Castle

Year: 1630

Frendraught Castle in Scotland, the home of James Crichton of Frendraught, burns down.

Michael the Brave

Year: 1599

Michael the Brave, Prince of Wallachia, defeats the Army of Andrew Báthory in the Battle of Șelimbăr, leading to the first recorded unification of the Romanian people.

Philip II of Spain

Year: 1597

King Philip II of Spain sends his third and final armada against England, but it ends in failure due to storms. The remaining ships are captured or sunk by the English.

African Americans

Year: 1775

African-American poet Phillis Wheatley is freed from slavery.

Siege of Savannah

Year: 1779

American Revolutionary War: The Franco-American Siege of Savannah is lifted.

Johannes Brahms

Year: 1887

Johannes Brahms conducts the premiere of his Double Concerto, composed for violinist Joseph Joachim and cellist Robert Hausmann.

BIRTHS ON OCTOBER 18

Discover famous people and historical figures born on October 18, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.

Dick Taverne

Year of birth: 1928

Dick Taverne, English lawyer and politician (died 2025)

Keith Jackson

Year of birth: 1928

Keith Jackson, American sportscaster and actor (died 2018)

Marv Rotblatt

Year of birth: 1927

Marv Rotblatt, American baseball player (died 2013)

George C. Scott

Year of birth: 1927

George C. Scott, American actor and director (died 1999)

Klaus Kinski

Year of birth: 1926

Klaus Kinski, German-American actor, director, and screenwriter (died 1991)

Chuck Berry

Year of birth: 1926

Chuck Berry, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2017)

Kees Fens

Year of birth: 1929

Kees Fens, Dutch author and critic (died 2008)

Violeta Chamorro

Year of birth: 1929

Violeta Chamorro, Nicaraguan publisher and politician, President of Nicaragua (died 2025)

DEATHS ON OCTOBER 18

Look back at notable individuals who passed away on October 18, and learn about their lasting influences on history.

Manuel Teixeira Gomes

Year of death: 1941

Manuel Teixeira Gomes, Portuguese lawyer and politician, 7th President of Portugal (born 1860)

Gaston Lachaise

Year of death: 1935

Gaston Lachaise, French-American sculptor (born 1882)

Mikhail Nesterov

Year of death: 1942

Mikhail Nesterov, Russian painter (born 1862)

Michiaki Kamada

Year of death: 1947

Michiaki Kamada, Japanese admiral (born 1890)

Yoshio Markino

Year of death: 1956

Yoshio Markino, Japanese painter and author (born 1869)

Walther von Brauchitsch

Year of death: 1948

Walther von Brauchitsch, German field marshal (born 1881)

Santiago Ramón y Cajal

Year of death: 1934

Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Spanish pathologist, histologist, and neuroscientist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1852)

Thomas Edison

Year of death: 1931

Thomas Edison, American engineer and businessman, invented the phonograph (born 1847)

HOLIDAYS ON OCTOBER 18

See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on October 18 around the world.

October 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Christian feast day: October 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Day of Restoration of Independence (Azerbaijan)

Day of Restoration of Independence (Azerbaijan), celebrates the independence of Azerbaijan from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Necktie

Necktie Day (Croatia)

Alaska Day

Alaska Day (Alaska, United States)

Peter of Alcántara

Christian feast day: Peter of Alcantara, can also be celebrated on October 19.

Luke the Evangelist

Christian feast day: Luke the Evangelist

Asclepiades of Antioch

Christian feast day: Asclepiades of Antioch

Isaac Jogues

Christian feast day: Isaac Jogues

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