July 18 in history — What Happened Today in History
Welcome to July 18 in history! Here you can discover what happened on July 18, including the major events, the famous people born on July 18 and the notable deaths on July 18, with the newest story starting in 2019.
On this page, July 18 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about July 18 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on July 18 in History 36
- 2019
A man sets fire to an anime studio in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan, killing 36 people and injuring dozens of others.
- 2014
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant requires Christians to either accept dhimmi status, emigrate from ISIL lands, or be killed.
- 2013
The Government of Detroit, with up to $20 billion in debt, files for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
- 2012
At least seven people are killed and 32 others are injured after a bomb explodes on an Israeli tour bus at Burgas Airport, Bulgaria.
- 2002
A Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer crashes near Estes Park, Colorado, killing both crew members.
- 1996
Storms provoke severe flooding on the Saguenay River, beginning one of Quebec's costliest natural disasters ever.
- 1996
Battle of Mullaitivu: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam capture the Sri Lanka Army's base, killing over 1,200 soldiers.
- 1995
On the Caribbean island of Montserrat, the Soufrière Hills volcano erupts. Over the course of several years, it devastates the island, destroying the capital, forcing most of the population to flee.
- 1994
The bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (Argentine Jewish Community Center) in Buenos Aires kills 85 people (mostly Jewish) and injures 300.
- 1994
Rwandan genocide: The Rwandan Patriotic Front takes control of Gisenyi and north western Rwanda, forcing the interim government into Zaire and ending the genocide.
- 1992
A picture of Les Horribles Cernettes was taken, which became the first ever photo posted to the World Wide Web.
- 1984
McDonald's massacre in San Ysidro, California: James Oliver Huberty kills 21 people and injures 19 others before being shot dead by police.
All entries for July 18（+24）
- 1982
Two hundred sixty-eight Guatemalan campesinos ("peasants" or "country people") are slain in the Plan de Sánchez massacre.
- 1981
A Canadair CL-44 and Sukhoi Su-15 collide in mid-air near Yerevan, Armenia, killing four.
- 1979
A landslide occurs on the Iliwerung volcano in Indonesia, triggering a tsunami that kills over 530 and leaves 700 missing.
- 1976
Nadia Comăneci becomes the first person in Olympic Games history to score a perfect 10 in gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- 1970
An Antonov An-22 of the Soviet Air Forces crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 23 aboard.
- 1968
Intel is founded in Mountain View, California.
- 1966
Human spaceflight: Gemini 10 is launched from Cape Kennedy on a 70-hour mission that includes docking with an orbiting Agena target vehicle.
- 1966
A racially charged incident in a bar sparks the six-day Hough riots in Cleveland, Ohio; 1,700 Ohio National Guard troops intervene to restore order.
- 1944
World War II: Hideki Tōjō resigns as Prime Minister of Japan because of numerous setbacks in the war effort.
- 1942
World War II: During the Beisfjord massacre in Norway, 15 Norwegian paramilitary guards help members of the SS to kill 288 political prisoners from Yugoslavia.
- 1942
The Germans test fly the Messerschmitt Me 262 using its jet engines for the first time.
- 1925
Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf.
- 1914
The U.S. Congress forms the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, giving official status to aircraft within the U.S. Army for the first time.
- 1872
The Ballot Act 1872 in the United Kingdom introduced the requirement that parliamentary and local government elections be held by secret ballot.
- 1870
The First Vatican Council decrees the dogma of papal infallibility.
- 1863
American Civil War: Second Battle of Fort Wagner: One of the first formal African American military units, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, supported by several white regiments, attempts an unsuccessful assault on Confederate-held Battery Wagner.
- 1862
First ascent of Dent Blanche, one of the highest summits in the Alps.
- 1857
Louis Faidherbe, French governor of Senegal, arrives to relieve French forces at Kayes, effectively ending El Hajj Umar Tall's war against the French.
- 1841
Coronation of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.
- 1812
The Treaties of Orebro end both the Anglo-Russian and Anglo-Swedish Wars.
- 1806
A gunpowder magazine explosion in Birgu, Malta, kills around 200 people.
- 1723
Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz, BWV 136, in Leipzig on the eighth Sunday after Trinity.
- 1555
The College of Arms is reincorporated by Royal charter signed by Queen Mary I of England and King Philip II of Spain.
- 1507
In Brussels, Prince Charles I is crowned Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders, a year after inheriting the title.
Famous Birthdays on July 18 in History 25
- 2007
Cameron Boozer, American basketball player
- 2006
Caleb Wilson, American basketball player
- 2001
Agustina Roth, Argentine BMX rider
- 2000
Sarah Kinsley, American singer-songwriter
- 1999
Miro Heiskanen, Finnish ice hockey player
- 1997
Bam Adebayo, American basketball player
- 1997
Noah Lyles, American sprinter
- 1997
Fionn Whitehead, English actor
- 1996
Yung Lean, Swedish rapper and singer-songwriter
- 1996
Smriti Mandhana, Indian cricketer
- 1996
Shudufhadzo Musida, Miss South Africa 2020
- 1994
Nilo Soares, East Timorese footballer
All entries for July 18（+13）
- 1993
Lee Tae-min, South Korean singer and actor
- 1993
Michael Lichaa, Australian rugby league player
- 1992
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Greek basketball player
- 1991
Mandy Rose, American wrestler and television personality
- 1991
Eugenio Suárez, Venezuelan baseball player
- 1990
Canelo Álvarez, Mexican boxer
- 1989
Jamie Benn, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1989
Sebastian Mielitz, German footballer
- 1989
Yohan Mollo, French footballer
- 1988
Änis Ben-Hatira, German-Tunisian footballer
- 1988
César Villaluz, Mexican footballer
- 1987
Tontowi Ahmad, Indonesian badminton player
- 1986
Natalia Mikhailova, Russian ice dancer
Notable Deaths on July 18 in History 25
- 2026
Chen Gang, Chinese composer (born 1935)
- 2026
Zdeněk Chovanec, Czech-Venezuelan-Portuguese racing driver (born 2004)
- 2025
Edwin Feulner, American political scientist (born 1941)
- 2024
Lou Dobbs, American political commentator and television host (born 1945)
- 2024
Abner Haynes, American football player (born 1937)
- 2024
Bob Newhart, American comedian and actor (born 1929)
- 2023
Oommen Chandy, Indian politician, former Chief Minister of Kerala (born 1943)
- 2021
Tom O'Connor, English comedian (born 1939)
- 2018
Jonathan Gold, American food critic (born 1960)
- 2018
Adrian Cronauer, American radio personality (born 1938)
- 2015
Alex Rocco, American actor (born 1936)
- 2015
Buddy Buie, American songwriter, producer and publisher (born 1941)
All entries for July 18（+13）
- 2014
Andreas Biermann, German footballer (born 1980)
- 2014
João Ubaldo Ribeiro, Brazilian journalist, author, and academic (born 1941)
- 2014
Dietmar Schönherr, Austrian-Spanish actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1926)
- 2013
Vaali, Indian poet, songwriter, and actor (born 1931)
- 2013
Olivier Ameisen, French-American cardiologist and academic (born 1953)
- 2012
Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Lithuanian-Israeli rabbi and author (born 1910)
- 2012
Jean François-Poncet, French politician and diplomat, French Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1928)
- 2012
Dawoud Rajiha, Syrian general and politician, Syrian Minister of Defense (born 1947)
- 2012
Assef Shawkat, Syrian general and politician (born 1950)
- 2012
Hasan Turkmani, Syrian general and politician, Syrian Minister of Defense (born 1935)
- 2012
Rajesh Khanna, Indian actor (born 1942)
- 2009
Henry Allingham, English soldier (born 1896)
- 2009
Jill Balcon, English actress (born 1925)
That is the story of July 18 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on July 18 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on July 18 in history?
The biggest event on July 18 in history is: 2019 — A man sets fire to an anime studio in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan, killing 36 people and injuring dozens of others.. In total, 36 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on July 18?
25 famous people were born on July 18 in history, the best known being 2007 — Cameron Boozer, American basketball player.
Who died on July 18?
25 notable people died on July 18 in history, including 2026 — Chen Gang, Chinese composer (born 1935).
Why should I read about July 18 in history?
Exploring July 18 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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