April 18: What Happened on This Day in History
April 18th marks the 108th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 109th in case of leap years). There are 257 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on April 18th in history, famous birthdays on April 18th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to April 18.
What happened on April 18?
Here's what happened on April 18th in history:
- 2018: An Israeli military operation was revealed, targeting an Iranian Tor missile-air defense system at a Syrian airbase, further escalating tensions in the complex Syrian conflict.
- 2016: Four people, mostly children, were killed in the Turkish town of Kilis by rockets fired from ISIL-controlled territories in northern Syria, highlighting the ongoing regional conflict.
- 2015: A suicide bomber, allegedly associated with ISIL, attacked a bank in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, killing at least 33 people and injuring 100 others.
- 2012: Due to severe budget cuts affecting cultural institutions, the Casoria Contemporary Art Museum in Naples, Italy, began burning its artworks as a dramatic protest against financial constraints, highlighting the economic challenges facing cultural organizations.
- 1997: The Red River of the North breaks through dikes and floods Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, causing US$2 billion in damage. The catastrophic flooding devastated local communities, leading to significant infrastructure destruction and economic impact.
- 1992: South Africa played its first Test Cricket match since 1970, competing against the West Indies in Bridgetown, marking a significant moment in the country's sporting reintegration after years of international isolation due to apartheid.
- 1989: The Hillsborough disaster claims its 95th victim when 14-year-old Lee Nichol dies in hospital from injuries sustained during the tragic football stadium crush at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground.
- 1984: The Space Shuttle Challenger completed a significant transportation mission, flying back to the Kennedy Space Center via Kelly Air Force Base, highlighting the logistical complexity of space shuttle operations.
- 1982: Queen Elizabeth II signed the Canada Constitution Act of 1982, officially replacing the British North America Act of 1867. This landmark event marked a significant milestone in Canadian constitutional history, granting Canada full legal sovereignty and the ability to amend its own constitution without British parliamentary approval.
- 1976: Professional golfer Judy Rankin secured victory at the LPGA Karsten-Ping Golf Open, demonstrating her skill and competitive prowess in women's professional golf during the mid-1970s.
What famous birthdays are on April 18?
On April 18th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Niall Ferguson]()
Niall Ferguson (1964)Scottish academic and historian known for his extensive work on economic history, global finance, and international relations.
![David Tennant]()
David Tennant (1971)David Tennant is a renowned Scottish actor best known for his iconic portrayal of the Tenth Doctor in the long-running science fiction...
![Eli Roth]()
Eli Roth (1972)Eli Roth is an influential American filmmaker known for his groundbreaking horror film 'Cabin Fever', which launched his career and received...
![America Ferrera]()
America Ferrera (1984)Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress best known for her breakthrough role in 'Ugly Betty'.
![Eric Roberts]()
Eric Roberts (1956)Eric Roberts is an acclaimed American actor known for his powerful performances in films like 'The Dark Knight' and 'Runaway Train', and for...
![James Woods]()
![Edgar Wright]()
Edgar Wright (1974)Acclaimed British film director known for innovative comedy films like 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Hot Fuzz', and 'Scott Pilgrim vs.
![Rick Moranis]()
Rick Moranis (1953)Canadian comedian and actor who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with iconic comedy roles in films like 'Ghostbusters', 'Honey, I Shrunk...
![David Hewlett]()
David Hewlett (1968)Canadian actor and screenwriter best known for his roles in science fiction productions like Stargate Atlantis, where he played Dr. Rodney...
![Amanda Sthers]()
Amanda Sthers (1978)Amanda Sthers is a French novelist and writer who published her first autobiographical novel 'Ma Place Sur Le Photo' in 2004.
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on April 18?
On April 18th the following celebrities died:
![Dick Clark]()
Dick Clark (2012)Legendary American television host who revolutionized pop music broadcasting through 'American Bandstand' and pioneered multiple game show...
![Pierre Desproges]()
Pierre Desproges (1988)Renowned French comedian and satirist famous for his sharp, intellectual humor and biting social critiques that challenged societal norms...
![Betty Compson]()
- Albert Einstein (1955)
German-swiss-american scientist, a physicist who developed the theory of relativity in 1905, and the general theory in 1916, laying the...
- George Balanchine (1983)
Legendary Russian-American choreographer who revolutionized ballet by liberating it from traditional 19th-century symmetrical forms.
- Ernie Pyle (1945)
Legendary World War II war correspondent who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1943 and was killed in action in Okinawa.
- Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1942)
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney was an American sculptor, art patron, and the founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.
- Bruno Sammartino (2018)
Bruno Sammartino was an iconic Italian-American professional wrestler who dominated the WWE (then WWF) in the 1960s and 1970s, holding the...
- Thor Heyerdahl (2002)
Norwegian adventurer and anthropologist famous for his Kon-Tiki expedition, which proved ancient peoples could have made long sea voyages...
What day of the year is April 18?
April 18th marks the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 109th in case of leap years).
There are 257 days remaining until the end of the year.
April 18th is the 18th day of the month of April.
What zodiac sign is associated with the day April 18?
The zodiac sign associated with April 18th is Aries according to the Western Zodiac.
