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On this day in history - January 18

What Happened On This Day – January 18

  • 2002 The Sierra Leone Civil War ends

    The conflict had lasted 11 years and left over 50,000 dead.

  • 1997 Børge Ousland becomes the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided

    The Norwegian polar explorer walked 3000 km (1864 miles) across the Earth's southernmost continent.

  • 1943 Insurgents in the Warsaw Ghetto take up arms against the German oppressors

    This lead to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the largest single revolt by Jews during World War II.

  • 1919 The Paris Peace Conference opens

    The aim of the conference was to set the peace terms after World War I, resulting in the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

  • 1886 Modern hockey is born

    The foundation of The Hockey Association in England formalized a modern version of the game that had already been played in ancient times.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
January 18

  • 1955 Kevin Costner

    American actor, singer, director, producer

  • 1913 Danny Kaye

    American actor

  • 1892 Oliver Hardy

    American comedian, actor

  • 1882 A. A. Milne

    English author

  • 1689 Montesquieu

    French philosopher

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
January 18

  • 2011 Sargent Shriver

    American politician, 21st United States Ambassador to France

  • 1956 Konstantin Päts

    Estonian politician, 1st President of Estonia

  • 1952 Curly Howard

    American actor, comedian

  • 1936 Rudyard Kipling

    English author, poet, Nobel Prize laureate

  • 1862 John Tyler

    American lawyer, politician, 10th President of the United States