Major Events
- 1477 "Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers," the first dated printed book in England, is printed by William Caxton at his press in Westminster
- 1626 St. Peter's Basilica is consecrated in Rome, replacing an earlier basilica on the same site and becoming the world's largest Christian church
- 1916 British General Douglas Haig finally calls off the First Battle of the Somme in World War I after more than 1 million soldiers are killed or wounded
- 1978 In Jonestown, Guyana, 918 members of the Peoples Temple are murdered or commit suicide under the leadership of cult leader Jim Jones
- 1993 Black and white leaders in South Africa approve a new democratic constitution
Nov 18 in Film & TV
- 1928 Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie" is released, the first Mickey Mouse sound cartoon
Nov 18 in Music
- 2011 "The X Factor" group One Direction release their debut album "Up All Night" in Ireland and the UK
Nov 18 in Sport
- 1990 1st Solheim Cup Women's Golf, Lake Nona G & CC: US beats Europe 11½-4½ in the inaugural event; Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Walker are the US and European captains
Did You Know?
Brooklyn toymaker Morris Michtom names his stuffed teddy bear after US President "Teddy" Roosevelt
Fun Fact About November 18
Lincoln Beachey becomes the first American pilot to perform an aircraft loop-the-loop in his Curtiss aeroplane near San Diego
Famous Weddings
- 1794 2nd Earl Grey Charles Grey (30) weds only daughter of 1st Baron Ponsonby Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby
- 1948 KFC founder Colonel Sanders (58) weds his long-time employee Claudia Price
- 1952 American "Rock Around The Clock" rock 'n' roll pioneer Bill Haley (27) weds second wife Barbara Cupchak
Famous Divorces
- 1985 American actress-singer Janet Jackson (19) and American R&B singer James DeBarge (22) have marriage annulled after less than a year
Articles, Photos and Quiz
Issigonis, The Mini Mastermind
Sir Alec Issigonis, the man who revolutionised the car industry and created a Swinging Sixties icon by designing the groundbreaking Mini, was born on this day
November 18, 1906
Weekly Quiz for November 18 - 24
Who printed the 1st English book this week in 1477? Who lead the 1st European expedition to the American west? Which President gave the Gettysburg address?
