On This Day - July 18
Image source: The GrayVine
Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Let's look back at some of the most significant events in history that happened on this day, starting with...
1817: Death of Jane Austen
The beloved English novelist behind Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility passed away at 41, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to shape fiction centuries later.
1918: Birth of Nelson Mandela
South Africa welcomed a future global icon—anti-apartheid revolutionary, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and the nation’s first Black president.
1921: Birth of John Glenn
The pioneering astronaut, U.S. senator, and American hero was born in Ohio. He would go on to become the first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth—and later, the oldest person in space.
1925: Mein Kampf Published
The first volume of Adolf Hitler’s autobiographical manifesto hit German bookstores, laying the ideological groundwork for the rise of Nazism and the horrors of World War II.
1940: FDR Nominated for Third Term
The Democratic National Convention made history by nominating Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented third presidential term amid growing global conflict.
1947: Presidential Succession Act Signed
President Harry S. Truman signed legislation reshaping the US line of presidential succession, placing the Speaker of the House directly behind the Vice President.
1959: The Nun’s Story Premiered in Los Angeles
The film adaptation of Kathryn Hulme’s bestselling novel debuted in Los Angeles, featuring Audrey Hepburn in one of her most acclaimed dramatic roles.
1976: Nadia Comăneci Makes Olympic History
At just 14 years old, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci stunned the world by scoring the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics during the Montreal Games.
1995: Dreams from My Father Published
Barack Obama’s memoir—a reflective look at identity, race, and family—was released, offering an early window into the future president’s life and worldview.
Do you remember any of these events? Or do you have more events (historical or not!) you'd like to share with the community? Post them below and let's reminisce together!
