This Day in History- April 18

1859: Tatya Tope
Tatya Tope was an important figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Tope was a significant leader and general from Central India who had no military training yet led various rebellions against the British. On April 18, 1859, the general was captured and executed by the British government.

1930: Chittagong Uprising
Chittagong armoury raid refers to the infamous incident where freedom fighters led by Surya Sen tried to raid the armoury of the Bengal Presidency police and the auxiliary forces. The incident took place on April 18, 1930. 

1951: Bhoodan movement
Bhoodan movement was a voluntary land reform movement started by Acharya Vinoba Bhave, a Gandhian who persuaded the rich farmers to give a percentage of their land to the landless farmers. The movement began in 1951 and saw its first success on April 18, 1951.

1966: Swami Kuvalayananda Death Anniversary
Swami Kuvalayananda was a pioneer in the field of scientific research on yoga in India; he was an educator, researcher and author who devoted his life to the study of yoga as a form of a healthy lifestyle. He passed away on April 18, 1966, in Maharashtra, India.

1971: Air India’s 1st Jumbo Jet- Boeing landed
On this day in 1971, Air India’s 1st Jumbo Jet passenger plane named Boeing 747 landed at the Mumbai Airport.

1666: Munter War
The Peace of Kleef was signed by the Dutch Republic & bishop Von Galen of Munster on April 18, 1666, which ended the Munter War.

1797:Treaty of Campo Formio
The treaty oF Campo Formio was signed by France & Austria on April 18, 1797, and ended the war of the First Coalition.

1874: David Livingstone buried
The famous African explorer, David Livingstone was buried in Westminster Abbey on April 18, 1874. 

1906: San Francisco earthquake 
On April 18, 1906, An earthquake ravaged the city of San Franciso and killed nearly 3000 citizens and created enormous property damage.

1924: First Crossword Puzzle Published
On April 18, 1924, the first crossword puzzle book was published by Simon & Schuster in the United States. The book came with a pencil and was a huge success.

1925: Women’s World’s Fair 
The first-ever Women’s World’s Fair was opened up in Chicago, US. The Fair was run by women and hosted various female-run businesses. The fair began on April 18, 1925, and end on April 25th.

1942: Tokyo Raid
On April 18, 1942, a series of air raids led by the United States on the capital city of Japan along with other Japanese cities began. The raid was led by James Doolittle and the mission was famously referred to as Doolittle Raid.

1945: Diplomatic ties started between USSR and Bolivia
The two countries, USSR and Bolivia established diplomatic relations and set up embassies in their respective countries to mark the beginning of their ties on April 18, 1945.

1949: Ireland Act 1949
On April 18, 1949, The Republic of Ireland withdrew from the Commonwealth of Nations and severed its ties with Great Britain. Britain recognised the status of Ireland as an independent republic.

1955: Albert Einstein Dies
Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist met his ultimate demise on April 18, 1955. The famous scientist died at the age of 76 in Princeton, New Jersey, US.

1956: Grace Kelly Married the Prince of Monaco
The American actress Grace Kelly married the Prine of Monaco on April 18, 1956, in a civil ceremony. The popular actress quit her career and became the Princess of Monaco.

2013: Iron Man 3 Premiered
The movie Iron Man 3 premiered for the first time in London. The movie was directed by Shane Black, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow.

2018: Black Panther became the first film in Saudi Arabia
Black Panther, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe became the first movie to be shown in Saudi Arabia after 35 years. It was shown on April 18, 2018, for the first time after the cinema halls reopened. is the first film shown in cinema halls.

2020: Charles De Gaulle Infected by Covid-19 
French flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle reported that over 1000 sailors onboard were infected by the coronavirus. This development prompted an immediate investigation. 

2020: Nova Scotia Shootings
A Canadian gunman shot multiple people and set fires in different locations in the province of Nova Scotia. The man was later shot dead by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer.