December 18
Today in America's Present Past
1777 | Congress: Made the first national declaration asking for the nation to spend a day in Thanksgiving, to commemorate the defeat of the British invader General Burgoyne.
1787 | Statehood: New Jersey joins the Union.
1799 | POTUS: George Washington’s body interred at Mount Vernon, Virginia.
1813 | War of 1812: The British take Fort Niagara.
1832 | Poet Philip Freneau died.
1835 | Cleric Lyman Abbott was born.
1862 | Civil War: The Battle at Lexington, Tennessee.
1878 | John Kehoe, the last of the Molly Maguire’s, was executed in Pennsylvania.
1879 | Cross dressing stagecoach driver Charley Parkhurst died.
1886 | Baseballer Ty Cobb was born.
1888 | Architect Robert Moses was born.
1890 | Inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong was born.
1894 | Publisher Erastus Flaval Beadle died
1912 | General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was born.
1915 | POTUS: President Woodrow Wilson wed Edith Galt.
1916 | Actress Betty Grable was born. ‘
1917 | Congress: The 18th Amendment to the Constitution, authorizing prohibition of alcohol, was approved and sent to the states for ratification.
1932 | Rosa (McCauley) Parks wed Raymond Parks.
1944 | SCOTUS: The Court decided Koremats v. U.S.
1946 | Director Steven Spielberg was born.
1947 | Activist Judy Heumann was born.
1951 | Computer scientist Radia Perlman was born.
1954 | Actor Ray Liotta was born.
1963 | Film: “The Pink Panther” debuted.
1963 | Actor Brad Pitt was born.
1964 | Pro wrestler Steve Austin was born.
1966 | TV: “Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Debuted
1970 | Rapper DMX was born.
1970 | Pro wrestler Rob Van Dam was born in Battle Creek, Michigan.
1972 | Vietnam War: The U.S. launched Operation Linebacker II.
1976 | TV: “Wonder Woman” debuted.
1978 | Actress Katie Holmes was born.
1980 | Entertainer Christina Aguilera was born.
1997 | Actor Chris Farley died.
2000 | Publisher Randolph Apperson Hearst died.
2001 | Entertainer Billie Eilish was born.
2006 | Animator Joseph Barbera died.
2007 | Author, researcher and satirist Bill Strauss died.
2008 | Lawman and deep state operative Mark Felt died.
2009 | Film: “Avatar” debuted.
2011 | War on Terror: The U.S. withdraws from Iraq.
2016 | Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor died.