May 18 in History
May 18 is the birthday of Travis Hunter (2003) and the anniversary of the death of Tom Kane (2026). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for May 18, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Omar Khayyám, Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet was born in 1048, while Pope John I died in 526.
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Famous people born on May 18
Famous people who died on May 18
2024
Tony O'Reilly (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Irish businessman and rugby union player (1936–2024)
2024
Alice Stewart (commentator) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American political commentator (1966–2024)
2019
Austin Eubanks (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American shooting survivor and activist (1981–2019)
2009
Wayne Allwine (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American voice actor and sound effects editor (1947–2009)
2009
Velupillai Prabhakaran (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Eelam Tamil nationalist and military leader (1954–2009)
What happened on May 18
- 2026
A shooting carried out by two gunmen at the Islamic Center of San Diego results in the deaths of five people, including the perpetrators.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
United States presidential election: Joe Biden launches his presidential campaign.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2018
A school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas kills ten people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2018
Cubana de Aviación Flight 972 crashes in Santiago de las Vegas after takeoff from José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba, killing 112 of the 113 people on board.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2015
At least 78 people die in a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Colombian town of Salgar.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2009
The LTTE are defeated by the Sri Lankan government, ending almost 26 years of fighting between the two sides.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2006
The post Loktantra Andolan government passes a landmark bill curtailing the power of the monarchy and making Nepal a secular country.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2005
A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirms that Pluto has two additional moons, Nix and Hydra.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1994
Israeli troops finish withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, ceding the area to the Palestinian National Authority to govern.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1993
Riots in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, caused by the approval of the four Danish exceptions in the Maastricht Treaty referendum. Police open fire against civilians for the first time since World War II and injure 11 demonstrators.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
Northern Somalia declares independence from the rest of Somalia as the Republic of Somaliland.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1990
In France, a modified TGV train achieves a new rail world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph).
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1980
Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1980
Students in Gwangju, South Korea begin demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1980
Rioting spreads to Miami's mostly African-American neighborhoods of Overtown and Liberty City following the previous day's courthouse protests.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on May 18
- 1048 — Omar Khayyám, Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet (died 1131)
- 1186 — Konstantin of Rostov (died 1218)
- 1450 — Piero Soderini, Italian politician and diplomat (died 1513)
Died on May 18
- 526 — Pope John I
- 893 — Stephen I of Constantinople (born 867)
- 932 — Ma Shaohong, general of Later Tang
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for May 18
Quick answers
Who was born on May 18? Travis Hunter (2003), Alina Zagitova (2002), Emma Navarro (2001).
Who died on May 18? Tom Kane (2026), Tony O'Reilly (2024), Alice Stewart (commentator) (2024).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in May? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the May 18 historical article above.
Ancestry
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