October 18 in History
October 18 is the birthday of Sophie Thatcher (2000) and the anniversary of the death of Sam Rivers (bassist) (2025). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for October 18, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan was born in 1127, while Lucius Aelius Sejanus, Roman politician died in 31.
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Famous people born on October 18
Famous people who died on October 18
2024
Ginés González García (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Argentine politician and physician (1945–2024)
2015
Gamal al-Ghitani (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Egyptian author, literary editor and commentator
2015
Robert W. Farquhar (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Robert W. Farquhar, American engineer (born 1932)
2015
Paul West (writer, born 1930) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
British-born American novelist, poet, and essayist (1930–2015)
2012
Brain Damage (wrestler) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American professional wrestler (1977–2012)
What happened on October 18
- 2019
NASA Astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch take part in the first all-female spacewalk when they venture out of the International Space Station to replace a power controller.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
Riots in Chile's capital Santiago escalate into open battles, with attacks reported at nearly all of the city's 164 Metro stations. President Sebastián Piñera later announces a 15-day state of emergency in the capital.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2007
Karachi bombing: A suicide attack on a motorcade carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto kills 139 and wounds 450 more. Bhutto herself is uninjured.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2003
Bolivian gas conflict: Bolivian President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada is forced to resign and leave Bolivia.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1993
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-58 to perform life sciences research.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1992
Merpati Nustantara Airlines Flight 5601 crashes into Mount Papandayan near the town of Garut in West Java, Indonesia, killing 31.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
The Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopts a declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1989
The Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-34 to deploy the Jupiter-bound Galileo space probe.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1989
A Ilyushin Il-76 of the Soviet Air Forces crashes into the Caspian Sea near Sumgait, killing 57.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1979
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) begins allowing people to have home satellite earth stations without a federal government license.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1978
Based on the world's first children's art museum, the Henrik Igityan National Centre for Aesthetics opens in Yerevan.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1977
German Autumn: A set of events revolving around the kidnapping of Hanns Martin Schleyer and the hijacking of a Lufthansa flight by the Red Army Faction (RAF) comes to an end when Schleyer is murdered and various RAF members allegedly commit suicide.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1967
The Soviet probe Venera 4 reaches Venus and becomes the first spacecraft to measure the atmosphere of another planet.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1963
Félicette, a black and white female Parisian stray cat, becomes the first cat launched into space.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1954
Texas Instruments announces the Regency TR-1, the first mass-produced transistor radio.
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 October 18
- 1127 — Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan (died 1192)
- 1130 — Zhu Xi, Chinese philosopher (died 1200)
- 1405 — Pope Pius II (died 1464)
Died on October 18
- 31 — Lucius Aelius Sejanus, Roman politician (born 20 BC)
- 325 — Emperor Ming of Jin (born 299)
- 707 — Pope John VII (born 650)
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for October 18
Quick answers
Who was born on October 18? Sophie Thatcher (2000), Janalynn Castelino (1998), Terance Mann (1996).
Who died on October 18? Sam Rivers (bassist) (2025), Yang Chen-Ning (2025), Suicide of Lia Smith (2025).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in October? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the October 18 historical article above.
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