1847
Arts
Birth of Augusta Holmès
Augusta Holmès was born in Paris, France, on December 18, 1847.
View detailsThis Day
18December
23 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1898
Politics
Withdrawal of annexation protests to the U.S. President
Liliʻuokalani sends a letter to President McKinley formally withdrawing her annexation protests while asserting crown land claims.
View details1905
Sports
Birth of Mary Katherine Campbell
Birth of Mary Katherine Campbell, the future two-time Miss America and one of pageant history’s most recognizable figures.
View details1909
Law
Birth of Yvonne Cormeau
Yvonne Cormeau was born on December 18, 1909, in Shanghai, China.
View details1911
1913
Arts
Death of Louise Blanchard Bethune
Passed away in Buffalo, closing a pioneering career in architecture.
View details1922
Science
Birth of Esther Miriam Zimmer (Esther Lederberg)
Esther Miriam Zimmer (later Lederberg) was born in the Bronx, New York, United States.
View details1933
Politics
Death of Mary Parker Follett
Mary Parker Follett died on December 18, 1933, in Boston, Massachusetts, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of modern management theory and community organizing.
View details1935
Activism
Death of M. Carey Thomas
M. Carey Thomas died on December 18, 1935, in Philadelphia, leaving behind a transformative legacy in women's education.
View details1947
Activism
Birth of Judith Heumann
Judith Ellen Heumann was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, later becoming known as the 'mother of the disability rights movement.'
View details1951
Science
Birth of Radia Joy Perlman
Radia Joy Perlman was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, becoming a pioneer in internet routing.
View details1962
Science
First woman elected to the French Académie des Sciences
Marguerite Perey became the first woman ever elected to the French Académie des Sciences, as a corresponding member, breaking a 300-year male-only tradition.
View details1967
Arts
Newsweek cover story "The Nun: Going Modern" featuring Corita Kent
Newsweek featured a cover story on Sister Corita Kent titled "The Nun: Going Modern," spotlighting her as a leader in modern-religious Pop-art.
View details1972
Politics
First woman to receive an electoral vote in U.S.
First woman (and first Jewish person) to receive an electoral vote in U.S.
View details1985
Arts
Film release of The Color Purple and Oprah’s breakthrough role
Release of The Color Purple, featuring Winfrey’s breakthrough performance as Sofia and earning her an Oscar nomination.
View details1987
Science
Science paper on anteroposterior polarity in Drosophila
Co-authored the Science paper 'Determination of anteroposterior polarity in Drosophila,' clarifying head-to-tail axis formation mechanisms.
View details1992
1998
Aviation
First woman to command a U.S. Navy warship and frigate
Kathleen McGrath assumes command of USS Jarrett, becoming the first woman to command a U.S. Navy warship and a frigate.
View details2004
Medicine
Death of Dame Rosalinde Hurley
Dame Rosalinde Hurley died on 18 December 2004, remembered as a pioneering microbiologist and medical ethicist.
View details2008
2010
Literature
Jacqueline de Romilly's Death
Jacqueline de Romilly passed away on December 18, 2010.
View details2019
Politics
First impeachment of Donald Trump under Pelosi’s speakership
As Speaker, Pelosi oversees the House’s first impeachment of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
View details2024
Activism
Receives Sakharov Prize 2024
María Corina Machado was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on December 18, 2024.
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