What Happened On This Day – January 18
2002 The Sierra Leone Civil War ends
The conflict had lasted 11 years and left over 50,000 dead.
1997 Børge Ousland becomes the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided
The Norwegian polar explorer walked 3000 km (1864 miles) across the Earth's southernmost continent.
1943 Insurgents in the Warsaw Ghetto take up arms against the German oppressors
This lead to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the largest single revolt by Jews during World War II.
1919 The Paris Peace Conference opens
The aim of the conference was to set the peace terms after World War I, resulting in the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
1886 Modern hockey is born
The foundation of The Hockey Association in England formalized a modern version of the game that had already been played in ancient times.
Births On This Day – January 18
1955 Kevin Costner
American actor, singer, director, producer
1913 Danny Kaye
American actor
1892 Oliver Hardy
American comedian, actor
1882 A. A. Milne
English author
1689 Montesquieu
French philosopher
Deaths On This Day – January 18
2011 Sargent Shriver
American politician, 21st United States Ambassador to France
1956 Konstantin Päts
Estonian politician, 1st President of Estonia
1952 Curly Howard
American actor, comedian
1936 Rudyard Kipling
English author, poet, Nobel Prize laureate
1862 John Tyler
American lawyer, politician, 10th President of the United States