On this day in history - Today, January 18

Today in History

• 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.