36 fun facts for July, 18

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
July 18th has witnessed diverse events such as the birth of civil rights icon Nelson Mandela, the Great Fire of Rome, unique holidays like World Listening Day, and the record-breaking sales for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Through a mix of historical, cultural, and entertaining events, this day offers something for everyone.
36 Fun facts
  1. July 18, 64 AD: The Great Fire of Rome began, lasting six days and destroying half of the city. Emperor Nero exploited the tragedy to rebuild the city in a more lavish and practical design, including the construction of his Golden House.
  2. July 18, 1536: The English Parliament passed a law that declared the authority of Pope void in England. King Henry VIII consequently became the supreme head of the Church of England, leading to the English Reformation.
  3. July 18, 1610: Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio died. Known as one of the most famous Baroque painters, Caravaggio's works greatly impacted Western art and the development of chiaroscuro technique.
  4. July 18, 1817: Celebrated English novelist Jane Austen passed away. She is best known for her six major novels, including Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, which provide insight into 18th-century British landed gentry.
  5. July 18, 1853: The first train arrived at its station in San Francisco, California, initiating a new era of transportation for the booming city of the West Coast.
  6. July 18, 1914: The United States Army began using aviation for military purposes, leading to the eventual formation of the United States Air Force.
  7. July 18, 1925: Adolf Hitler's autobiography, Mein Kampf, was published in which Hitler outlined his political ideology and plan for the future Germany.
  8. July 18, 1936: The Spanish Civil War commenced as right-wing nationalists led by General Francisco Franco revolted against the democratically elected leftist government.
  9. July 18, 1938: American inventor Douglas Carl Engelbart patented the first computer mouse, revolutionizing computing and human-computer interaction.
  10. July 18, 1951: Uruguay won the first FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final match held in Montevideo, Uruguay.
  11. July 18, 1955: Disneyland, the first of Walt Disney's theme parks, opened in Anaheim, California. It has since become one of the most visited tourist destinations globally.
  12. July 18, 1969: US President Richard Nixon went on television to certify the safety of American astronauts aboard Apollo 11, the first manned mission to land on the moon.
  13. July 18, 1976: At the age of 14, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci became the first person in Olympic history to score a perfect 10 during the Montreal Summer Olympics.
  14. July 18, 1984: First Lady of the United States, Angela Morley, became the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on the TV series "Dynasty."
  15. July 18, 1989: Actress Rebecca Schaeffer was shot and killed by an obsessed fan, leading to the passing of anti-stalking laws in the United States.
  16. July 18, 1998: Nelson Mandela was honored with the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. Mandela was the first African leader to receive this highest civilian award given by Congress.
  17. July 18, 2001: J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix became the fastest-selling book in history, with 5 million copies sold in the first 24 hours.
  18. July 18, 2004: Lance Armstrong won his record-breaking sixth consecutive Tour de France title.
  19. July 18, 2005: Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams launched into space, becoming the second woman of Indian descent to accomplish such a feat.
  20. July 18, 2016: Pokémon Go, the popular augmented reality mobile game, set the record for the most revenue-grossing mobile game in its first month.
  21. July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day, a global celebration of Mandela's lifelong work for peace and social justice, observed annually since 2009.
  22. July 18: Malala Day, commemorating the birthday of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
  23. July 18: National Hot Dog Day, an annual celebration in the United States to recognize the popular American snack.
  24. July 18: World Listening Day, promoting the practice of listening to one's environment in order to raise awareness about the importance of auditory experiences.
  25. July 18: Caviar Day, a day to appreciate the luxury delicacy made from fish eggs, particularly sturgeon.
  26. July 18: African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights Day, observed to raise awareness about human rights and justice throughout Africa.
  27. July 18: Fishermen's Day in Russia, a professional holiday to honor the contributions of fishermen to the nation's economic development.
  28. July 18: Fiesta de la Plata, an Argentine holiday held in the Buenos Aires province to celebrate the founding of the city of General Pinto.
  29. July 18: Constitution Day in Uruguay, commemorating the adoption of the Uruguayan constitution in 1830.
  30. July 18: National Ice Cream Day, celebrated annually in the United States on the third Sunday of July, recognizing the nation's favorite frozen dessert.
  31. July 18, 2006: The social media website Twitter was launched for public use, forever changing the way people communicate and consume news.
  32. July 18, 2009: NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the sharpest images ever taken of the Apollo 11 landing site, enhancing public interest in the moon landing's 40th anniversary.
  33. July 18, 1978: The world's first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in England, paving the way for in vitro fertilization techniques.
  34. July 18, 2018: The European Space Agency's Aeolus satellite successfully launched. It provides data to improve weather predictions and monitor climate change.
  35. July 18, 1986: The sci-fi movie "Aliens" was released in the United States, becoming an instant classic and further establishing the Alien franchise.
  36. July 18, 2003: Dr. David Kelly, a British weapons expert, committed suicide after being falsely accused as the source of secret government information leaked to the BBC, causing a massive scandal.

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