Osun Defender History Corner: October 18th In Focus

Today on the history corner, we take a trip down memory lane to recall some events that marked this day.

This captivating series delves into the annals of time, revisiting significant milestones and pivotal moments that have left an indelible mark on the world. As we embark on this journey through history, we invite our readers to join us as we shed light on the historical narratives that have contributed to the vibrant and diverse cultural world we live in.

October 18th, 1009

Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, who hacked the Church’s foundations down to the bedrock.

October 18th, 1685

French King Louis XIV revoked Edict of Nantes canceling rights of French Protestants

October 18th, 1867

The United States took formal possession of Alaska from Russia, having paid $7.2 million

October 18th, 1962

James Watson (US), Francis Crick (UK) and Maurice Wilkins (UK) won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for their work in determining the structure of DNA.

October 18th, 1922

 British Broadcasting Company (BBC) founded, later called British Broadcasting Corporation

October 18th, 1946

Aaron Copland’s 3rd Symphony was premiered.

October 18th, 1968

 US Olympic Committee suspends Tommie Smith and John Carlos for giving the Black Power Salute to protest racism and injustice against African-Americans during Olympic medal ceremony.

October 18th, 1989

The Galileo spacecraft was launched by NASA on a mission to study Jupiter and its moons.

October 18th, 2007

Jason Lewis completed his 13-year, 46,505-mile journey around the world, becoming the first person to circumnavigate the globe using only human power.

October 18th, 2019

NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir conducted the first all-female spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

These are just a few of the historical events that occurred on October 18th. There have been many more events on this date throughout history.