July 18th
64
A great fire began that ultimately destroyed most of Rome. The emperor Nero blamed it on Christians and began the first Roman persecution of them.
1925
The first volume of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf was published.
1927
Ty Cobb set a major league baseball record by getting his 4,000th career hit. He hit 4,191 before he retired in 1928.
1936
The Spanish Civil War began.
1947
President Harry S. Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act.
1969
A car driven by Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha's Vineyard. His passenger, 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne, died.
1976
14-year-old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci earned the first perfect score, a ten, at the Olympics and went on to score six more tens and win three gold medals.
1999
New York Yankee David Cone pitched a perfect game.
Birthdays
91 Nelson Mandela Former South African president
88 John Glenn Astronaut; former U.S. senator, D-Ohio
80 Dick Button Figure skater, sportscaster
71 Paul Verhoeven Director ("Basic Instinct," "Robocop")
70 Brian Auger Rock singer, musician
70 Dion DiMucci Rock singer (Dion and the Belmonts)
69 Joe Torre Baseball player, manager (LA Dogers, NY Yankees)
69 James Brolin Actor
68 Lonnie Mack Blues guitarist
68 Martha Reeves R&B singer (Martha and the Vandellas)
60 Craig Fuller Rock singer (Little Feat, Pure Prairie League)
58 Margo Martindale Actress
58 Mister Moo Cigar Asylum Inmate
55 Ricky Skaggs Country singer
51 Nigel Twist Rock musician (The Alarm)
49 Anne-Marie Johnson Actress
48 Elizabeth McGovern Actress
47 John Hermann Rock musician (Widespread Panic)
47 Jack Irons Rock musician (Pearl Jam)
46 Al Snow Professional wrestler
42 Vin Diesel Actor
34 Daron Malakian Rock musician (System of a Down)
31 Tony Fagenson Rock musician (Eve 6)
30 Jared Hess Director ("Napoleon Dynamite")
30 Jason Weaver Actor
29 Kristen Bell Actress ("Veronica Mars")
27 Ryan Cabrera Rock singer
24 Chace Crawford Actor ("Gossip Girl")
20 Joe Dean Jr. Bluegrass musician (Dailey & Vincent)
?? terrasco Cigar Asylum Inmate
84 Red Skelton 7/18/09 - 9/17/1997 American comedian who was best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971