IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Today in history: April 18

Celebrity birthdays, highlights in history, plus more facts about this day
/ Source: The Associated Press

Today is Tuesday, April 18, the 108th day of 2006. There are 257 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
One hundred years ago, on April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake struck San Francisco, followed by raging fires. About 700 people died.

On this date:
In 1775, Paul Revere began his famous ride from Charlestown to Lexington, Mass., warning American colonists that the British were coming.

In 1921, Junior Achievement, created to encourage business skills in young people, was incorporated.

In 1942, an air squadron from the USS Hornet led by Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle raided Tokyo and other Japanese cities.

In 1944, the ballet “Fancy Free,” with music by Leonard Bernstein, premiered.

In 1945, famed American war correspondent Ernie Pyle, 44, was killed by Japanese gunfire on the Pacific island of Ie Shima, off Okinawa.

In 1946, the League of Nations went out of business.

In 1955, physicist Albert Einstein died in Princeton, N.J., at age 76.

In 1956, 50 years ago, actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco in a civil ceremony. (A church wedding took place the next day.)

In 1980, Zimbabwe Rhodesia became the independent nation of Zimbabwe.

In 1983, 62 people, including 17 Americans, were killed at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, by a suicide bomber.

Ten years ago: President Clinton addressed the Japanese Parliament, hailing security ties between the two countries as the cornerstone of stability in Asia. Congress passed and sent to President Clinton long-awaited legislation giving federal law officers new powers to use against terrorism. Israeli shells killed 91 Lebanese refugees in a U.N. camp; Israel called the attack an “unfortunate mistake.” Gunmen opened fire at a hotel in Egypt, killing 18 Greek tourists.

Five years ago: U.S. and Chinese diplomats began two days of talks over the April 1 collision involving a U.S. spy plane after Beijing and Washington staked out opposing positions on who was to blame for the incident.

One year ago: Cardinals meeting at the Vatican failed to select a successor to Pope John Paul II in their first round of voting. Lance Armstrong announced he was retiring after the upcoming Tour de France. Defending champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya became the first woman to win a fourth Boston Marathon and Ethiopia’s Hailu Negussie won the men’s race.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Barbara Hale is 85. Actor Clive Revill is 76. Actor James Drury is 72. Actor Robert Hooks is 69. Actress Hayley Mills is 60. Actor James Woods is 59. Actress-director Dorothy Lyman is 59. Actress Cindy Pickett is 59. Country musician Walt Richmond (The Tractors) is 59. Country musician Jim Scholten (Sawyer Brown) is 54. Actor Rick Moranis is 53. Actress Melody Thomas Scott is 50. Actor Eric Roberts is 50. Actor John James is 50. Rock musician Les Pattinson (Echo and the Bunnymen) is 48. Actress Jane Leeves is 45. Talk show host Conan O’Brien is 43. Actor Eric McCormack is 43. Actress Maria Bello is 39. Rock musician Greg Eklund (The Oolahs) is 36. Rhythm-and-blues singer Trina (Trina and Tamara) is 32. Actress Melissa Joan Hart is 30. Actor Sean Maguire is 30. Actress Alia Shawkat is 17.

Thought for Today: “Love has the quality of informing almost everything — even one’s work.” — Sylvia Ashton-Warner, New Zealander author and educator (1908-1984).