May 18

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1652 – In Rhode Island, a law was passed that made slavery illegal in North America. It was the first law of its kind.

1798 – The first Secretary of the U.S. Navy was appointed. He was Benjamin Stoddert.

1846 – Michigan outlawed the Death Penalty.

1897 – A novel by Irish author Bram Stoker, called “Dracula”, was published.

1912 – The Detroit Tigers staged baseball’s first strike to protest the suspension of their star, Ty Cobb, who had slugged a fan. Faced with a $100 per day fine, the team ended the strike after missing one game and rescheduling another.

1917 – The U.S. Congress passed the Selective Service act, which called up soldiers to fight in World War I.

1927 – In Bath, MI, Andrew Kehoe, a farmer and local school board member who was angry over losing an election for town clerk and under notice for foreclosure, killed his wife, detonated bombs in his house and farm buildings, and at the same time set off a bomb in the consolidated school. He drove to the school in a truck rigged with more explosives, which he detonated next to the school superintendent. In all, 44 people were killed, 38 of them children, and himself, in the worst school murders in U.S. history. Only half of the 1,000 pounds of explosives set under the school went off, greatly lowering the death toll. Thirty-eight of the 314 students, three teachers, the superintendent, the postmaster, and a local farmer assisting at the scene were killed. Most of the dead were students from second to sixth grade. Fifty-eight others were injured..

1929 – Holland, MI held its first Tulip Time Festival.

1934 – Congress approved an act, known as the “Lindberg Act,” that called for the death penalty in interstate kidnapping cases.

1953 – The first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, Jacqueline Cochran, piloted an F-86 Sabrejet over California at an average speed of 652.337 miles-per-hour.

1968 – Tiny Tim’s “Tiptoe through the Tulips” was released. It was originally a number one hit for Nick Lucas in 1929.

1969 – Apollo 10 was launched.

1980 – The Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state erupted, leaving 57 people dead or missing. It caused $3 billion in damages.

1983 – The Senate revised immigration laws and gave millions of illegal aliens legal status under an amnesty program.

1986 – The Firearm Owners Protection Act was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.

1995 – Shawn Nelson stole a tank from a National Guard Armory in San Diego, CA, destroying cars and other property. He was shot to death by police after immobilizing the tank.

1998 – The TV show “Murphy Brown” aired its final episode after 10 years on the air. The show was brought back to TV in 2018.

1998 – The U.S. federal government and 20 states filed a sweeping antitrust case against Microsoft Corp., saying the computer software company had a “choke hold” on competitors which denied consumer choices by controlling 90% of the software market.

2001 – The DreamWorks animated feature film, “Shrek”, premiered in theaters.

2000 – In a malpractice lawsuit, Dana Carvey testified that, in 1998, a surgeon performed angioplasty on the wrong artery. The doctor blames the mistake on the comedian’s “unusual anatomy.”

2002 – Will Ferrell said goodbye to TV’s “Saturday Night Live” on the show’s season finale.

2004 – Martha Stewart pulled the plug on her syndicated series, “Martha Stewart Living”, until “my personal legal situation is resolved.”

2004 – The “Hee Haw Collection” was released. It was the first time that full shows of TV’s “Hee Haw” were released on VHS and DVD

2005 – A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirmed that Pluto has two additional moons, Nix and Hydra.

2007 – TV’s “That ’70s Show” aired their 200th episode and series finale after eight seasons.

2012 – Facebook Inc. held its initial public offering and began trading on the NASDAQ. The company was valued at $104 billion making it the largest valuation for a newly listed public company.

BIRTHDAYS:

Candice Azzara – 80 a old (1945) – Actress (TV’s “Caroline in the City”, “Who’s the Boss?”, “Love Boat”, movies “Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?”, “Made for Each Other”, “The World’s Greatest Lover”, “House Calls”, “Fatso”, “Easy Money”, “Unstrung Heroes”, “Catch Me If You Can”, “Ocean’s Twelve”, “In Her Shoes”, “Little Boy”)

Reggie Jackson – 79 a old (1946) – Baseball player

Rick Wakeman – 76 a old (1949) – Keyboardist (Yes)

Mark Mothersbaugh – 75 a old (1950) – Lead singer, keyboardist (Devo)

James Stephens – 74 a old (1951) – Actor (TV’s “The Paper Chase”, movies “True Grit: A Further Adventure”, “First Monday in October”, “The Getaway”, “Against the Law”)

George Strait – 73 a old (1952) – Country singer

Chow Yun-fat – 70 a old (1955) – Actor (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”)

Martika – 56 a old (1969) – Singer (“Toy Soldiers”, “Love…Thy Will Be Done”)

Tina Fey – 55 a old (1970) – Actress, comedian (TV’s “30 Rock,” “Saturday Night Live”, movies “Baby Mama”, “Mean Girl”, “Date Night”, “Admission”)

Jack Johnson – 50 a old (1975) – Singer

Allen Leech – 44 a old (1981) – Actor (TV’s “Downton Abbey”)

Spencer Breslin – 33 a old (1992) – Actor (“Disney’s The Kid”, “The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause”, “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”, “Return to Neverland”)

TODAY IS:

• National No Dirty Dishes Day: Give yourself a break from the drudgery of dishes for one day, by eating only food that don’t create dirty dishes. Order in, and use disposable containers and cutlery.
• I Love Reese’s Day: I Love Reese's Day is a sweet celebration that chocolate and peanut butter fans look forward to every year. Be sure to mark your calendars for when this delicious day rolls around! How to Celebrate I Love Reese's Day Unleash Your Inner Chef Why not whip up some homemade Reese's-inspired treats...
• National Cheese Soufflé Day: Dive into a fluffy cloud of cheesy goodness with a perfectly baked Cheese Soufflé! This delicate dish will tantalize your taste buds and leave you feeling oh-so-satisfied. So go ahead, treat yourself to a little bit of heaven in every bite!
• National Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) Appreciation Day: Experts in communication development, these professionals empower individuals to express themselves with clarity and confidence.
• Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day: If spotting a cute emoji can put a smile on someone’s face, imagine how it would brighten their day to get an even more personal surprise in their in-box. Make that happen on Send An Electronic Greeting Card Day. This annual occasion reminds us of the joy of sending and...
• National Visit Your Relatives Day: Make time for family and go visit your relatives, whether that means heading across town to visit your aunt, or making a trip across the country.
• Global Porphyria Day: Porphyria might sound unfamiliar, but for those living with it, the effects are very real. It’s a group of rare illnesses that can cause everything from burning skin to deep nerve pain. People with porphyria often spend years searching for answers before getting the right diagnosis. On Global Porphyria Day, they...
• National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day: Imagine a world where HIV no longer threatens lives. National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day reminds us of that possibility. Scientists, healthcare workers, and volunteers pour their energy into finding a vaccine. Their work isn’t just about science—it’s about protecting families, friends, and future generations. Every trial, every discovery, and every...
• Mother Whistler Day: Mother Whistler Day celebrates the everyday magic of whistling. A sound that travels with ease, it turns quiet moments into playful ones. Whistling lifts moods, marks rhythm, and adds a personal beat to the world around us. It needs no grand setting—just a bit of breath and a spark of...
• Supply Chain Professionals Day: Have you ever thought about how the items you buy make their way to the store shelves? Supply Chain Professionals Day shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes behind this magic! How to Celebrate Supply Chain Professionals Day Organize a Thank-You Parade Why not organize a lively thank-you parade in honor of supply...
• International Museum Day: Visit a local museum and learn about anything from art to ancient history to aerospace. Many museums also offer virtual tours online, if you can’t get out.
• Victoria Day: Curtsey for the reigning queen of style and grace! This iconic monarch ruled with an iron fist and a loving heart. So raise a cup of tea and toast to the one and only Queen Victoria.
• International Heritage Breeds Week: Support the survival of classic livestock breeds like Oberhasli goats, Wiltshire Wild Horn sheep, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs during Heritage Breeds Week.
• Be Nice to Nettles Week: Be Nice to Nettles Week is a vibrant annual event that shines a spotlight on the humble nettle plant. Celebrated in mid-May, this period encourages us to appreciate the ecological and health benefits of nettles. How to Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week Here are five quirky and playful ways to dive...
• Dementia Action Week: Dementia Action Week is a key time of action. It’s time to step up your game on behalf of those who live with the disease. This event means different things while being significant to many different people. But one thing about it is the same -- it should bring us all...
• Noise Action Week: Noise Action Week is an exciting event dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of noise pollution on our daily lives. This week-long initiative encourages everyone to think about the noise they create and how it affects others. It's a time for communities to come together, learn about noise reduction...
• Walk to School Week in the UK: Walk to School Week in the UK is a vibrant event encouraging kids to embrace walking as part of their daily routine. This week-long initiative highlights the benefits of walking over driving, making it an engaging and fun experience for children! How to Celebrate Walk to School Week Host a...
• National Safe Sun Week: National Safe Sun Week is a special time dedicated to educating people about the dangers of too much sun and how to stay safe. Held in the last week of May, right before the Memorial Day holiday, it marks the beginning of summer. This is when folks often start spending...
• National Doughnut Week: National Doughnut Week is a fun and delightful time that invites everyone to indulge in one of the most beloved treats: doughnuts. During this week, people are encouraged to enjoy these tasty confections while also contributing to a good cause. Many bakeries across the country participate by offering special doughnuts, and...
• Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...

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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.