November 18 - This day in History

November 18: General Interest
1991: Terry Waite released

Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon free Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite after more than four years of captivity. Waite, looking thinner and his hair grayer, was freed along with American educator Thomas M. Sutherland after intense negotiations by the United Nations... read more


American Revolution
1776 : Fort Washington becomes Fort Knyphausen
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fort-washington-becomes-fort-knyphausen


Automotive
1996 : Volkswagen's "Dream Factory" opens in Resende, Brazil
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/volkswagens-dream-factory-opens-in-resende-brazil


Civil War
1863 : President Lincoln travels to Gettysburg
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/-lincoln-travels-to-gettysburg


Cold War
1987 : Congress issues final report on Iran-Contra scandal
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-issues-final-report-on-iran-contra-scandal


Crime
1996 : High-profile expert on exotic birds is sentenced for smuggling parrots
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/high-profile-expert-on-exotic-birds-is-sentenced-for-smuggling-parrots


Disaster
1987 : Commuters die in subway fire
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/commuters-die-in-subway-fire


General Interest
1916 : Haig ends Battle of Somme
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/haig-ends-battle-of-somme

1978 : Mass suicide at Jonestown
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mass-suicide-at-jonestown


Hollywood
2006 : Tom Cruise weds, again
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tom-cruise-weds-again


Literary
1998 : Alice McDermott wins the National Book Award
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alice-mcdermott-wins-the-national-book-award


Music
1978 : Billy Joel earns his first #1 album when 52nd Street tops the Billboard pop chart
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billy-joel-earns-his-first-1-album-when-52nd-street-tops-the-billboard-pop-chart


Old West
1883 : Railroads create the first time zones
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/railroads-create-the-first-time-zones


Presidential
1886 : Chester Arthur dies in New York
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chester-arthur-dies-in-new-york


Sports
1966 : Sandy Koufax retires
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sandy-koufax-retires


Vietnam War
1964 : South Vietnamese conduct largest air assault to date
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-conduct-largest-air-assault-to-date

1969 : South Vietnamese fight first major battle after U.S. troops are withdrawn
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-fight-first-major-battle-after-us-troops-are-withdrawn

1970 : Nixon appeals to Congress for funds for Cambodia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-appeals-to-congress-for-funds-for-cambodia


World War I
1916 : Battle of the Somme ends
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-somme-ends


World War II
1940 : Hitler furious over Italy's debacle in Greece
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-furious-over-italys-debacle-in-greece