May 18 - This Day in History

May 18 : General Interest 1920: Pope John Paul II born On May 18, 1920, Karol Jozef Wojtyla is born in the Polish town of Wadowice, 35 miles southwest of Krakow. Wojtyla went on to become Pope John Paul II, history's most well-traveled pope and the first non-Italian to hold the position since the 16th century... read more American Revolution 1783 : United Empire Loyalists reach Canada http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-empire-loyalists-reach-canada Automotive 1958 : Lotus makes Formula One debut http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lotus-makes-formula-one-debut Civil War 1863 : The siege of Vicksburg commences http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-siege-of-vicksburg-commences Cold War 1989 : One million protesters take to the streets in Beijing http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/one-million-protesters-take-to-the-streets-in-beijing Crime 1926 : Popular evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/popular-evangelist-aimee-semple-mcpherson-disappears Disaster 1980 : Mount St. Helens erupts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mount-st-helens-eruption General Interest 1860 : Lincoln nominated for presidency http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-nominated-for-presidency 1896 : Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/supreme-court-rules-in-iplessy-v-fergusoni 1974 : India joins the nuclear club http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/india-joins-the-nuclear-club 1980 : Mount St. Helens erupts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mount-st-helens-erupts Hollywood 2001 : Shrek released http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/shrek-released Literary 1593 : Playwright Thomas Kyd's accusations lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/playwright-thomas-kyds-accusations-lead-to-an-arrest-warrant-for-christopher-marlowe Music 1980 : Ian Curtis of Joy Division commits suicide http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ian-curtis-of-joy-division-commits-suicide Old West 1871 : Chief Satanta massacres teamsters http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chief-satanta-massacres-teamsters Presidential 1861 : Newspaper report criticizes Mrs. Lincoln http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/newspaper-report-criticizes-mrs-lincoln Sports 2004 : Randy Johnson throws perfect game at 40 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/randy-johnson-throws-perfect-game-at-40 Vietnam War 1966 : Laird charges http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/laird-charges 1969 : Communists attack Xuan Loc http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/communists-attack-xuan-loc World War I 1917 : U.S. Congress passes Selective Service Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-congress-passes-selective-service-act World War II 1943 : Hitler gives the order for Operation Alaric http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-gives-the-order-for-operation-alaric 1944 : Polish Corps takes Monte Cassino http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/polish-corps-takes-monte-cassino