TODAY IN HISTORY - APRIL 18TH

1506 – The cornerstone of the current St. Peter's Basilica is laid.

1636 – Julius Caesar, English judge and politician (b. 1557) dies.

1775 – American Revolution: The British advancement by sea begins; Paul Revere and other riders warn the countryside of the troop movements.

1906 – An earthquake and fire destroy much of San Francisco, California.

1909 – Joan of Arc is beatified in Rome.

1918 – Clifton Hillegass, American publisher, founded CliffsNotes (d. 2001) is born.

1922 – Barbara Hale, American actress (d. 2017) is born.

1923 – Yankee Stadium: "The House that Ruth Built" opens.

1936 – The first Champions Day is celebrated in Detroit, Michigan.

1945 – John Ambrose Fleming, English physicist and engineer, invented the vacuum tube (b. 1849) dies.

1949 – The keel for the aircraft carrier USS United States is laid down at Newport News Drydock and Shipbuilding. However, construction is canceled five days later, resulting in the Revolt of the Admirals.

1953 – Rick Moranis, Canadian-American actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter is born.

1955 – Albert Einstein, German-American physicist, engineer, and academic (b. 1879) dies.

1963 – Conan O'Brien, American actor, producer, screenwriter, and talk show host is born.

1979 – Kourtney Kardashian, American model and businesswoman is born.

1983 – A suicide bomber destroys the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 people.

1987 – Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, English model and actress is born.

1988 – The United States launches Operation Praying Mantis against Iranian naval forces in the largest naval battle since World War II.

2012 – Dick Clark, American television host and producer, founded Dick Clark Productions (b. 1929) dies.