spaceless.com — Today in History

Sunday, 18 January 2026

Day 18 of 2026 · 347 days remaining in the year · Week 03

← 17 Jan Today 19 Jan → API </>

7 Births

6 Events

13 Total entries

★ Born on this day 7 entries

1779

Peter Roget, of Thesaurus fame, invented Slide Rule, created pocket chessboard.

US Science & Technology 247 yrs ago

1782

Daniel Webster, early American orator and politician.

US 244 yrs ago

1813

Joseph Farwell Glidden, invented first commercially usable barbed wire.

US Science & Technology 213 yrs ago

1854

Thomas A. Watson, needed by Alexander Graham Bell.

US 172 yrs ago

1892

Oliver Hardy, of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy.

US 134 yrs ago

1904

Cary Grant, actor.

US Arts & Culture 122 yrs ago

1913

Danny Kaye, singer, actor, dancer.

US Arts & Culture 113 yrs ago

1644

First UFO sighting in America, by perplexed Pilgrims in Boston.

US 382 yrs ago

1777

San Jose, CA is founded.

US Geography & Exploration 249 yrs ago

1778

Captain James Cook stumbles over the Hawaiian Islands.

US Military & War 248 yrs ago

1869

The elegant California Theatre opens in San Francisco.

US Arts & Culture 157 yrs ago

1911

First shipboard landing of a plane (from Tanforan Park to the USS Pennsylvania).

US 115 yrs ago

1975

The original Morris The Cat dies. Finniky Pussy Cat!

US 51 yrs ago