This Day In History, November 18th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on November 18th
In defiance of the Austrian conquerors, William Tell, a renowned Swiss folk hero, shot an apple off his son's head with a crossbow in 1307. This occasion is recognized as a Swiss national holiday.
Pope Urban VIII dedicated St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, in 1626. The church is located in Vatican City and is a popular destination for Catholic pilgrims.
The Battle of Vertières took place in 1803, between Haitian insurgents commanded by Jean-Jacques Dessalines and the French colonial force. The Haitians won, and the conflict is seen as a watershed point in the Haitian Revolution.
Mickey Mouse had his debut appearance in a synchronized sound animation, "Steamboat Willie," in 1928. The animation was a big hit, and it helped begin Walt Disney's career.
Terry Anderson, a journalist who had been held captive in Lebanon for almost six years, was freed in 1991. At the time of his release, Anderson was the longest-held American prisoner in history.
In 1307, William Tell, a legendary Swiss folk hero, shot an apple off of his son's head with a crossbow, in defiance of the Austrian occupiers. This event is celebrated as the national holiday of Switzerland.
According to legend, William Tell was a brilliant marksman who refused to submit to the rule of Austria's governing overlords. As punishment, he was instructed to use a crossbow to shoot an apple off his son's head, with the threat of killing both of them if he failed. William Tell triumphed and became a symbol of Swiss resistance to tyranny. Today, November 18th is "William Tell Day" in Switzerland, and the legend of his bravery and defiance remains an important part of Swiss culture.
In 1626, St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most famous churches in the world, was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII. The church is located in Vatican City and is a major pilgrimage site for Catholics.
St. Peter's Basilica is one of the world's largest and most famous cathedrals, located in Vatican City, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The basilica was constructed over a 100-year period, from the early 16th to the mid-17th centuries, and is regarded a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The dedication of the church by Pope Urban VIII in 1626 was a significant milestone in the history of the Catholic Church, and St. Peter's remains an important pilgrimage site for Catholics worldwide.
In 1803, the Battle of Vertières was fought between Haitian rebels led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines and the French colonial army. The Haitians were victorious, and the battle is considered to be the decisive moment in the Haitian Revolution.
On November 18, 1803, the fight of Vertières was fought, and it was a pivotal fight in the Haitian Revolution, which lasted from 1791 until 1804. Haitian insurgents headed by Jean-Jacques Dessalines were fighting for freedom from France, which had occupied Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). The combat took place near Vertières, and the Haitian rebels were successful in defeating the French colonial force. This victory was a watershed moment in the Haitian Revolution, resulting in the formation of Haiti as an independent nation in 1804, making it the first sovereign nation in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the first country formed by previously enslaved people.
In 1928, Mickey Mouse appeared in his first cartoon with synchronized sound, called "Steamboat Willie". The cartoon was a huge success and helped to launch the career of Walt Disney.
"Steamboat Willie" is a Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks animated short film starring Mickey Mouse. The picture debuted on November 18, 1928, and was one of the first to use synchronized sound. The animation was a big hit, and it helped start Walt Disney's and the Disney studio's careers. It also introduced viewers to Mickey Mouse, who would go on to become one of the most known and adored cartoon characters of all time. The popularity of "Steamboat Willie" cleared the door for the production of a slew of further animated films and cartoons starring Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters.
In 1991, Terry Anderson, a journalist who had been held hostage in Lebanon for more than six years, was released. Anderson was the longest-held American hostage in history at the time of his release.
Terry Anderson was a journalist working in Beirut, Lebanon, when he was kidnapped on March 16, 1985, by Hezbollah fighters. Anderson was kept captive for more than six years, during which he was tortured physically and psychologically. After negotiations between the US government and Hezbollah, he was released on November 18, 1991. Anderson was the longest-held American captive in history at the time of his release. Anderson's kidnapping and ultimate rescue were big news items at the time, and his story called attention to the dangers that journalists confront when working in combat zones.