Famous people born on July 18 — and what else happened that day
If your birthday is July 18, you share it with Nelson Mandela, John Glenn, Vin Diesel — and you were born under Cancer, the sign of the caring, intuitive, and fiercely protective of loved ones.
Birthday basics for July 18
Cancer ♋
Zodiac sign
Ruby
Birthstone
Larkspur
Birth flower
199th
Day of the year
July 18 is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years), with 166 days still to come.
Famous people born on July 18
Nelson Mandela — South African anti-apartheid leader and first Black president of South Africa (born 1918).
John Glenn — The first American to orbit the Earth and a long-serving U.S. Senator (born 1921).
Vin Diesel — Actor known for the Fast & Furious franchise and Guardians of the Galaxy (born 1967).
Also sharing the day:
Hunter S. Thompson (b. 1937) — journalist and author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; founder of gonzo journalism.
Richard Branson (b. 1950) — British entrepreneur, founder of the Virgin Group.
Kristen Bell (b. 1980) — actor known for Veronica Mars, Frozen, and The Good Place.
July 18 in history
1947 — The Indian Independence Act 1947 received Royal Assent, paving the way for India and Pakistan to become independent dominions a month later.
1976 — Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci scored the first perfect 10 in modern Olympic gymnastics, on the uneven bars at the Montreal Games.
1969 — U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy drove a car off a bridge at Chappaquiddick Island; passenger Mary Jo Kopechne died.
1872 — Britain's Ballot Act introduced the secret ballot in parliamentary elections.
1925 — Volume 1 of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf was published in Germany.
1290 — King Edward I issued the Edict of Expulsion, ordering Jews out of England.
July 18 birthday questions
What zodiac sign is July 18?
Anyone born on July 18 is a Cancer — caring, intuitive, and fiercely protective of loved ones.
What is the birthstone for July 18?
The birthstone for a July 18 birthday is Ruby, and the birth flower is the Larkspur.
Who is the most famous person born on July 18?
Nelson Mandela is among the best known — South African anti-apartheid leader and first Black president of South Africa (born 1918).
What happened on July 18?
In 1947, The Indian Independence Act 1947 received Royal Assent, paving the way for India and Pakistan to become independent dominions a month later.
What day of the year is July 18?
July 18 is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years), with 166 days still to come.
Make their day unforgettable
Know someone born on July 18? See the full story of their exact birthday — the headlines, the #1 song, what things cost — and turn it into a personalized front-page newspaper they can keep.