Today is Wednesday, April 18, the 108th day of 2018. There are 257 days left in the year.

1025 Boleslaw Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. 1506 St. Peter's Basilica cornerstone is laid. 1521 Trial of Martin Luther begins its second day during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. He refuses to recant his teachings despite the risk of excommunication. 1775 American Revolution: The British advancement by sea begins; Paul Revere and other riders warn the countryside of the troop movements.

1864 The battle of Dybbøl: A Prussian- Austrian army defeats Denmark and gains control of Schleswig. Denmark surrenders the province in the following peace settlement.

1899 The St. Andrew's Ambulance Association is granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria. 1915 French pilot Roland Garros is shot down and he glides to a landing on the German side of the lines during World War I. 1949 The Republic of Ireland Act comes into effect.

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.

1980 The Republic of Zimbabwe ( formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President. The Zimbabwean dollar replaces the Rhodesian dollar as the official currency. 1983 A suicide bomber in Lebanon destroys the United States embassy situated in Beirut, killing at least 63 people. 1988 The United States launches Operation Praying Mantis against Iranian naval forces in the largest naval battle since World War II. 1992 General Abdul Rashid Dostum revolts against President Mohammad Najibullah of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and allies with Ahmad Shah Massoud to capture Kabul. 1996 In Lebanon, at least 106 civilians are killed when the Israel Defense Forces shell the United Nations compound at Quana where more than 800 civilians had taken refuge.

2007 A series of bombings, two of them being suicides, occur in Baghdad, killing 198 and injuring 251. 2013 A suicide bombing in a Baghdad cafe killed at least 27 people and injures another 65 in a massive blast. 2015 Roger Lobo, Macanese- Hong Kong businessman and politician passed away on the day. 2016 Aleah Stanbridge, famous Swedish singer passed away on this day.