On this day, July 18
1536 The English Parliament passed an act declaring the authority of the pope void in England.
1863 During the Civil War, Union troops spearheaded by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, made up of Black soldiers, charged Confederate-held Fort Wagner on Morris Island, S.C. The Confederates repelled the Northerners, who suffered heavy losses.
1918 South African anti-apartheid leader and President Nelson Mandela was born in the village of Mvezo.
1987 Anti-nuclear demonstrators gathered on the Bloomfield Bridge on the first anniversary of shipments of radioactive waste through Pittsburgh from Three Mile Island.
2008 It was announced the Squirrel Hill Theatre and the former Poli’s Restaurant, two neighborhood landmarks, would be demolished to make way for a $50 million project that included retail stores, condominiums, a hotel and restaurant.
Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).
— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Skating champion and commentator Dick Button, 92. Olympic gold medal figure skater Tenley Albright, 86. Movie director Paul Verhoeven, 83. Musician Brian Auger, 82. Singer Dion DiMucci, 82. Actor James Brolin, 81. Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Torre, 81. Singer Martha Reeves, 80. Pop-rock musician Wally Bryson (The Raspberries), 72. Country-rock singer Craig Fuller (Pure Prairie League), 72. Business mogul Richard Branson, 71. Actor Margo Martindale, 70. Singer Ricky Skaggs, 67. Actor Audrey Landers, 65. Rock musician Nigel Twist (The Alarm), 64. Actor Anne-Marie Johnson, 61. Actor Elizabeth McGovern, 60. Rock musician Jack Irons, 59. Talk show host-actor Wendy Williams, 57. Actor Vin Diesel, 54. Actor Grant Bowler, 53. Retired NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway, 50. Bluegrass musician Jesse Brock (The Gibson Brothers), 49. Alt-country singer Elizabeth Cook, 49. Actor Eddie Matos, 49. Dance music singer-songwriter M.I.A., 46. Actor Elsa Pataky (“The Fast and the Furious” films), 45. Rock musician Tony Fagenson (formerly with Eve 6), 43. Actor Jason Weaver, 42. Actor Kristen Bell, 41. Actor Michiel Huisman, 40. Rock singer Ryan Cabrera, 39. Actor Priyanka Chopra, 39. Christian-rock musician Aaron Gillespie (Underoath), 38. Actor Chace Crawford, 36. Actor James Norton, 36. Musician Paul Kowert (Punch Brothers), 35. Actor Travis Milne, 35.
Thought for today: “Kindnesses are easily forgotten; but injuries! What worthy man does not keep those in mind?”