What Happened on October 18?

October 18 is National Chocolate Cupcake Day — a sweet bake-and-share holiday — on the same date the U.S. took possession of Alaska in 1867, the BBC was founded in 1922, and Bob Beamon shattered the long-jump record in 1968.

• 1867 — The United States takes possession of Alaska from Russia

  On October 18, 1867, the United States formally took possession of Alaska from Russia in a ceremony at Sitka — completing the purchase nicknamed 'Seward's Folly.' Read the full story →

• 1922 — The British Broadcasting Company is founded

  On October 18, 1922, the British Broadcasting Company was formed — the ancestor of today's BBC public broadcasting service. Read the full story →

• 1954 — Texas Instruments unveils the Regency TR-1 transistor radio

  On October 18, 1954, the Regency TR-1 — the first commercially produced transistor radio — went on sale, putting pocket-sized sound in listeners' hands. Read the full story →

• 1968 — Bob Beamon shatters the long-jump world record in Mexico City

  On October 18, 1968, American jumper Bob Beamon leaped 8.90 meters (29 feet 2½ inches) at the Mexico City Olympics — crushing the world record by nearly two feet. Read the full story →

• 1972 — The Clean Water Act becomes law over a presidential veto

  On October 18, 1972, Congress overrode President Nixon's veto to enact the Clean Water Act — a landmark law to restore and protect U.S. waters. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Chuck Berry (1926–2017) · Martina Navratilova (1956) · Zac Efron (1987) · Mike Ditka (1939)

Days & observances

National Chocolate Cupcake Day · National No Beard Day · World Menopause Day · Alaska Day