In History, Today on April 18

The cornerstone of St. Peter's Basilica was laid in Vatican City, marking the beginning of the construction of one of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture.

Paul Revere and William Dawes embarked on their midnight ride to warn the colonial militia of the approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, which marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck the coast of Northern California, causing widespread destruction and resulting in the deaths of an estimated 3,000 people.

The Doolittle Raid took place, where 16 American B-25 bombers launched from the USS Hornet to conduct an air raid on Tokyo and other locations on Honshu during World War II, marking the first air operation to strike the Japanese archipelago.

The Republic of Ireland Act 1948 came into effect, officially declaring Ireland a republic and severing its last ties with the British Commonwealth.

Albert Einstein, the renowned theoretical physicist known for developing the theory of relativity, passed away in Princeton, New Jersey.

The Republic of Zimbabwe is officially established, marking the end of British colonial rule and the beginning of independence for the nation formerly known as Rhodesia.

The Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced new policies to address the sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church.

A series of bombings in Baghdad, Iraq, killed nearly 200 people, marking one of the deadliest days in the city since the 2003 invasion.

A fertilizer plant exploded in West, Texas, killing 15 people and injuring over 160 others.

The South Korean ferry MV Sewol sank, resulting in the deaths of 304 passengers, mostly high school students.

The redacted version of the Mueller Report was released to the public, detailing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.