Today in History
1998 The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is founded
Esther Dyson, an author, was the first chairperson of the now-non-profit organization, initially overseen by the US Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce relinquished control of ICANN, which is in charge of maintaining the Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS), in 2009.
1973 West Germany adopts the Deutsche Mark
This action replaced the East German Mark and contributed to the economic reunification of East and West Germany.
1959 Vanguard 3 is launched into Earth’s orbit
A Vanguard rocket built by Glenn L. Martin Company, now known as Lockheed-Martin, launched the geocentric satellite into Earth’s orbit.
1934 USSR joins the League of Nations
It was expelled just a few years later for its aggressive actions towards Finland.
1872 Oscar II becomes King of Norway and Sweden
He succeeded his brother Charles XV and IV.
Births On This Day, September 18
1976 Ronaldo
Brazilian footballer
1971 Jada Pinkett Smith
American model, actress
1961 James Gandolfini
American actor
1905 Greta Garbo
Swedish actress
1709 Samuel Johnson
English author, lexicographer
Deaths On This Day, September 18
1970 Jimi Hendrix
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer
1961 Dag Hammarskjöld
Swedish diplomat, economist, author, 2nd Secretary-General of the United Nations, Nobel Prize Laureate
1830 William Hazlitt
English critic, painter
1783 Leonhard Euler
Swiss mathematician, physicist
96 Domitian
Roman Emperor
