What is December 18?
{{calendar}} {{day}} == Events == === Up to 1900 === * [[218 BC]] &ndash; [[Battle of the Trebia]], [[Hannibal]]'s first great victory over the [[Roman Republic]]. * [[1271]] &ndash; [[Kublai Khan]] renames his [[Empire]] [[Yuan dynasty|Yuan]]. * [[1352]] &ndash; [[Pope Innocent VI|Innocent VI]] is elected [[Pope]]. * [[1622]] &ndash; [[Portugal|Portuguese]] forces score a [[military]] victory over the [[Kingdom of Kongo]] at the [[Battle of Mbumbi]] in present-day [[Angola]]. * [[1642]] &ndash; [[Abel Tasman]] lands at [[Mohua Golden Bay]] becoming the first [[Europe]]an in [[New Zealand]]. * [[1644]] &ndash; [[Christina of Sweden]] reaches the age 18, allowing her to govern alone. * [[1776]] &ndash; [[North Carolina]]'s [[Constitution]] is ratified. * [[1777]] &ndash; The [[United States]] celebrates it first [[Thanksgiving Day]]. The holiday is nowadays celebrated in late [[November]]. * [[1787]] &ndash; [[New Jersey]] becomes the third state to ratify the [[United States Constitution]]. * [[1793]] &ndash; Surrender of the frigate ''La Lutine'' by [[France|French]] Royalists to Lord [[Samuel Hood]]. * [[1865]] &ndash; [[Slavery]] is abolished in the [[United States]], with the passing of the [[United States Constitution/Amendment Thirteen|13th Amendment]]. * [[1867]] &ndash; The last [[Rail transport|coach]] of a Lake Shore [[Railway]] [[train]] derails, plunges down a [[gully]] and catches [[fire]] in [[Angola, New York|Angola]], [[New York (state)|New York]], killing 49 people. * [[1878]] &ndash; The Al-Thani [[family]] takes over the [[government]] of [[Qatar]]. * [[1878]] &ndash; French [[passenger]] steamer ''Byzantin'' collides with British steamer ''Rinaldo'' and sinks in a [[storm]] in the [[Dardanelles]], [[Turkey]], killing 150 people. * [[1884]] &ndash; Swedish [[newspaper]] [[Svenska Dagbladet]] is published for the first time. * [[1888]] &ndash; [[Richard Wetherill]] and his brother-in-law discover the ancient [[Native American]] ruins of Cliff Palace in [[Mesa Verde]]. * [[1892]] &ndash; [[Pyotr