At A Glance

18 November 1959 at a glance

Day of the week
18 November 1959 was a Wednesday.
UK Number One
The UK Number One single was “Travellin' Light” by Cliff Richard and the Shadows.
Top Film of 1959
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1959 was Ben-Hur.
Star sign
The star sign for 18 November is Scorpio.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 18 November 1959 fell in the Year of the Pig.
Birthstone
The birthstone for November is Topaz.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 18 November 1959 was Waning Gibbous.

On this day: 18 November

  • 1944 The Popular Socialist Youth is founded in Cuba.
  • 1961 Vietnam War: United States President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam.
  • 1963 The Bell Telephone Company introduces the first push-button telephone.
  • 1970 U.S. President Richard Nixon asks the U.S. Congress for $155 million in supplemental aid for the Cambodian government.
  • 1971 Oman declares its independence from the United Kingdom.

Famous people born on 18 November

  • Duncan Sheik, American singer-songwriter and composer (1969–2026)
  • Owen Wilson, American actor (born 1968)
  • Chloë Sevigny, American actress, model, and fashion designer (born 1974)
  • Caleb Williams, American football player (born 2001)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1959 in the United Kingdom

A selection from Wikipedia's '1959 in the United Kingdom'. Not a complete list.

  • 7 May – Scientist and novelist C. P. Snow delivers an influential Rede Lecture on The Two Cultures, concerning a perceived breakdown of communication between the sciences and humanities, in the Senate House, University of Cambridge.
  • 28 May – The Mermaid Theatre opens in the City of London.
  • 1 June – The first episode of Juke Box Jury airs on BBC Television, chaired by David Jacobs.

Life in 1959

Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan

Monarch

Elizabeth II

Pint of Beer

10p

Loaf of Bread

7p

Average House

£2,530

Weekly Wage

£13.05

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1950s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →