Birthdays
Samuel Benton
Turns 40 on this date
Joseph William Briggs
Turns 49 on this date
Elbridge Hoffman Gerry
Turns 24 on this date
John Breckinridge Grayson
Turns 54 on this date
James Gilbreath Hamilton
Turns 43 on this date
John Newman Hank
Turns 33 on this date
Daniel Parish Kidder
Turns 45 on this date
Henry D Landis
Turns 36 on this date
John Lowell
Turns 36 on this date
Events
| Business/Industry | In Pennsylvania, a new railroad extension further connects the coalfields with Philadelphia and beyond | 10/18/1860 |
| US/the World | Lord Elgin orders the destruction of the Summer Palace in Beijing as reprisal for murder of hostages | 10/18/1860 |
| US/the World | Prince Albert visits Boston and meets the last living survivor of the Battle of Bunker Hill |
10/17/1860 to 10/19/1860 |
Documents
| Letter | A Slave to William Still, October 18, 1860 | 10/18/1860 |
| Newspaper | Ripley (OH) Bee, "Drouth in Kansas," October 18, 1860 | 10/18/1860 |