On this day in history - September 18

What Happened On This Day – September 18

• 1998 The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is founded

  Author Esther Dyson became the first chairperson of the now non-profit organization, which was initially under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2009, the Department of Commerce gave up its control over ICANN, which is responsible for maintaining the Domain Name System (DNS) on the Internet.

• 1973 West Germany adopts the Deutsche Mark

  This action replaced the East German Mark and helped complete the economic reunification part of the union between East and West Germany.

• 1959 Vanguard 3 is launched into Earth's orbit

  The geocentric satellite was launched into Earth's orbit by a Vanguard rocket, built by Glenn L. Martin Company, which is now known as Lockheed-Martin.

• 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