February 15 » The battleship USSMaine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing 274. This event leads the United States to declare war on Spain.
April 20 » U.S. President William McKinley signed a joint resolution to Congress for declaration of war against Spain, beginning the Spanish–American War.
June 17 » The United States Navy Hospital Corps is established.
July 4 » En route from New York to Le Havre, the SS La Bourgogne collides with another ship and sinks off the coast of Sable Island, with the loss of 549 lives.
August 12 » The Hawaiian flag is lowered from ʻIolani Palace in an elaborate annexation ceremony and replaced with the flag of the United States to signify the transfer of sovereignty from the Republic of Hawaii to the United States.
December 26 » Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium.
Day of death September 18, 1978
The temperature on September 18, 1978 was between 6.9 °C and 16.9 °C and averaged 12.7 °C. There was 8.8 hours of sunshine (70%). The partly clouded was. The average windspeed was 2 Bft (weak wind) and was prevailing from the west. Source: KNMI
In The Netherlands , there was from Monday, December 19, 1977 to Friday, September 11, 1981 the cabinet Van Agt I, with Mr. A.A.M. van Agt (CDA/KVP) as prime minister.
June 9 » The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opens its priesthood to "all worthy men", ending a 148-year-old policy of excluding black men.
August 17 » Double Eagle II becomes first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it lands in Miserey, France near Paris, 137 hours after leaving Presque Isle, Maine.
August 22 » The District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment is passed by the U.S. Congress. The proposed amendment would have provided the District of Columbia with full voting representation in the Congress, the Electoral College, and regarding amending the U.S. Constitution. The proposed amendment failed to be ratified by enough states (ratified by 16, needed 38) and so did not become part of the Constitution.
September 19 » The Solomon Islands join the United Nations.
October 1 » Tuvalu gains independence from the United Kingdom.
November 3 » Dominica gains its independence from the United Kingdom.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Jacobus Trox, "Lap family tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/lap-stamboom/I223.php : accessed January 7, 2026), "Gelte Lap (1898-1978)".
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