Events for April 18

April 18, 1792

Langrishes Catholic Relief Act allows Catholics to practice law, and Protestants and Catholics to intermarry

The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1791 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain passed in 1791 relieving Roman Catholics of certain political, educational, and economic disabilities. It admitted Catholics to the practice of law, permitted the exercise of their religion, and the existence of their schools.

April 18, 1802

Robert Patterson, naturalist, is born in Belfast

Robert Patterson, FRS (1802–1872) was an Irish businessman and naturalist born in Belfast, Ireland.

April 18, 1689

Siege of Derry begins

The siege of Derry in 1689 was the first major event in the Williamite War in Ireland. The siege was preceded by an attempt against the town by Jacobite forces on 7 December 1688 that was foiled when 13 apprentices shut the gates. This was an act of rebellion against James II.

April 18, 1949

Ireland declared a full republic and withdrawn from British Commonwealth.

The Republic of Ireland Act was an enactment of Oireachtas Éireann passed in 1948, which came into force on April 18, 1949 and which declared that the official description of Ireland was to be the Republic of Ireland (Irish: Poblacht na hÉireann) . It officially made Ireland a republic and marked its exit from the Commonwealth. The Republic of Ireland is the official description of the sovereign state which covers approximately five-sixths of the island of Ireland. The remaining sixth of the island of Ireland is known as Northern Ireland and is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The British Parliament recognizes the declaration but asserts sovereignty over the six northern counties. Ireland does not recognize the claim. Between 1922 and 1937, the 26 county Irish state was technically a British dominion known as the Irish Free State. In 1937, a new constitution was introduced which renamed the twenty-six county state Éire, or in the English language, Ireland .