1. First secession convention in North Carolina: On December 18, 1860, the first secession convention of North Carolina was held in Raleigh. Delegates from across the state gathered to discuss the possibility of seceding from the United States, in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as president.

2. Appointed governor resigns: On December 18, 1805, Nathaniel Alexander, who had been appointed governor of North Carolina by President Jefferson, resigned from office after just one year. Alexander had been criticized for siding with the federal government in disputes with the state legislature.

3. Bison introduced to NC: On December 18, 1708, John Lawson, an explorer and naturalist who was serving as the deputy surveyor of North Carolina, wrote in his journal about a herd of bison that he had encountered in what is now Johnston County. This was the first recorded sighting of bison in the region.

4. Charlotte hosts first Democratic National Convention in the South: On December 18, 1860, the Democratic National Convention was held in Charlotte, making it the first city in the South to host a national political convention. Although the convention failed to prevent the split that would eventually lead to the Civil War, it served as an important precursor to the Reconstruction era.

5. NC Historical Commission established: On December 18, 1903, the North Carolina Historical Commission was established by state law, with the mission to “discover, collect, and preserve whatever may relate to the history of North Carolina.” The commission oversees the State Archives and State Library, and has been responsible for many significant publications and exhibits on North Carolina history.