Happy Birthday December 18

Charles Wesley was born on December 18, 1707 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, where his father was rector. He was born several weeks before his time and appeared more dead than alive but was carefully wrapped in warm wool. Charles' father Samuel was a poet and he passed on his poetic gifts to his son. Charles Wesley wrote over 6000 hymns, more than any other male. (Fanny Crosby wrote 8000). It is said Methodism was born in song and Charles was the chief songwriter.

Portrait by John Russell

Joseph Stalin was born Ioseb Jughashvili on December 18, 1879 at Gory near Tbilisi in Georgia. He later adopted the name "Stalin" meaning "Man of Steel" which Lenin had given him. Ioseb's father, Besarion "Beso" Jughashvili, was a drunkard Georgian shoemaker who beat his son. One of Stalin's friends from childhood wrote, "Those undeserved and fearful beatings made the boy as hard and heartless as his father."

For more December 18 birthdays, including the English clown Joseph Grimaldi, the movie director Steven Spielberg , and the actor Brad Pitt, check out OnThatDay.