1. On November 18, 1776, the British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell occupy Newport, Rhode Island. This is an important event in Massachusetts history because Newport had been a major center of the colonial slave trade and was considered one of the most important ports in the colonies.

2. In 1820, the second major wave of immigrants arrived at Boston Harbor, including thousands of Irish, Germans, and British. These immigrants would play a crucial role in the state's history, helping to build the railroads, factories, and farms that would transform Massachusetts into an industrial powerhouse.

3. On November 18, 1867, the Massachusetts Agricultural College, now known as the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was founded. The college was established to provide agricultural education and research in the state, and it continues to be one of the state's leading public research universities.

4. In 1936, the Great New England Hurricane struck Massachusetts, causing massive devastation and loss of life. The hurricane was one of the earliest and most severe documented storms in modern history, and it remains one of the most significant events in Massachusetts history.

5. On November 18, 2014, Massachusetts became the third state in the US to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults. This was a historic moment for the state, which had already been at the forefront of the medical marijuana movement. Today, the state continues to lead the way in marijuana legalization and regulation.