What happened on August 18? There are more than 281 events that were made this day in history. Here are the important historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
Interesting Facts & Myths About August 18
August 18 is the 231st day of the year 2024. There are 135 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Sunday. This day falls under the 33rd week of the year 2024.
On this day in Mannsville, Oklahoma 73447 sunrise will occur at 06:50 AM and sunset will occur at 08:12 PM (local time).
The zodiac sign of a person born on this day is Leo. The modern birthstone for this month is Peridot while the mystical birthstone is Diamond.
According to the Chinese calendar, there are 164 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year (January 29, 2025).
Is your birthday coming up in two days? Are you not curious to find out who is sharing your special day? Discover all the April 26 famous birthdays. There are fun facts about that day that you must know. (Sponsored link)
Historical Events For August 18
- 1201The city of Riga is founded.
- 1572Marriage in Paris of the future Huguenot King Henry IV of Navarre to Marguerite de Valois, in a supposed attempt to reconcile Protestants and Catholics.
- 1587Virginia Dare, granddaughter of governor John White of the Colony of Roanoke, becomes the first English child born in the Americas.
- 1590John White, the governor of the Colony of Roanoke, returns from a supply trip to England and finds his settlement deserted.
- 1634Urbain Grandier, accused and convicted of sorcery, is burned alive in Loudun, France.
- 1783A huge fireball meteor is seen across the United Kingdom as it passes over the east coast.
- 1838The Wilkes Expedition, which would explore the Puget Sound and Antarctica, weighs anchor at Hampton Roads in 1838
- 1848Camila O'Gorman and Ladislao Gutierrez are executed on the orders of Argentine dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas.
- 1864American Civil War: Battle of Globe Tavern – Union forces try to cut a vital Confederate supply-line into Petersburg, Virginia, by attacking the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad.
- 1868French astronomer Pierre Jules César Janssen discovers helium.
- 1870Franco-Prussian War: Battle of Gravelotte is fought.
- 1877Asaph Hall discovers Martian moon Phobos.
- 1891Major hurricane strikes Martinique, leaving 700 dead.
- 1903German engineer Karl Jatho allegedly flies his self-made, motored gliding airplane four months before the first flight of the Wright Brothers.
- 1917A Great Fire in Thessaloniki, Greece destroys 32% of the city leaving 70,000 individuals homeless.
- 1920The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing women’s suffrage.
- 1938The Thousand Islands Bridge, connecting New York State, United States with Ontario, Canada over the St. Lawrence River, is dedicated by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- 1948The Australian cricket team completed a 4–0 Ashes series win over England during their undefeated Invincibles tour.
- 1950Julien Lahaut, the chairman of the Communist Party of Belgium is assassinated by far-right elements.
- 1958Brojen Das from Bangladesh swims across the English Channel in a competition, as the first Bangali as well as the first Asian to ever do it. He became first among 39 competitors.
- 1958Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States.
- 1963American civil rights movement: James Meredith becomes the first black person to graduate from the University of Mississippi.
- 1965Vietnam War: Operation Starlite begins – United States Marines destroy a Viet Cong stronghold on the Van Tuong peninsula in the first major American ground battle of the war.
- 1966Vietnam War: the Battle of Long Tan ensues after a patrol from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment clashes with a Viet Cong force in Phuoc Tuy Province.
- 1971Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam.
- 1976In the Korean Demilitarized Zone at Panmunjeom, the Axe Murder Incident results in the death of two US soldiers.
- 1977Steve Biko is arrested at a police roadblock under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967 in King William’s Town, South Africa. He would later die of the injuries sustained during this arrest bringing attention to South Africa’s apartheid policies.
- 1983Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast, killing 22 people and causing over USD $1 billion in damage (1983 dollars).
- 1989Leading presidential hopeful Luis Carlos Galán is assassinated near Bogotá in Colombia.
- 2000A federal jury finds the US EPA guilty of discrimination against Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, later inspiring passage of the No FEAR Act.
- 2005A Massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java, affecting almost 100 million people, the largest and most widespread power outage in history.
- 2008President of Pakistan Pervez Musharaf resigns due to the threat of impeachment.
- 2011The West Memphis Three are released from prison after 18 years in imprisonment.
Who Were Born On August 18?
- 1414Jami, Persian poet (d. 1492)
- 1450Marko Marulić, Croatian poet (d. 1524)
- 1579Charlotte Flandrina of Nassau, Roman Catholic nun (d. 1640)
- 1587Virginia Dare, first English child born in North America
- 1596Jean Bolland, Flemish Jesuit writer (d. 1665)
- 1605Henry Hammond, English churchman (d. 1660)
- 1606Maria Anna of Spain, Holy Roman Empire Empress and Queen of Hungary (d. 1646)
- 1611Ludwika Maria Gonzaga, queen of Poland (d. 1650)
- 1657Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena, Italian architect/designer (d. 1743)
- 1685Brook Taylor, English mathematician (d. 1731)
- 1692Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France (d. 1740)
- 1720Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, English murderer (d. 1760)
- 1750Antonio Salieri, Italian composer (d. 1825)
- 1754François, marquis de Chasseloup-Laubat, French general (d. 1833)
- 1774Meriwether Lewis, American explorer (d. 1809)
- 1792John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 1878)
- 1803Nathan Clifford, American statesman, diplomat, and Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (d. 1881)
- 1819Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna, Duchess of Leuchtenberg (d. 1876)
- 1822Isaac P. Rodman, American Union general (d. 1862)
- 1830Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria (d. 1916)
- 1834Marshall Field, American retailer(d. 1906)
- 1841William Halford, American naval officer (d. 1919)
- 1855Alfred Wallis, English artist and mariner (d. 1942)
- 1857Libert H. Boeynaems, Belgian Catholic prelate (d. 1926)
- 1870Hugh Bromley-Davenport, England cricketer (d. 1954)
- 1870Lavr Georgevich Kornilov, Russian general (d. 1918)
- 1879Aleksandr Rodzyanko, Russian general (d. 1970)
- 1885Nettie Palmer, Australian poet and essayist (d. 1964)
- 1890Walther Funk, German Nazi politician (d. 1960)
- 1893Burleigh Grimes, American baseball player (d. 1985)
- 1893Ernest MacMillan, Canadian musician (d. 1973)
- 1896Jack Pickford, Canadian-born actor (d. 1933)
- 1900Glenn Albert Black, American archaeologist (d. 1964)
- 1902Adamson-Eric, Estonian painter (d. 1968)
- 1902Margaret Murie, American conservationist, naturalist, and author (d. 2003)
- 1903Lucienne Boyer, French singer (d. 1983)
- 1904Max Factor, Polish-born cosmetics entrepreneur (d. 1996)
- 1906Marcel Carné, French film director (d. 1996)
- 1908Bill Merritt, New Zealand cricketer (d. 1977)
- 1908Edgar Faure, French politician and historian (d. 1988)
- 1909Gérard Filion, French Canadian businessman and journalist (d. 2005)
- 1910Herman Berlinski, Polish American composer (d. 2001)
- 1911Amelia Boynton Robinson, American leader in the Schiller Institute
- 1913Romain Maes, Belgian cyclist (d. 1983)
- 1915Max Lanier, baseball player (d. 2007)
- 1916Dame Moura Lympany, British pianist (d. 2005)
- 1916Don Keefer, American actor
- 1916Neagu Djuvara, Romanian diplomat
- 1917Caspar Weinberger, American politician (d. 2006)
- 1918Cisco Houston, American folk singer (d. 1961)
- 1919Walter Joseph Hickel, 2nd and 8th Governor of Alaska (d. 2010)
- 1920Bob Kennedy, baseball player (d. 2005)
- 1920Shelley Winters, American actress (d. 2006)
- 1920Thomas Godfrey Evans, English cricket keeper (d. 1999)
- 1921Lydia Litvyak, Soviet pilot, one of only two female flying aces (d. 1943)
- 1921Zdzisław Żygulski, Jr., Polish art historian
- 1922Alain Robbe-Grillet, French writer (d. 2008)
- 1923Jenni Irani, Indian cricketer (d. 1982)
- 1923Sadashiv Shinde, Indian cricketer (d. 1955)
- 1925Brian Aldiss, English writer
- 1925Pierre Grondin, French Canadian cardiac surgeon (d. 2006)
- 1927Rosalynn Carter, First Lady of the United States
- 1928Marge Schott, baseball team owner (d. 2004)
- 1929Hugues Aufray, French singer
- 1930Bo Hi Pak, Korean church leader
- 1930Liviu Librescu, Israeli professor, killed in the Virginia Tech massacre (d. 2007)
- 1931Bramwell Tillsley, Canadian Salvation Army general
- 1931Dick White, English footballer
- 1931Hans van Mierlo, Dutch politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister (d. 2010)
- 1932Luc Montagnier, French Nobel prized microbiologist
- 1932William R. Bennett, Premier of British Columbia
- 1933Just Fontaine, French footballer
- 1933Roman Polanski, Polish-born director and actor
- 1934Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican baseball player and humanitarian (d. 1972)
- 1934Ronnie Carroll, British singer
- 1934Vincent Bugliosi, American attorney
- 1935Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia
- 1935Howard Morrison, New Zealand entertainer (d. 2009)
- 1935Rafer Johnson, American athlete
- 1936Gulzar, Indian poet, lyricist and director
- 1936Robert Redford, American actor
- 1938Joe Frank, American radio personality
- 1939Harald Heide-Steen Jr., Norwegian actor and comedian (d. 2008)
- 1939Johnny Preston, American singer (d. 2011)
- 1939Robert Horton, British businessman
- 1942Judith Keppel, first British winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
- 1943Carl Wayne, English singer (d. 2004)
- 1943Gianni Rivera, Italian footballer and politician
- 1943Martin Mull, American comedian
- 1943Sarah Dash, American singer
- 1944Robert Hitchcock, Australian Sculptor
- 1945Barbara Harris, American singer (Toys)
- 1948Joseph Marcell, British actor
- 1949Dennis Elliott, drummer, sculptor
- 1949Nigel Griggs, bassist
- 1949Rudy Hartono, Indonesian badminton player
- 1952Elayne Boosler, American comedian
- 1952Patrick Swayze, American actor (d. 2009)
- 1952Ricky Villa, Argentine former footballer
- 1953Louie Gohmert, American politician
- 1954Angela Dimitriou, Greek singer
- 1954Umberto Guidoni, Italian NASA astronaut
- 1955Bruce Benedict, American baseball player
- 1955Taher ElGamal, Egyptian scientist
- 1956John Debney, American composer
- 1956Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz, American musician
- 1956Sandeep Patil, Indian cricketer
- 1957Carole Bouquet, French actress
- 1957Denis Leary, American comedian and actor
- 1957Ron Strykert, Australian guitarist
- 1958Madeleine Stowe, American actress
- 1959Tom Prichard, American wrestler
- 1960Fat Lever, American basketball player
- 1960Mike LaValliere, baseball player
- 1961Birol Ünel, German-Turkish actor
- 1961Bob Woodruff, American journalist, anchor
- 1961Glenn Plummer, American actor
- 1961Timothy Geithner, 75th and current US Secretary of Treasury
- 1962Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico
- 1962Geoff Courtnall, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1964Craig Bierko, American actor
- 1964Edith Frost, American singer/songwriter
- 1964Kenny Walker, American basketball player
- 1965Jim Florentine, American comedian
- 1965Koji Kikkawa, Japanese singer
- 1966Gustavo Charif, Argentine artist
- 1966Kang Soo-yeon, South Korean actress
- 1967Blas Elias, drummer
- 1967Brian Michael Bendis, American comic-book writer
- 1967Daler Mehndi, Indian bhangra/pop singer
- 1967Dan Peters, American musician
- 1968Lee Seung-yeon, South Korean actress
- 1969Christian Slater, American actor
- 1969Edward Norton, American actor
- 1969Everlast, American musician
- 1969Isaac Austin, American basketball player
- 1969Mark Kuhlmann, German rugby player
- 1969Masta Killa, American rapper
- 1970Greg Dean Schmitz, American film journalist
- 1970Jessica Hsuan, Hong Kong actress
- 1970Malcolm-Jamal Warner, American actor
- 1971Jacob Vargas, American actor
- 1971Richard D James, Irish musician (Aphex Twin)
- 1971Tom Middleton, British musician
- 1972Keiko Yamada, Japanese singer
- 1972Leo Ku, Hong Kong singer
- 1972Masahiro Nakai, Japanese singer
- 1972Shaun Wilson, Australian artist
- 1973Victoria Coren, British writer, presenter and poker player
- 1975Kaitlin Olson, American actress
- 1976Bryan Volpenhein, American rower
- 1976Daphnee Duplaix Samuel, American actress and glamor model
- 1976Paraskevas Antzas, Greek footballer
- 1977Mizuo Peck American Actress
- 1977Régine Chassagne, Canadian musician (Arcade Fire)
- 1978Andy Samberg, American comedian
- 1978Luke Williams, Welsh musician
- 1979Mohib Mirza, Pakistani actor
- 1979Stuart Dew, Australian rules footballer
- 1980Athina Papayianni, Greek race walker
- 1980Bart Scott, American football player
- 1980Esteban Cambiasso, Argentine footballer
- 1980Jeremy Shockey, American football player
- 1980Kieron Davies, Welsh-born German rugby player
- 1980Preeti Jhangiani, Indian actress
- 1980Rob Nguyen, Australian racing driver
- 1981César Delgado, Argentine footballer
- 1981Carla Khan, Pakistani Squash Player
- 1981Dimitris Salpigidis, Greek footballer
- 1981Jon Schneck, American musician (Relient K)
- 1983Cameron White, Australian cricketer
- 1983Danny!, American record producer/hip-hop artist
- 1983Kris Boyd, Scottish footballer
- 1983Michael Montgomery, American football player
- 1983Mika, Lebanese/British musician
- 1984Robert Huth, German footballer
- 1985Bryan Ruiz, Costa Rican footballer
- 1985Inge Dekker, Dutch swimmer
- 1985Julen Goikoetxea, Spanish Basque cyclist (d. 2006)
- 1986Ross McCormack, Scottish footballer
- 1987Mika Boorem, American actress
- 1988Eggert Jónsson, Icelandic footballer
- 1988G-Dragon, South Korean musician (Big Bang)
- 1988Jack Hobbs, English footballer
- 1988Luke Jackson (author), English Author
- 1992Elizabeth Beisel, American swimmer
- 1992Frances Bean Cobain, Kurt Cobain’s daughter
- 1992Riko Narumi, Japanese actress
- 1994Jessie Flower, American voice actress
Who Died On August 18?
- 353Decentius, Roman usurper
- 440Pope Sixtus III
- 472Ricimer, Roman general
- 849Walafrid Strabo, German monk and theologian
- 1258Theodore II Lascaris, Emperor of the Empire of Nicaea
- 1276Pope Adrian V
- 1318Clare of Montefalco, Italian Abbess and religious leader (b. c. 1268)
- 1430Thomas de Ros, 9th Baron de Ros, English soldier and politician (drowned) (b. 1406)
- 1503Pope Alexander VI (b. 1431)
- 1559Pope Paul IV (b. 1476)
- 1563Étienne de La Boétie, French judge and writer (b. 1530)
- 1613Giovanni Artusi, Italian composer
- 1620Wanli, Emperor of China (b. 1563)
- 1634Urbain Grandier, French priest (b. 1590)
- 1642Guido Reni, Italian painter (b. 1575)
- 1645Eudoxia Streshneva, Tsarina of Mikhail I of Russia (b. 1608)
- 1683Charles Hart, English actor (b. 1625)
- 1707William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, English soldier and statesman (b. 1640)
- 1712Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers, English soldier
- 1765Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1708)
- 1809Matthew Boulton, English manufacturer and engineer (b. 1728)
- 1815Chauncey Goodrich, American politician (b. 1759)
- 1842Louis de Freycinet, French explorer (b. 1779)
- 1850Honoré de Balzac, French writer (b. 1799)
- 1919Joseph E. Seagram, Canadian distillery founder (b. 1841)
- 1940Walter P. Chrysler, American automobile executive (b. 1875)
- 1942Rafaela Ottiano, Italian-born American actress (b. 1888)
- 1943Ali-Agha Shikhlinski, Russian-Azerbaijani general (b. 1865)
- 1944Ernst Thälmann, Leader of the Communist Party of Germany (b. 1886)
- 1945Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian independence movement leader (b. 1897)
- 1949Paul Mares, American musician (b. 1900)
- 1950Julien Lahaut, Belgian communist politician (b. 1884)
- 1952Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, Chilean Jesuit saint (b. 1901)
- 1963Clifford Odets, American playwright (b. 1906)
- 1968Cy Walter, American pianist (b. 1915)
- 1970Soledad Miranda, Spanish actress (b. 1943)
- 1981Anita Loos, American screenwriter (b. 1889)
- 1983Nikolaus Pevsner, German-born art historian (b. 1902)
- 1990B.F. Skinner, American psychological theorist (b. 1904)
- 1990Grethe Ingmann, Danish singer (b. 1938)
- 1992Christopher McCandless, subject of the book Into the Wild (b. 1968)
- 1994Martin Cahill, The General, infamous Dublin criminal (b. 1949)
- 1998Nelly’s, Greek photographer (b. 1899)
- 1998Persis Khambatta, Indian actress (b. 1950)
- 2001David Peakall, British scientist (b. 1931)
- 2002Dean Riesner, American film and television writer (b. 1918)
- 2003Tony Jackson, English musician (The Searchers) (b. 1938)
- 2004Elmer Bernstein, American composer (b. 1922)
- 2004Hiram Fong, former U.S. Senator from Hawaii (b. 1906)
- 2005Christopher Bauman, American wrestler (b. 1982)
- 2005Gao Xiumin, Chinese comedy actress (b. 1959)
- 2006Fernand Gignac, Canadian singer and actor (b. 1934)
- 2006Jamie Astaphan, Caribbean-born physician (b. 1946)
- 2007Michael Deaver, Reagan Administration Deputy White House Chief of Staff (b. 1938)
- 2009Kim Dae-jung,15th President of South Korea (b. 1925)
- 2009Robert Novak, American journalist and commentator (b. 1931)
- 2010Benjamin Kaplan, copyright scholar (b. 1911)
- 2010Hal Connolly, American Athlete and hammer thrower (b. 1931)
- 2010Scott Davis, American Announcer of Track and Field (b. 1943)
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