All Events

Historical Events on August 18

  • Henry IV of France

    1572

    Marriage in Paris, France, of the Huguenot King Henry III of Navarre to Margaret of Valois, in a supposed attempt to reconcile Protestants and Catholics.

  • Battle of Globe Tavern

    1864

    American 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.

  • Battle of Gravelotte

    1870

    Franco-Prussian War: Battle of Gravelotte is fought.

  • Battle of Britain

    1940

    World War II: The Hardest Day air battle, part of the Battle of Britain. At that point, the largest aerial engagement in history with heavy losses sustained on both sides.

  • Sukarno

    1945

    Sukarno takes office as the first president of Indonesia, following the country's declaration of independence the previous day.

  • Lolita

    1958

    Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States.

  • James Meredith

    1963

    Civil Rights Movement: James Meredith becomes the first African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi.

  • Operation Starlite

    1965

    Vietnam 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.

  • Vietnam

    1971

    Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on August 18

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on August 18

17. August

19. August