August 18 in History

Historical Events on August 18

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.

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.

1870 Franco-Prussian War: Battle of Gravelotte is fought.

1920 The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing women's suffrage.

1945 Sukarno takes office as the first president of Indonesia, following the country's declaration of independence the previous day.

1963 Civil Rights Movement: James Meredith becomes the first African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi.

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.

1971 Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam.

2008 President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf resigns under threat of impeachment.

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Famous Birthdays on August 18

1933 Roman Polanski

1934 Roberto Clemente

1962 Felipe Calderón

1988 G-Dragon

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Famous Deaths on August 18

1227 Genghis Khan

1503 Pope Alexander VI

1945 Subhas Chandra Bose

1990 B. F. Skinner

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