18 August in history

5 events that happened on 18 August, from 1227 to 1963.

  1. ✦ Anniversary of the day

    1227 CE 799 years ago

    Genghis Khan dies during his campaign against the Tangut

    Genghis Khan died during the siege of the Western Xia, traditionally on this date. He had built the Mongol Empire, which under his heirs became the largest contiguous land empire in history.

    Mongol Empire

  2. 1572 CE 454 years ago

    Henry of Navarre marries Margaret of Valois in Paris

    The Protestant Henry of Navarre married the Catholic princess Margaret, sister of Charles IX, a union meant to reconcile France's factions. Six days later the St Bartholomew's Day massacre began.

    Paris

  3. 1868 CE 158 years ago

    Solar eclipse observations reveal the element later named helium

    Observing a total solar eclipse in India, Jules Janssen saw an unexplained yellow line in the Sun's spectrum. Norman Lockyer attributed it to a new element, helium, not found on Earth until 1895.

  4. 1920 CE 106 years ago

    Tennessee ratifies the 19th Amendment, giving US women the vote

    Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify, by one vote cast by a young legislator heeding his mother's letter. The amendment barred denial of the vote on account of sex.

  5. 1963 CE 63 years ago

    James Meredith graduates from the University of Mississippi

    James Meredith became the first Black graduate of Ole Miss. His enrolment in 1962 had provoked a deadly riot and required thousands of federal troops to enforce.

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