What Happened on May 18
Historical Events
- 1291 After 100 years of Crusader control, Acre is the last Crusader stronghold reconquered and destroyed by the Mamluks under Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil
- 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed Emperor of France by the French Senate
- 1974 India becomes the sixth nation to explode an atomic bomb
- 2009 Sri Lankan Civil War: The LTTE are defeated by the Sri Lankan government, ending almost 26 years of fighting between the two sides.
- More Historical Events
May 18 in Film & TV
- 1927 Grauman's Chinese Theater opens in Hollywood, California
May 18 in Music
- 1999 "Millennium" 3rd studio album by the Backstreet Boys is released - one of the best-selling albums of all time, over 30 million copies sold
May 18 in Sport
- 1990 Edmonton right wing Jari Kurri sets record for scoring in a Stanley Cup Finals game with 3 goals and 2 assists in 7-2 win at Boston Garden
Did You Know?
US, USSR and other nations sign the Environmental Modification Convention which prohibits weather warfare having widespread, long-lasting or severe effects
On May 18, 1977
Nicholas II
Frank Capra
John Paul II
Brooks Robinson
Reggie Jackson
Yannick NoahWould You Believe?
Mount St Helens erupts in Washington state, causing the largest landslide in history, killing 57 people and costing $1 billion in damage
On May 18, 1980
Famous Weddings
- 1152 Eleanor of Aquitaine marries Henri of Anjou, handing the future King Henry II of England most of France, allowing future kings of England to claim France for centuries thereafter
- 1514 Francis, Duke of Valois, later Francis I, King of France, marries Claude, Duchess of Brittany
- 1964 Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (19) weds Margrit Volkmar
Famous Divorces
- 1989 Lisa Strawberry files for divorce from husband and MLB player Darryl Strawberry (they eventually divorce 1993)
More Weddings & Divorces
John Bellingham
Gustav Mahler
Ernie Davis
Jeannette Rankin
Elizabeth MontgomeryArticles, Photos and Quiz
The Quiet Passing of Halley’s Comet
Halley’s Comet has been skirting Earth over and over again for centuries and did so again on this day. Happily, the disasters predicted by some failed to happen
May 18, 1910
Mount St. Helens Erupts
Mount St. Helens in Washington state erupts
May 18, 1980
Weekly Quiz for May 13-20
Test your knowledge of historical events in our multi-choice weekly history quiz for May 13-20. Number 7 will leave you truly stumped then amazed!
