212 years ago the War of 1812 began when the US declared war on Britain. Reasons for the war included Britain’s interference with US trade and the desire of America to expand settlements into Spanish, British and Indian territory.
Two and a half years into the war peace terms were agreed on via the Treaty of Ghent and the war officially ended in February 1815. Both the US and UK racked up over 10,000 deaths over the course of the war.
The Battle of Waterloo
On 18 June 1815, the Battle of Waterloo took place and handed French leader Napoleon a decisive defeat at the hands of Prussian and British-led forces.
The Battle of Waterloo ended over two decades of recurrent warfare between France and other European powers. Napoleon would go on to be exiled to Saint Helena and died of stomach cancer in 1821.
Trial of Susan B. Anthony
In 1872, women’s rights activist and key player in the suffragette movement, Susan B. Anthony cast her vote in the Presidential election between Ulysses S. Grant and Horace Greeley.
Anthony was arrested for voting illegally and faced a two-day trial in June 1873 where she was convicted of the offence and fined $100. She described the trial as “the greatest judicial outrage history has ever recorded.”
1912: A Republican Party Split
On June 18th, the Republican National Convention began in Chicago, Illinois. The party was split between President Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt.
After Taft was nominated, the Republican Party split, and Roosevelt founded the Progressive Party (also known as the ‘Bull Moose Party’). Democrat Woodrow Wilson would go on to win the November election with Roosevelt taking second place.
1928: Amelia Earhart Lands in Wales
On June 17th 1928, Amelia Earhart and her team departed from Canada in a Fokker F.VII. Over 20 hours later on June 18th, Earhart landed at Pwll near Burry Port in South Wales.
According to the BBC’s Phil Carradice, “Amelia Earhart was not the only person on board. With her in the plane were pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Lou Gordon. In fact, Amelia was rated only as assistant pilot for the trip – yet such was the novelty of a woman taking on the challenge of the Atlantic that Stultz and Gordon have now been all but forgotten.”
1940: Churchill Delivers Historic Speech
84 Years Ago today, Winston Churchill delivered his famous “This was their finest hour” speech to the House of Commons just one month after he became Prime Minister.
Making the speech after France had sought an armistice days earlier, Churchill told the Commons, “In casting up this dread balance-sheet, contemplating our dangers with a disillusioned eye, I see great reason for intense vigilance and exertion, but none whatever for panic or despair.”
1979: Arms Agreement Reached
Following the signing of the first Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement in 1972, a series of talks between Americans and Soviets took place to agree on a second treaty. On June 18, 1979, SALT II treaty was agreed.
The Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT) II treaty banned new missile programs and limited the number of MIRVed ballistic missiles. 45 years ago today the agreement was signed by US President Jimmy Carter and the Soviet Union’s Leonid Brezhnev.
1981: AIDS epidemic formally recognized
In 1980, the first cases of AIDS were recorded in the United States. On June 18th of the following year, medical professionals in San Francisco, California formally recognized the AIDS epidemic.
Awareness of AIDS would rise in the following years, but so would stigma surrounding it. By 1992, AIDS had become the leading cause of death for American men aged between 25 and 44.
2018: Rapper XXXTentacion Killed
Six years ago today 20-year-old rapper XXXTentacion died after being shot in Florida. In 2023, three men were sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of the rapper responsible for hits such as “SAD!” and “Moonlight”.
The rapper gained a large following during his lifetime and was credited as a leading figure in the SoundCloud rap movement. He was also a controversial figure owing to legal troubles – including a charge of aggravated battery against a pregnant woman.
2023: Titan Submersible Implodes
On June 18 2023, a submersible operated by OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and carrying 4 other passengers imploded during an expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean.
After the submersible went missing on June 18th, search and rescue missions got underway and debris of the submersible was discovered on 22 June. All five passengers were instantly killed by the implosion on June 18th.
