On This Day in History: June 18

Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, Thales of Miletus, dies in Miletus around 548 BCE, at the age of 78. Thales was one of the Seven Sages, founding figures of Ancient Greece. He is often considered the first Western philosopher. He is believed to have been born c. 624–620 BCE

Chinese governor Li Yuan, is crowned Emperor Gaozu of Tang, marking the beginning of the Tang Dynasty and the end of the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Gaozu, focused on consolidating his rule and unifying China. He implemented reforms, including changes to taxation and the legal system. The Tang Imperial Dynasty, under Gaozu and his successors, brought a golden age of Chinese history, known for its cultural and artistic achievements. The Dynasty ruled from 618 to 907, with a short gap between 690 and 705. Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point in Chinese civilization, and of cosmopolitan culture

The Rashidun Caliphate is established following the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Frederick I, duke of Swabia and German king, also known as Barbarossa, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor on June 18, 1155 by Pope Adrian IV in Rome. More

Five monks in Canterbury, England, observe an unusual phenomenon on the moon described by them as a "flaming torch" springing up from the split, spewing out fire, hot coals, and sparks. They also said the Moon's body below the division "writhed" and "throbbed like a wounded snake" Their unusual observation has sparked scientific debate for centuries. The most plausible scientific explanation is that they observed a meteor exploding in Earth's atmosphere that, from their specific location, appeared to be affecting the moon. This interpretation aligns with the lack of evidence for a major lunar impact at that time and the nature of the monks' description. More

The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first Irish parliament on record.

President James Madison, signed the declaration of war against Great Britain on June 18, 1812, initiating the War of 1812. The Senate had approved the resolution passed by the House on June 17, 1812. More

President James Madison signs into law a resolution passed by Congress declaring war with Great Britain, marking the beginning of the War of 1812.The War of 1812 ended December 24, 1814 when the two nations met in Belgium and signed the Treaty of Ghent. ending the war and restoring the previously recognized boundaries between the United States and British territory in North America. The Senate unanimously ratified the Treaty of Ghent on February 16, 1815. More

Napoleon Bonaparte is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo near Waterloo, Belgium bringing about Napoleon second abdication and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. His French army was defeated by the armies of the Seventh Coalition which included the United Kingdom, Prussia, Russia, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, and several German states. More

British European Airways Flight BE548, a Hawker Siddeley Trident 1C passenger flight from London Heathrow to Brussels crashes near Staines, England, shortly after take-off killing all 118 people on board. As of 2024, it remains the deadliest air accident (as opposed to terrorist incidents) in the United Kingdom. The aircraft suffered a deep stall in the third minute of its flight and crashed to the ground, narrowly missing a busy main road. More

Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT-II nuclear treaty. The US Senate chose not to ratify the treaty in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which took place later that year. The Supreme Soviet did not ratify it either. More

Astronaut Sally Ride makes history by becoming the first American woman to fly in space, She was part of the STS-7 Space Shuttle Challenger mission, which deployed communication satellites and conducted experiments. Ride's achievement broke a significant barrier in the US space program and inspired generations. More