Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
August 18 Tuesday, August 18, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 18 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
6
Holidays
1304
European history 722 years ago
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle is fought to a draw between the French army and the Flemish militias.
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle ends in a bloody stalemate between the French royal army and Flemish militias, leaving both sides claiming victory.
History
What happened on August 18
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 684War
Battle of Marj Rahit: Umayyad partisans defeat the supporters of Ibn al-Zubayr and cement Umayyad control of Syria.
Umayyad forces secure their rule in Syria by defeating Ibn al-Zubayr's supporters at Marj Rahit.
- 707Royalty
Princess Abe accedes to the imperial Japanese throne as Empress Genmei.
Princess Abe becomes Empress Genmei, ascending to the imperial Japanese throne.
- 1304European history
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle is fought to a draw between the French army and the Flemish militias.
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle ends in a bloody stalemate between the French royal army and Flemish militias, leaving both sides claiming victory.
- 1487War
The Siege of Málaga ends with the taking of the city by Castilian and Aragonese forces.
Castilian and Aragonese forces capture Málaga after a months-long siege, marking a decisive victory in the Granada War.
- 1492Culture
The first grammar of the Spanish language (Gramática de la lengua castellana) is presented to Queen Isabella I.
Elio Antonio de Nebrija presents the first Spanish grammar to Queen Isabella I.
- 1572Religion
The Huguenot King Henry III of Navarre marries the Catholic Margaret of Valois, ostensibly to reconcile the feuding Protestants and Catholics of France.
Henry III of Navarre, a Huguenot king, marries Catholic Margaret of Valois in an attempt to reconcile the warring Protestant and Catholic factions in France.
- 1590US history
John White, the governor of the Roanoke Colony, returns from a supply trip to England and finds his settlement deserted.
John White returns from England to find the Roanoke Colony deserted, with only the cryptic word "CROATOAN" carved into a post.
- 1612UK history
The trials of the Pendle witches and Samlesbury witches, one of England's most famous witch trials, begin at the Lancaster Assizes.
The trials of the Pendle witches and Samlesbury witches begin at the Lancaster Assizes, marking one of England’s most notorious witch hunts.
- 1634European history
Father Urbain Grandier, accused and convicted of sorcery, is burned alive in Loudun, France.
Father Urbain Grandier is burned at the stake after being accused and convicted of sorcery in Loudun.
- 1721War
The city of Shamakhi in Safavid Shirvan is sacked.
Shamakhi, a major city in Safavid Shirvan, is devastated by an invasion.
- 1783World history
A huge fireball meteor is seen across Great Britain as it passes over the east coast.
A spectacular fireball meteor crosses the British sky, visible from the east coast to observers across the country.
- 1891Disaster
A major hurricane strikes Martinique, leaving 700 dead.
A devastating hurricane hits Martinique, resulting in approximately 700 fatalities.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 18
7 this date All birthdays
Ruth Norman
American religious leader
Ruth E. Norman, also known as Uriel, was born today in 1900 and co-founded the Unarius Academy of Science, a Southern California religious organization focused on psychic phenomena and extraterrestrial communication.
Born
1900
Died
1993
Meriwether Lewis
American soldier, explorer, and politician
1774 – 1809
Roberto Clemente
Puerto Rican-American baseball player and soldier
1934 – 1972
Gulzar
Indian poet, lyricist and film director
b. 1934 · 92
Mika
Lebanese-born English recording artist and singer-songwriter
b. 1983 · 43
Inge Dekker
Dutch swimmer
b. 1985 · 41
Elizabeth Beisel
American swimmer
b. 1992 · 34
Music
The number one songs on August 18
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 18, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport August 18, 1958
Brojen Das from Bangladesh swims across the English Channel in a competition as the first Bengali and the first Asian to do so, placing first among the 39 competitors.
Brojen Das becomes the first Bengali and first Asian to swim across the English Channel, finishing first among 39 competitors.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 18, 1868
French astronomer Pierre Janssen discovers helium.
Pierre Janssen discovers helium while observing a solar eclipse, marking the first detection of the element outside Earth.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Arbor Day (Pakistan)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
Armed Forces Day (North Macedonia)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Birthday of Virginia Dare (Roanoke Island)
International
Virginia Dare was the first English child to be born in an American English colony
Constitution Day (Indonesia)
International
The following table indicates declared Indonesian government national holidays
Long Tan Day, also called Vietnam Veterans' Day (Australia)
International
The Battle of Long Tan took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tân, in Phước Tuy Province, South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War
National Science Day (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors