THURSDAY, June 18, 2026

618-Coronation of Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries of Tang Dynasty rule over China

1812-War of 1812 begins when the US declares war against Britain

1815-Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon Bonaparte and France are defeated by British forces under the Duke of Wellington and Prussian troops under Field Marshal von Blücher

1928-American aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean (as a passenger), landing at Burry Port, Wales

1940-Winston Churchill gives his "This was their finest hour" speech to the House of Commons, urging perseverance in the war after the Dunkirk evacuation and the fall of France

1973-Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev visits the US and President Nixon

1983-Space shuttle Challenger 2 launches the first American woman into space, astronaut Sally Ride

2010-"Recovery" 7th studio album by Eminem is released (best selling album worldwide 2010)