What Happened on March 18 in History?
March 18 has been a date of major "firsts" in exploration and infrastructure, as well as significant political shifts and tragic natural disasters.
Major Historical Events
First Human Spacewalk (1965): Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first person to walk in space, spending 12 minutes outside the Voskhod 2 capsule.
The World's First Public Bus (1662): Promoted by Blaise Pascal, the first public horse-drawn bus service began operating in Paris as the Carosses à Cinq Sous.
Largest Art Theft in U.S. History (1990): Two thieves disguised as police officers stole 13 artworks — including pieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer — from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The heist, valued at $500 million, remains unsolved.
Repeal of the Stamp Act (1766): After intense protests in the American colonies, the British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, though it simultaneously passed the Declaratory Act to maintain its taxing authority.
Deadliest U.S. Tornado (1925): The Tri-State Tornado tore through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people and injuring thousands.
End of the Algerian War (1962): The Évian Accords were signed, ending the eight-year war of independence between France and Algeria.
Gandhi Sentenced (1922): Mohandas K. Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience in British India (he was released after two years).
Science, Law, & Culture
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states must provide legal counsel to criminal defendants who cannot afford an attorney.
American Express Founded (1850): The company was established in Buffalo, New York, through a merger of express mail businesses.
The Stanley Cup (1892): Lord Stanley of Preston pledged to donate a challenge cup for the best amateur ice hockey team in Canada.
New London School Explosion (1937): A natural gas leak caused an explosion at a school in Texas, killing nearly 300 people, mostly children. This tragedy led to laws requiring an odorant to be added to natural gas.
Notable Birthdays
Grover Cleveland (1837): The first U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms (22nd and 24th).
Rudolf Diesel (1858): German engineer and inventor of the diesel engine.
Neville Chamberlain (1869): British Prime Minister known for his "appeasement" policy before WWII.
Queen Latifah (1970): Influential rapper, actress, and producer.
Adam Levine (1979): Lead singer of the band Maroon 5.
