1152
Politics
Marriage to Henry, Duke of Normandy
On May 18, 1152, Eleanor married Henry, Duke of Normandy.
View detailsThis Day
18May
30 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1852
Arts
Birth of Gertrude Käsebier
Birth of Gertrude Stanton (later Gertrude Käsebier) in Fort Des Moines, Iowa, marking the beginning of a life that would reshape artistic portrait photography.
View details1886
Arts
Jeanie Macpherson's birth
Birth of Jeanie Macpherson, influential screenwriter and director.
View details1902
Arts
Birth of Meredith Willson in Mason City, Iowa
Birth of Robert Reiniger Meredith Willson in Mason City, Iowa, future composer of *The Music Man* and one of America’s best-known musical storytellers.
View details1910
Literature
Death of Eliza Orzeszkowa
Eliza Orzeszkowa passed away on May 18, 1910, in Grodno.
View details1910
Arts
Death in Paris
Pauline Viardot died in Paris on May 18, 1910, at age 88, closing a career that had shaped opera, composition, and the salons of Romantic Europe.
View details1910
Activism
Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University
Receives Master of Social Work from Columbia University, deepening her Progressive Era reform training.
View details1916
Science
Death of Grace Annie Lockhart
Death of Grace Annie Lockhart in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; she is later commemorated at Tryon People’s Cemetery for her pioneering role in women’s higher education.
View details1922
1925
Arts
European Premiere of The Saga of Gösta Berling
The film premiered in Berlin and Paris, introducing Garbo to broader audiences.
View details1948
Sports
Birth of Diane Crump in Milford, Connecticut
Born May 18, 1948, in Milford, Connecticut, to Walter and Jean (Boreiko) Crump.
View details1953
Aviation
First woman to break the sound barrier
Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier in an F-86 Sabre at Rogers Dry Lake.
View details1955
Activism
Death of Mary McLeod Bethune
Mary McLeod Bethune died on May 18, 1955, in Daytona Beach, Florida, after a life of education, activism, and public service.
View details1961
Activism
Award of French Legion of Honor
French President Charles de Gaulle awarded Josephine Baker the Legion of Honor for her Resistance contributions.
View details1965
Literature
Publication of "The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter"
Porter's landmark volume gathering her major short fiction was published by Harcourt, Brace & World, soon winning the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize.
View details1966
Aviation
Solo round-the-world flight
On May 18, 1966, Scott completed a solo round-the-world flight, setting a remarkable aviation record.
View details1970
Arts
Birth in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
Born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, starting a notable career in comedy.
View details1973
1974
Politics
Smiling Buddha – India’s first nuclear test
India conducted its first nuclear test under Gandhi's leadership.
View details1982
Politics
First FOMC Meeting as Cleveland Fed President
Horn attended her first FOMC meeting as Cleveland Fed president; Chairman Paul Volcker welcomed the women now 'gracing' the table.
View details1990
Science
Blond Ambition World Tour opens in Chiba, Japan
The influential Blond Ambition World Tour opens, setting new theatrical standards for arena concert staging.
View details1991
Science
Launch on Soyuz TM-12 and multiple historic firsts
Sharman launched from Baikonur aboard Soyuz TM-12, becoming the first British person in space, and the first Western European woman in space.
View details1992
Arts
Second Prize, Commercial Space Design Award
Sejima took Second Prize in the Commercial Space Design Award, further establishing her reputation in commercial architecture.
View details1993
Exploration
Birth of Jessica Watson
Jessica Rose Watson was born on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
View details2009
Exploration
First woman to climb twelve eight‑thousanders
Became the first woman to summit twelve eight-thousanders on May 18, 2009.
View details2013
Sports
Preakness Stakes placing on Mylute
Rosie Napravnik rides Mylute to third in the Preakness Stakes on 2013-05-18, a standout Triple Crown finish for a female jockey.
View details2013
Activism
Death of Isabel Hamilton Benham
Isabel Hamilton Benham died on May 18, 2013, in New York City.
View details2019
Activism
Receives Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
American Academy of Achievement presents Nadia Murad with the Golden Plate Award at its International Achievement Summit.
View details2021
Science
Awarded Royal Academy of Engineering Prince Philip Medal
The Royal Academy of Engineering announced Dr. Gladys West as recipient of the 2020 Prince Philip Medal for her pioneering mathematical modeling underpinning GPS.
View details2023
Science
Featured in Millennium Technology Prize interview
Mayer was featured in an interview on the impact of technology.
View details