August 18 - This Day in History

August 18: General Interest
1991: Soviet hard-liners launch coup against Gorbachev

On this day in 1991, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is placed under house arrest during a coup by high-ranking members of his own government, military and police forces... read more


American Revolution
1780 : British win at Fishing Creek, lose at Musgrove's Mill
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-win-at-fishing-creek-lose-at-musgroves-mill


Automotive
1940 : Walter P. Chrysler dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/walter-p-chrysler-dies


Civil War
1864 : Union attacks railroad at Globe Tavern
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-weldon-railroad-virginia


Cold War
1991 : Coup attempt against Gorbachev begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/coup-attempt-against-gorbachev-begins


Crime
1988 : A Seattle judge involved in a sex scandal commits suicide
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-seattle-judge-involved-in-a-sex-scandal-commits-suicide


Disaster
1931 : Yangtze River peaks in China
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yangtze-river-peaks-in-china


General Interest
1227 : Genghis Khan dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/genghis-khan-dies

1590 : Roanoke Colony deserted
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roanoke-colony-deserted

1920 : Woman suffrage amendment ratified
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woman-suffrage-amendment-ratified

1963 : Meredith graduates from Ole Miss
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meredith-graduates-from-ole-miss


Hollywood
1933 : Director Roman Polanski born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/director-roman-polanski-born


Literary
1958 : Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is published
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lolita-by-vladimir-nabokov-is-published


Music
1979 : Chic's "Good Times" hits #1 on the U.S. pop charts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chics-quotgood-timesquot-hits-1-on-the-us-pop-charts


Old West
1853 : Cyrus Skinner released from San Quentin
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cyrus-skinner-released-from-san-quentin


Presidential
1795 : George Washington signs Jay Treaty with Britain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-washington-signs-jay-treaty-with-britain


Sports
1992 : Larry Bird hangs it up
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/larry-bird-hangs-it-up


Vietnam War
1965 : Marines launch Operation Starlite
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marines-launch-operation-starlite

1966 : Australians defeat VC at Long Tan
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/australians-defeat-vc-at-long-tan

1968 : Communists launch new offensive
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/communists-launch-new-offensive

1971 : Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw troops from Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/australia-and-new-zealand-decide-to-withdraw-troops-from-vietnam


World War I
1917 : Italians launch the 11th Battle of the Isonzo
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italians-launch-the-11th-battle-of-the-isonzo


World War II
1941 : Hitler suspends euthanasia program
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-suspends-euthanasia-program