In History, Today on March 18

Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was executed by burning at the stake in Paris, France. His death marked the end of the Templar Order, which had been suppressed by Pope Clement V under pressure from King Philip IV of France.

The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act of 1765, which had imposed a direct tax on the colonies of British America and led to widespread protest. The repeal was a significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution.

Six farm laborers from Tolpuddle, Dorset, England, known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs, were sentenced to transportation to Australia for forming a trade union. Their case became a landmark in the history of trade unionism.

American Express was founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo in Buffalo, New York. The company initially started as an express mail business and later expanded into financial services.

Mahatma Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience after leading the non-cooperation movement against British rule in India. His imprisonment was a pivotal moment in the Indian independence movement.

Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first person to conduct a spacewalk, exiting the spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes. This achievement marked a significant milestone in human space exploration.

The largest art theft in U.S. history occurred at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, where 13 pieces of art valued at around $500 million were stolen. The case remains unsolved.

The United States, United Kingdom, and Spain withdrew a proposed resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would have authorized the use of force against Iraq. This withdrawal effectively ended diplomatic efforts to gain UN approval for military action, leading to the invasion of Iraq two days later.

A massive explosion occurred at the BP Texas City Refinery in Texas City, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 15 workers and injuring more than 170 others. This incident was one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the United States and led to significant changes in safety regulations and practices within the oil industry.

Russia formally annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum, which was widely condemned by the international community. This event significantly escalated tensions between Russia and Western countries.

A terrorist attack at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, Tunisia, resulted in the deaths of 22 people, including 20 foreign tourists. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group and highlighted the ongoing threat of terrorism in North Africa.

Vladimir Putin won a fourth term as President of Russia with over 76% of the vote, amid allegations of electoral fraud and suppression of opposition.