In History, Today on June 18

The United States declared war on Great Britain, marking the beginning of the War of 1812. This conflict was fueled by issues such as trade restrictions due to Britain's ongoing war with France, the impressment of American sailors into the British Navy, and British support of Native American tribes against American expansion.

The Battle of Waterloo took place, where Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by the Seventh Coalition, led by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. This battle marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and led to Napoleon's final exile to Saint Helena.

Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger on the Fokker F.VII Friendship, piloted by Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon. This achievement helped to pave the way for her later solo transatlantic flight in 1932.

Winston Churchill delivered his famous 'This was their finest hour' speech to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, rallying British morale during the early days of World War II following the fall of France to Nazi Germany.

William Joyce, known as 'Lord Haw-Haw,' was charged with treason for his wartime propaganda broadcasts for Nazi Germany. His trial and subsequent execution highlighted the complexities of nationality and allegiance during wartime.

Sally Ride became the first American woman in space as a crew member on the Space Shuttle Challenger for mission STS-7. Her flight marked a significant milestone in the history of NASA and the role of women in space exploration.

NASA launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) to the Moon. The mission aimed to map the lunar surface and search for water ice.

The United Nations Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

The G-20 summit took place in Los Cabos, Mexico, where world leaders discussed the global economy, financial markets, and sustainable development.

The G8 summit was held in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, focusing on issues such as tax evasion, trade, and transparency.

The United Nations declared the start of the International Year of Family Farming to highlight the role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty.

Pope Francis released his second encyclical, 'Laudato si',' which focused on environmental issues and climate change.