Discover the Historical Events and Famous People Born on August 18

Looking at important dates in history helps us understand how the world has changed. August 18 is a day when many interesting things happened. This article will explore some big events that took place on August 18 and talk about famous people born on this day. We’ll see how these events and people have shaped our world.

Historical Events of August 18

The Dome of Florence Cathedral Competition (1418)

In 1418, a big contest was announced in Florence, Italy. The contest was to design a dome for the Florence Cathedral. This cathedral is a very large and beautiful church. It had been built over many years, but it still needed a dome to cover its top.

Two main people entered the contest:
1. Lorenzo Ghiberti
2. Filippo Brunelleschi

Brunelleschi had support from Cosimo de’ Medici, a powerful man in Florence. This contest was very important because it led to one of the most famous domes in the world. Brunelleschi’s design won, and his dome still stands today. It changed how people built big buildings in Europe.

Tsar Peter the Great’s Arrival in Zaandam (1698)

On August 18, 1698, Peter the Great, who was the leader of Russia, came to a place called Zaandam in Holland. Peter was on a big trip around Europe to learn new things. He wanted to make Russia more modern.

Peter chose to visit Zaandam because it was famous for building ships. He wanted to learn how the Dutch made their ships so he could make better ships for Russia. Peter even worked as a ship builder while he was there!

This visit was very important. Peter learned many new ideas in Holland and other parts of Europe. When he went back to Russia, he used these ideas to change his country. He built a new city called St. Petersburg and made the Russian navy stronger.

Australia’s Political Shift (1904)

On August 18, 1904, something important happened in Australian politics. Chris Watson, who was the Prime Minister (like a president), quit his job. George Reid then became the new Prime Minister.

Chris Watson had only been Prime Minister for a short time – just four months. He was the first Labour Party Prime Minister in the world. But his party didn’t have enough power in the government, so he had to quit.

George Reid, who took over, was from a different political party. This change showed how new and unstable Australia’s government was at that time. The country had only become independent from Britain a few years before.

Women’s Suffrage in America (1920)

A very important event for women’s rights happened on August 18, 1920. On this day, women in America finally got the right to vote. This happened because of something called the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

For the 19th Amendment to become law, it needed support from 36 states. Tennessee was the last state needed. The vote in Tennessee was very close. It all came down to one person: Harry T. Burn.

Burn was only 24 years old. At first, he was going to vote against letting women vote. But then he got a letter from his mother. She told him to “be a good boy” and vote for women’s rights. Burn changed his mind and voted yes.

This vote changed America. It meant that women could now have a say in how their country was run. It was a big step towards equality between men and women.

James Meredith’s Graduation from Ole Miss (1963)

On August 18, 1963, James Meredith did something very brave and important. He became the first Black person to graduate from the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss.

Before this, Black students weren’t allowed to go to Ole Miss. When Meredith tried to join the school in 1962, there were big protests. The governor of Mississippi even tried to stop him. But Meredith didn’t give up.

President John F. Kennedy had to send soldiers to protect Meredith so he could go to school. It was very hard for Meredith, but he kept studying. When he graduated, it showed that Black students could succeed at any school.

Meredith’s graduation was a big moment in the fight for civil rights in America. It helped show that separate schools for Black and white students were wrong.

Famous Birthdays on August 18

Now, let’s learn more about each of these people.

Antonio Salieri

Antonio Salieri was a famous Italian music maker. He wrote many operas, which are like plays with singing. Salieri was very respected in his time. He worked for the royal family in Austria and taught many other famous musicians.

Many people know Salieri because of a movie called “Amadeus.” This movie made people think Salieri was jealous of Mozart and maybe even hurt him. But this isn’t true. In real life, Salieri and Mozart were friendly with each other.

Franz Joseph I

Franz Joseph I was a very important leader in Europe. He was the Emperor of Austria and the King of Hungary for a very long time – 68 years! He started ruling when he was only 18 years old.

During Franz Joseph’s time as emperor, many big changes happened in Europe. His empire was very big and had many different people in it. Sometimes this caused problems. Franz Joseph tried to keep his empire together, but it was very hard.

One of the saddest things that happened during Franz Joseph’s rule was the start of World War I. This war began after his nephew was killed. Franz Joseph died during the war, in 1916.

Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters was a famous American actress. She was in many movies and TV shows over a long career. Winters won two Academy Awards (also called Oscars) for her acting. These are very important awards in movies.

Winters was known for playing many different kinds of roles. She could be funny or serious. Some of her most famous movies are “A Place in the Sun” and “The Poseidon Adventure.

Besides acting, Winters also wrote books about her life. She was known for being very outspoken and having a big personality.

Robert Redford

Robert Redford is a very famous American actor and movie maker. He has been in many popular movies like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting.” Redford is known for being very handsome and a great actor.

But Redford didn’t just act in movies. He also made them as a director. His movie “Ordinary People” won him an Academy Award for Best Director. This is a very big honor in the movie world.

Redford also started the Sundance Film Festival. This is a big event where new and independent movies are shown. It has helped many filmmakers show their work to the world.

Christian Slater

Christian Slater is an American actor who has been in many movies and TV shows. He started acting when he was very young, appearing in plays on Broadway in New York City.

Slater became very famous in the 1980s and 1990s with movies like “Heathers” and “Interview with the Vampire.” He was known for playing cool, rebellious characters.

In recent years, Slater has done a lot of work on TV. He won a Golden Globe award for his role in the show “Mr. Robot.” This award showed that Slater is still a very good actor even after many years in the business.

Takeaway

August 18 is a day with many important events in history. From the contest to build the Florence Cathedral’s dome to women getting the right to vote in America, this day has seen big changes in art, politics, and society.

It’s also the birthday of many famous people who have entertained us and shaped our world. From emperors to actors, these people have left their mark on history.

Learning about these events and people helps us understand how our world has changed over time. It shows us that one day, or one person, can make a big difference in history.

References:

1. Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King
2. Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert K. Massie
3. The Australian People: An Encyclopedia of the Nation, Its People and Their Origins by James Jupp
4. Why We Can’t Wait by Martin Luther King Jr.
5. The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat by Ryszard Kapuściński
6. Shelley: Also Known as Shirley by Shelley Winters
7. Robert Redford: The Biography by Michael Feeney Callan
8. The Contender: The Story of Marlon Brando by William J. Mann