Discover the historical events from the 18th of May with events ranging from Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation to India’s first nuclear test, World AIDS Vaccine Day, and International Museum Day. Perfect for school assemblies and educational contexts.
Dear Students,
Today is the 18th of May, the 138th day of the year. On this day, we celebrate World AIDS Vaccine Day and International Museum Day.
Let us look into some of the significant historical events that happened on this day:
Many of you may have heard about free ration distribution to the underprivileged, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. But did you know that way back in the year 332 CE, on the 18th of May, the first free daily bread ration was introduced in Constantinople by the Roman Emperor Constantine?
How many of you have heard about the French Revolution and Napoléon Bonaparte? It was on this very day, 18th May 1804, that Napoléon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of France by the French Senate.
Do you know what a lawn mower is? It’s a machine used for cutting grass on a lawn. On this day in 1830, Edwin Budding of England signed an agreement to manufacture his invention – the lawn mower. Before this, a manual cutter was used to trim grass, which was not only time-consuming but also exhausting.
Today, going to school is considered normal for children all around the world. But in earlier times, education was a privilege restricted to a few. However, on 18th May 1852, the state of Massachusetts in the USA made it mandatory for all school-age children to attend school.
At one time, African Americans were denied basic rights and freedoms in the United States. This gave rise to movements for equality, including the American Black Revolution (1775–1783), which eventually paved the way for greater rights. On 18th May 1869, Robert Tanner Freeman became the first African American to graduate from Harvard Dental School—a remarkable achievement in the history of American civil rights.
Students, did you know that on 18th May 1912, the first ever cinema attempt in India was made with a film titled Shri Pundalik? It was more of a recording of a popular play. Just a year later, Raja Harishchandra was released, which is considered India’s first full-length feature film.
And finally, on 18th May 1974, India successfully detonated its first nuclear device in Pokhran, Rajasthan, becoming the sixth nation in the world to do so. This event, codenamed “Smiling Buddha,” marked a major milestone in India’s nuclear programme and strategic capabilities.
That’s all for today.
Enjoy your day!
