History is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging. What has happened before will perforce happen again.’ — George R.R. Martin
1. Napoleon suffered a shattering defeat at the Battle of Waterloo
On this day in history in 1815 Napoleon suffered a shattering defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. The battle was Napoleon’s last. The French Emperor was exiled to Saint Helena where he died six years later. “To meet one’s Waterloo” is still a figure of speech today indicating total defeat.
2. A speech by Charles de Gaulle sparked the French Resistance to German occupation
On this day in history in 1940 A speech by Charles de Gaulle sparked the French Resistance to German occupation. The Appeal of June 18, transmitted by radio from de Gaulle’s exile in the United Kingdom, was pivotal in mobilizing the French after Germany had declared more than half of the country an occupied zone. On August 25, French and Allied troops liberated Paris.
3. The LP record was introduced
On this day in history in 1948 The LP record was introduced. The 33⅓ rpm microgroove vinyl Long Playing record developed by Columbia Records soon became the music industry’s standard medium. It allowed for a total playing time of 20 minutes per side.
See also: June 17th this day in history
4. 118 died in the Staines Air Disaster
On this day in history in 1972 118 died in the Staines Air Disaster.
The Hawker Siddeley Trident aircraft entered a deep stall and plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff from London Heathrow Airport.
5. Leonid Brezhnev and Jimmy Carter signed SALT II
On this day in history in 1979 Leonid Brezhnev and Jimmy Carter signed SALT II. The second “Strategic Arms Limitation Talks” (SALT) agreement was a ground-breaking arms reduction treaty between the Soviet Union and the United States.
