On this day - May 18th

 

1. In 1291, the Crusader state of Acre fell to the Muslim forces of the Mamluk Sultanate, effectively ending Christian rule in the Holy Land.

2. In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was declared Emperor of France by the French Senate.

3. In 1860, the Republican Party held its first national convention in Chicago, Illinois, nominating Abraham Lincoln as their candidate for President.

4. In 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register for military service.

5. In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State killed 57 people and caused widespread damage.

6. In 2009, the Sri Lankan Civil War ended with the government declaring victory over the Tamil Tigers rebel group after 26 years of conflict.

7. In 2012, Facebook went public, with an initial public offering (IPO) that valued the company at $104 billion.