On this day, June 18

1812 The War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madison signed, a declaration of war against Britain.

1949 The United Engineering and Foundry, the Mesta Machine Co. and Westinghouse received major portions of a $149 million contract for a French steel mill scheduled for construction under the European Recovery Administration program.

1982 The city asked for additional millions in taxes to improve Three Rivers Stadium so the Pirates could be kept in Pittsburgh. Eleven million dollars would be needed to renovate the stadium. 1999 A crowd of 3,000 attended the groundbreaking for a $262 million stadium — new home of the Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers — now known as Heinz Field.

2018 President Donald Trump announced he was directing the Pentagon to create the “Space Force” as an independent service branch.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Former Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., 83. Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock, 81. Sir Paul McCartney, 78.

Actress Constance McCashin, 73. Actress Linda Thorson, 73. Former Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., 70. Actress Isabella Rossellini, 68. Actress Carol Kane, 68. Actor Brian Benben, 64. Actress Andrea Evans, 63. Figure skater Kurt Browning, 54. Actress Alana de la Garza, 44. Country singer Blake Shelton, 44. Actress Renee Olstead, 31. Actor Jacob Anderson, 30. Actress Willa Holland, 29.

Thought for today: “Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.”

— Bernard M. Baruch, American businessman and statesman

(1870-1965)