On this day, June 18

1778 American forces entered Philadelphia as the British withdrew during the Revolutionary War.

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.

1961 Liquor sales at hotel bars on Sunday become legal.

1999 A crowd of 3,000 attended the groundbreaking for the new $262 million football stadium, the new home of the Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and later known as Heinz Field.

2011 Clarence Clemons, the saxophone player for the E Street Band who was one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen’s life and music, died in Florida at age 69.

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., 85. Sir Paul McCartney, 80. Actor Constance McCashin, 75. Actor Linda Thorson, 75. Former Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., 72. Actor Isabella Rossellini, 70. Actor Carol Kane, 70. Actor Brian Benben, 66. Actor Andrea Evans, 65. Rock singer Alison Moyet, 61. Rock musician Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses), 59. Figure skater Kurt Browning, 56. R&B singer Nathan Morris (Boyz II Men), 51. Actor Mara Hobel, 51. Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, 49. Rapper Silkk the Shocker, 47. Actor Alana de la Garza, 46. Country singer Blake Shelton, 46. Rock musician Steven Chen (Airborne Toxic Event), 44. Actor David Giuntoli, 42. Drummer Josh Dun (Twenty One Pilots), 34. Actor Renee Olstead, 33. Actor Jacob Anderson, 32. Actor Willa Holland, 31.

Thought for today: “Frailty, thy name, no longer woman.”

— Victor Riesel, American labor journalist

(1913-1995)