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On This Day in History — February 19

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Highlights of February 19

2026 — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor became the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in 379 years. Read more
2012 — Mexican drug war: Forty-four inmates died in a prison riot in Apodaca, Mexico, between members of Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel. Read more
2011 — Items from the Belitung shipwreck, the largest single collection of Tang-dynasty artefacts found in one location, were first exhibited in Singapore. Read more
2006 — A methane explosion in a coal mine in Nueva Rosita, Mexico, trapped and killed 65 miners. Read more
1965 — Colonel Phạm Ngọc Thảo of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, along with Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Trần Thiện Khiêm attempted a coup against the military junta of Nguyễn Khánh. Read more
1963 — Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, a non-fiction book credited with sparking the beginning of second-wave feminism in the United States, was first published. Read more
1948 — The Southeast Asian Youth Conference, which is believed to have inspired armed communist rebellions in different Asian countries, opened in Calcutta, India. Read more
1942 — World War II: U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forcible relocation of over 112,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps. Read more
1942 — Second World War: In the largest attack mounted by a foreign power against Australia, more than 240 Japanese aircraft bombed the city of Darwin (pictured). Read more
1942 — A book-burning was held and politicians were arrested in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as part of a simulated Nazi invasion. Read more
1937 — Italian forces began a brutal crackdown on Ethiopians following an attempted assassination of Rodolfo Graziani, the viceroy of Italian East Africa, in Addis Ababa. Read more
1931 — The Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia (flag pictured) was dissolved and reformed as the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, an autonomous republic of the Soviet Union within Georgia. Read more
1910 — Old Trafford, a football stadium in Greater Manchester, England, hosted its inaugural match, between Manchester United and Liverpool. Read more
1903 — A blockade against Venezuela (depicted), caused by President Cipriano Castro's refusal to pay foreign debts, was lifted. Read more
1811 — Peninsular War: Outnumbered French forces under Édouard Mortier routed and nearly destroyed Spanish troops at the Battle of the Gebora near Badajoz, Spain. Read more
1600 — Huaynaputina, a stratovolcano in present-day Peru, produced the largest recorded volcanic explosion in South America. Read more

Events

2026 — The 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea officially opens in Pyongyang and lasts for 7 days. (from February 19th to February 25th, 2026) Read more
2021 — Mya Thwe Thwe Khine, a 19-year-old protester, becomes the first known casualty of anti-coup protests that formed in response to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. Read more
2020 — Nine people are killed in two domestic terrorist shootings in Hanau, Hesse, Germany. Read more
2012 — Forty-four people are killed in a prison brawl in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico. Read more
2011 — The debut exhibition of the Belitung shipwreck, containing the largest collection of Tang dynasty artifacts found in one location, begins in Singapore. Read more
2006 — A methane explosion in a coal mine near Nueva Rosita, Mexico, kills 65 miners. Read more
2003 — An Ilyushin Il-76 military aircraft crashes near Kerman, Iran, killing 275. Read more
2002 — NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system. Read more
1989 — Flying Tiger Line Flight 066 crashes into a hill near Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia, killing four. Read more
1988 — A Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner operating as AVAir Flight 3378 crashes in Cary, North Carolina, killing 12. Read more
1986 — Akkaraipattu massacre: the Sri Lankan Army massacres 80 Tamil farm workers in eastern Sri Lanka. Read more
1985 — William J. Schroeder becomes the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave the hospital. Read more
1985 — A Boeing 727 operating as Iberia Flight 610 crashes Mount Oiz in Spain, killing 148; it is the deadliest accident to occur in Iberia's history and the deadliest to occur in Basque County. Read more
1985 — China Airlines Flight 006 experiences an aircraft upset over the Pacific Ocean, injuring 24. Read more
1978 — Egyptian forces raid Larnaca International Airport in an attempt to intervene in a hijacking, without authorisation from the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The Cypriot National Guard and Police forces kill 15 Egyptian commandos and destroy the Egyptian C-130 transport plane in open combat. Read more
1976 — Executive Order 9066, which led to the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps, is rescinded by President Gerald Ford's Proclamation 4417. Read more
1965 — Colonel Phạm Ngọc Thảo of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and a communist spy of the North Vietnamese Viet Minh, along with Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Trần Thiện Khiêm, all Catholics, attempt a coup against the military junta of the Buddhist Nguyễn Khánh. Read more
1963 — The publication of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique reawakens the feminist movement in the United States as women's organizations and consciousness raising groups spread. Read more
1960 — China successfully launches the T-7, its first sounding rocket. Read more
1959 — The United Kingdom grants Cyprus independence, which is formally proclaimed on August 16, 1960. Read more
1954 — Transfer of Crimea: The Soviet Politburo of the Soviet Union orders the transfer of the Crimean Oblast from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR. Read more
1949 — Ezra Pound is awarded the first Bollingen Prize in poetry by the Bollingen Foundation and Yale University. Read more
1948 — The Conference of Youth and Students of Southeast Asia Fighting for Freedom and Independence convenes in Calcutta. Read more
1945 — World War II: Battle of Iwo Jima: About 30,000 United States Marines land on the island of Iwo Jima. Read more
1943 — World War II: Battle of Kasserine Pass in Tunisia begins. Read more
1942 — World War II: Nearly 250 Japanese warplanes attack the northern Australian city of Darwin, killing 243 people. Read more
1942 — World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese Americans to internment camps. Read more
1937 — Yekatit 12: During a public ceremony at the Viceregal Palace (the former Imperial residence) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, two Ethiopian nationalists of Eritrean origin attempt to kill viceroy Rodolfo Graziani with a number of grenades. Read more
1915 — World War I: The first naval attack on the Dardanelles begins when a strong Anglo-French task force bombards Ottoman artillery along the coast of Gallipoli. Read more
1913 — Pedro Lascuráin becomes President of Mexico for 45 minutes; this is the shortest term to date of any person as president of any country. Read more
1884 — More than sixty tornadoes strike the Southern United States, one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. Read more
1878 — Thomas Edison patents the phonograph. Read more
1847 — The first group of rescuers reaches the Donner Party. Read more
1846 — In Austin, Texas, the newly formed Texas state government is officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transfers power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States. Read more
1836 — King William IV signs Letters Patent establishing the province of South Australia. Read more
1819 — British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands. Read more
1807 — Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield, Alabama, and confined to Fort Stoddert. Read more
1726 — The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia. Read more
1714 — Great Northern War: The battle of Napue between Sweden and Russia is fought in Isokyrö, Ostrobothnia. Read more
1674 — England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A provision of the agreement transfers the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam to England. Read more
1649 — The Second Battle of Guararapes takes place, effectively ending Dutch colonization efforts in Brazil. Read more
1600 — The Peruvian stratovolcano Huaynaputina explodes in the most violent eruption in the recorded history of South America. Read more
1594 — Having already been elected to the throne of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1587, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa is crowned King of Sweden, having succeeded his father John III of Sweden in 1592. Read more
607 — Pope Boniface III is consecrated in Rome. Read more
356 — The anti-paganism policy of Constantius II forbids the worship of pagan idols in the Roman Empire. Read more
197 — Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum, the bloodiest battle between Roman armies. Read more

Born on February 19

2004 — Millie Bobby Brown, English actress, model and producer Read more
2001 — Lee Kang-in, South Korean footballer Read more
2001 — David Mazouz, American actor Read more
1998 — Katharina Gerlach, German tennis player Read more
1998 — Chappell Roan, American singer and songwriter Read more
1998 — Jungwoo, South Korean singer Read more
1996 — Mabel, British-Swedish singer Read more
1996 — D. J. Wilson, American basketball player Read more
1995 — Nikola Jokić, Serbian basketball player Read more
1994 — Tiina Trutsi, Estonian footballer Read more
1993 — Mauro Icardi, Argentine footballer Read more
1993 — Victoria Justice, American actress and singer Read more
1992 — Camille Kostek, American model Read more
1992 — Cody Parkey, American football player Read more
1991 — Trevor Bayne, American race car driver Read more
1991 — Christoph Kramer, German footballer Read more
1991 — Adreian Payne, American basketball player (died 2022) Read more
1989 — Sone Aluko, English-Nigerian footballer Read more
1988 — Shawn Matthias, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1988 — Seth Morrison, American guitarist Read more
1987 — Anna Cappellini, Italian ice dancer Read more
1987 — Josh Reddick, American baseball player Read more
1986 — Kyle Chipchura, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1986 — Linus Klasen, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
1986 — Marta, Brazilian footballer Read more
1986 — Maria Mena, Norwegian singer-songwriter Read more
1985 — Haylie Duff, American actress and singer Read more
1985 — Arielle Kebbel, American actress and model Read more
1985 — Kosta Perović, Serbian basketball player Read more
1984 — Chris Richardson, American singer-songwriter Read more
1983 — Kotoōshū Katsunori, Bulgarian sumo wrestler Read more
1983 — Mika Nakashima, Japanese singer and actress Read more
1983 — Reynhard Sinaga, Indonesian sex offender Read more
1983 — Ryan Whitney, American ice hockey player Read more
1983 — Jawad Williams, American basketball player Read more
1981 — Beth Ditto, American singer Read more
1981 — Shawn Spears, Canadian wrestler Read more
1980 — Dwight Freeney, American football player Read more
1980 — Ma Lin, Chinese table tennis player Read more
1980 — Mike Miller, American basketball player Read more

Died on February 19

2020 — José Mojica Marins, Brazilian filmmaker, actor, composer, screenwriter, and television horror host (born 1936) Read more
2020 — Pop Smoke, American rapper (born 1999) Read more
2019 — Karl Lagerfeld, German fashion designer (born 1933) Read more
2017 — Larry Coryell, American jazz guitarist (born 1943) Read more
2016 — Umberto Eco, Italian novelist, literary critic, and philosopher (born 1932) Read more
2016 — Harper Lee, American author (born 1926) Read more
2016 — Chiaki Morosawa, Japanese anime screenwriter (born 1959) Read more
2016 — Samuel Willenberg, Polish-Israeli sculptor and painter (born 1923) Read more
2015 — Harold Johnson, American boxer (born 1928) Read more
2015 — Nirad Mohapatra, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1947) Read more
2015 — Harris Wittels, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1984) Read more
2014 — Kresten Bjerre, Danish footballer and manager (born 1946) Read more
2014 — Dale Gardner, American captain and astronaut (born 1948) Read more
2014 — Valeri Kubasov, Russian engineer and astronaut (born 1935) Read more
2013 — Armen Alchian, American economist and academic (born 1914) Read more
2013 — Park Chul-soo, South Korean director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1948) Read more
2013 — Robert Coleman Richardson, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1937) Read more
2013 — Donald Richie, American-Japanese author and critic (born 1924) Read more
2013 — Eugene Whelan, Canadian farmer and politician, 22nd Canadian Minister of Agriculture (born 1924) Read more
2012 — Ruth Barcan Marcus, American philosopher and logician (born 1921) Read more
2012 — Jaroslav Velinský, Czech author and songwriter (born 1932) Read more
2012 — Vitaly Vorotnikov, Russian politician, 27th Prime Minister of Russia (born 1926) Read more
2011 — Ollie Matson, American sprinter and football player (born 1930) Read more
2009 — Kelly Groucutt, English singer and bass player (born 1945) Read more
2008 — Yegor Letov, Russian singer-songwriter (born 1964) Read more
2008 — Lydia Shum, Chinese-Hong Kong actress and singer (born 1945) Read more
2007 — Janet Blair, American actress and singer (born 1921) Read more
2007 — Celia Franca, English-Canadian dancer and director, founded the National Ballet of Canada (born 1921) Read more
2003 — Johnny Paycheck, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1938) Read more
2002 — Sylvia Rivera, American transgender LGBT activist (born 1951) Read more
2001 — Liza 'N' Eliaz, Belgian, transgender, hardcore DJ (born 1958) Read more
2001 — Stanley Kramer, American director and producer (born 1913) Read more
2001 — Charles Trenet, French singer-songwriter (born 1913) Read more
2000 — Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian-New Zealand painter and illustrator (born 1928) Read more
1999 — Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr, Iraqi cleric (born 1943) Read more
1998 — Grandpa Jones, American singer-songwriter and banjo player (born 1913) Read more
1997 — Leo Rosten, Polish-American author and academic (born 1908) Read more
1997 — Deng Xiaoping, Chinese politician, paramount leader and 1st Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China (born 1904) Read more
1996 — Charlie Finley, American businessman (born 1918) Read more
1994 — Derek Jarman, English director and set designer (born 1942) Read more

Holidays & observances

Army Day (Mexico); Brâncuși Day (Romania); Christian feast day: Barbatus of Benevento; Christian feast day: Boniface of Brussels; Christian feast day: Conrad of Piacenza; Christian feast day: Blessed Elisabetta Picenardi; Christian feast day: Lucy Yi Zhenmei (one of Martyrs of Guizhou); Christian feast day: February 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Commemoration of Vasil Levski (Bulgaria); Shivaji Jayanti (Maharashtra, India)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “February 19”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.