On This Day in History — June 19

Highlights of June 19

• 2012 — Facing allegations of sexual assault in Sweden, Julian Assange (pictured), the founder of WikiLeaks, requested asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Read more
• 2010 — The royal wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling took place in Stockholm Cathedral. Read more
• 2009 — War in Afghanistan: British forces began Operation Panther's Claw, in which more than 350 troops made an aerial assault on Taliban positions in southern Afghanistan. Read more
• 2009 — Mass rioting broke out in Shishou, China, over the dubious circumstances surrounding the death of a local chef. Read more
• 2005 — Only six race cars competed in the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, after all the Michelin-shod entrants were withdrawn due to safety concerns. Read more
• 1987 — The Basque separatist group ETA detonated a car bomb at a Hipercor shopping centre in Barcelona, killing 21 people and injuring 45 others. Read more
• 1970 — The international Patent Cooperation Treaty was signed, providing a unified procedure for filing patent applications to protect inventions in each of its contracting states. Read more
• 1965 — Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, the commander of the South Vietnam Air Force, was appointed prime minister at the head of a military regime. Read more
• 1953 — Americans Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (pictured) were executed as spies for passing nuclear weapons secrets to the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1939 — American baseball player Lou Gehrig (pictured) was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, now commonly known in the United States as "Lou Gehrig's disease". Read more
• 1926 — King Roger, an opera about Roger II of Sicily by Karol Szymanowski (pictured), was premiered at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw. Read more
• 1867 — Second French intervention in Mexico: Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was executed by firing squad in Querétaro City. Read more
• 1846 — The first officially recorded baseball game in U.S. history using modern rules was played in Hoboken, New Jersey, with the "New York Nine" defeating the New York Knickerbockers 23–1. Read more
• 1838 — The Maryland province of the Jesuits contracted to sell 272 slaves to buyers in Louisiana in one of the largest slave sales in American history. Read more
• 1785 — The proprietors of King's Chapel, Boston, voted to adopt James Freeman's Book of Common Prayer, thus establishing the first Unitarian church in the Americas. Read more
• 1718 — An earthquake on the Tibetan Plateau led to the deaths of more than 73,000 people. Read more

Events

• 2020 — Animal rights advocate Regan Russell is run over and killed by a transport truck outside of a pig slaughterhouse in Burlington, Ontario. Read more
• 2018 — The 10,000,000th United States Patent is issued. Read more
• 2018 — Antwon Rose II is fatally shot in East Pittsburgh by East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld after being involved in a near-fatal drive-by shooting. Read more
• 2012 — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange requests asylum in London's Ecuadorian Embassy for fear of extradition to the US after publication of previously classified documents including footage of civilian killings by the US army; he will remain there until 2019. Read more
• 2009 — Mass riots involving over 10,000 people and 10,000 police officers break out in Shishou, China, over the dubious circumstances surrounding the death of a local chef. Read more
• 2009 — War in North-West Pakistan: The Pakistani Armed Forces open Operation Rah-e-Nijat against the Taliban and other Islamist rebels in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Read more
• 2007 — The al-Khilani Mosque bombing in Baghdad leaves 78 people dead and another 218 injured. Read more
• 2005 — Following a series of Michelin tire failures during the United States Grand Prix weekend at Indianapolis, and without an agreement being reached, 14 cars from seven teams in Michelin tires withdraw after completing the formation lap, leaving only six cars from three teams on Bridgestone tires to race. Read more
• 1991 — The last Soviet army units in Hungary are withdrawn. Read more
• 1990 — The current international law defending indigenous peoples, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989, is ratified for the first time by Norway. Read more
• 1990 — The Communist Party of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic is founded in Moscow. Read more
• 1988 — Pope John Paul II canonizes 117 Vietnamese Martyrs. Read more
• 1987 — Basque separatist group ETA commits one of its most violent attacks, in which a bomb is set off in a supermarket, Hipercor, killing 21 and injuring 45. Read more
• 1987 — Aeroflot Flight N-528 crashes at Berdiansk Airport in present-day Ukraine, killing eight people. Read more
• 1985 — Members of the Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers, dressed as Salvadoran soldiers, attack the Zona Rosa area of San Salvador. Read more
• 1982 — The People's Armed Police is de facto founded; it is officially established 10 months later on April 5, 1983. Read more
• 1978 — Garfield's first comic strip, originally published locally as Jon in 1976, goes into nationwide syndication. Read more
• 1965 — Nguyễn Cao Kỳ becomes Prime Minister of South Vietnam at the head of a military junta; General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu becomes the figurehead chief of state. Read more
• 1964 — The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is approved after surviving an 83-day filibuster in the United States Senate. Read more
• 1961 — Kuwait declares independence from the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1960 — Charlotte Motor Speedway holds its first NASCAR race, the inaugural World 600. Read more
• 1953 — Cold War: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed at Sing Sing, in New York. Read more
• 1947 — Pan Am Flight 121 crashes in the Syrian Desert near Mayadin, Syria, killing 15 and injuring 21. Read more
• 1945 — The Smoke Tragedy leaves 355 workers dead in the underground copper mine of El Teniente, Chile. Read more
• 1943 — The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL merge for one season due to player shortages caused by World War II. Read more
• 1934 — The Communications Act of 1934 establishes the United States' Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Read more
• 1926 — King Roger, an opera about Roger II of Sicily by Karol Szymanowski, is premiered at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw. Read more
• 1921 — The village of Knockcroghery, Ireland, is burned by British forces. Read more
• 1913 — Natives Land Act, 1913 in South Africa implemented. Read more
• 1910 — The first Father's Day is celebrated in Spokane, Washington. Read more
• 1903 — Benito Mussolini, at the time a radical Socialist, is arrested by Bern police for advocating a violent general strike. Read more
• 1875 — The Herzegovinian rebellion against the Ottoman Empire begins. Read more
• 1867 — Maximilian I of the Second Mexican Empire is executed by a firing squad in Querétaro, Querétaro. Read more
• 1865 — Over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in Galveston, Texas, United States, are officially informed of their freedom. The anniversary was officially celebrated in Texas and other states as Juneteenth. On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in the United States. Read more
• 1862 — President Abraham Lincoln signs the Territorial Slavery Act of 1862, which prohibits slavery in all current and future United States territories. Read more
• 1850 — Princess Louise of the Netherlands marries Crown Prince Karl of Sweden–Norway. Read more
• 1846 — The first officially recorded, organized baseball game is played under Alexander Cartwright's rules on Hoboken, New Jersey's Elysian Fields with the New York Base Ball Club defeating the Knickerbockers 23–1. Cartwright umpired. Read more
• 1821 — Decisive defeat of the Filiki Eteria by the Ottomans at Drăgășani (in Wallachia). Read more
• 1816 — Battle of Seven Oaks between North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company, near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Read more
• 1811 — The Carlton House Fête is held in London to celebrate the establishment of the Regency era. Read more
• 1800 — War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Höchstädt results in a French victory over Austria. Read more
• 1791 — The first New Church place of worship the Birmingham New Jerusalem Temple was dedicated on the 19th day of June, 1791, in Birmingham, England. The auspiciousness of this date was noted at the time. Read more
• 1785 — The Boston King's Chapel adopts James Freeman's revised prayer book, without the Nicene Creed, establishing it as the first Unitarian congregation in the United States. Read more
• 1718 — At least 73,000 people die in the 1718 Tongwei–Gansu earthquake due to landslides in the Qing dynasty. Read more
• 1586 — English colonists leave Roanoke Island, after failing to establish England's first permanent settlement in North America. Read more
• 1306 — The Earl of Pembroke's army defeats Bruce's Scottish army at the Battle of Methven. Read more
• 978 — Byzantine forces loyal to emperor Basil II under Bardas Phokas the Younger defeat rebel forces under Bardas Skleros in the battle of Pankaleia (approximate date). Read more
• 325 — The original Nicene Creed is adopted at the First Council of Nicaea. Read more

Born on June 19

• 2004 — Millie Gibson, English actress Read more
• 2002 — Bennedict Mathurin, Canadian basketball player Read more
• 2002 — Nuno Mendes, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1999 — Jordan Poole, American basketball player Read more
• 1998 — Atticus Shaffer, American actor and YouTuber Read more
• 1998 — Joshua Da Silva, Trinidadian cricketer Read more
• 1994 — Lejla Njemčević, Bosnian cross-country and mountain bike cyclist Read more
• 1993 — KSI, English YouTuber Read more
• 1992 — Keaton Jennings, South African-English cricketer Read more
• 1992 — C. J. Mosley, American football player Read more
• 1990 — Ashly Burch, American actress, writer, and director Read more
• 1990 — Moa Hjelmer, Swedish sprinter Read more
• 1990 — Xavier Rhodes, American football player Read more
• 1988 — Jacob deGrom, American baseball player Read more
• 1987 — Rashard Mendenhall, American football player Read more
• 1986 — Aoiyama Kōsuke, Bulgarian sumo wrestler Read more
• 1986 — Lázaro Borges, Cuban pole vaulter Read more
• 1986 — Marvin Williams, American basketball player Read more
• 1985 — Ai Miyazato, Japanese golfer Read more
• 1985 — José Ernesto Sosa, Argentinian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Dire Tune, Ethiopian runner Read more
• 1984 — Paul Dano, American actor Read more
• 1984 — Wieke Dijkstra, Dutch field hockey player Read more
• 1984 — Andri Eleftheriou, Cypriot sport shooter Read more
• 1983 — Macklemore, American rapper Read more
• 1983 — Aidan Turner, Irish actor Read more
• 1982 — Alexander Frolov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
• 1982 — Chris Vermeulen, Australian motorcycle racer Read more
• 1982 — Michael Yarmush, American actor Read more
• 1981 — Mohammed Al-Khuwalidi, Saudi Arabian long jumper Read more
• 1981 — Moss Burmester, New Zealand swimmer Read more
• 1980 — Jean Carroll, Irish cricketer Read more
• 1980 — Dan Ellis, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1980 — Robbie Neilson, Scottish footballer and manager Read more
• 1980 — Nuno Santos, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1979 — José Kléberson, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1978 — Dirk Nowitzki, German basketball player Read more
• 1978 — Zoe Saldaña, American actress Read more
• 1978 — Claudio Vargas, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1976 — Dennis Crowley, American businessman, co-founded Foursquare Read more

Died on June 19

• 2020 — Ian Holm, British actor (born 1931) Read more
• 2019 — Etika, American YouTuber and streamer (born 1990) Read more
• 2018 — Koko, western lowland gorilla and user of American Sign Language (born 1971) Read more
• 2017 — Otto Warmbier, American college student detained in North Korea (born 1994) Read more
• 2016 — Anton Yelchin, American actor (born 1989) Read more
• 2015 — James Salter, American novelist and short-story writer (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Oskar-Hubert Dennhardt, German general (born 1915) Read more
• 2014 — Gerry Goffin, American songwriter (born 1939) Read more
• 2014 — Ibrahim Touré, Ivorian footballer (born 1985) Read more
• 2013 — Vince Flynn, American author (born 1966) Read more
• 2013 — James Gandolfini, American actor (born 1961) Read more
• 2013 — Gyula Horn, Hungarian politician, 37th Prime Minister of Hungary (born 1932) Read more
• 2013 — Dave Jennings, American football player and sportscaster (born 1952) Read more
• 2013 — Filip Topol, Czech singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1965) Read more
• 2013 — Slim Whitman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1923) Read more
• 2012 — Norbert Tiemann, American soldier and politician, 32nd Governor of Nebraska (born 1924) Read more
• 2010 — Manute Bol, Sudanese-American basketball player and activist (born 1962) Read more
• 2010 — Anthony Quinton, Baron Quinton, English philosopher and academic (born 1925) Read more
• 2010 — Carlos Monsiváis, Mexican writer, journalist and political activist (born 1938) Read more
• 2008 — Barun Sengupta, Bengali journalist, founded Bartaman (born 1934) Read more
• 2007 — Antonio Aguilar, Mexican singer-songwriter, actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1919) Read more
• 2007 — Alberto Mijangos, Mexican-American painter and educator (born 1925) Read more
• 2007 — Terry Hoeppner, American football player and coach (born 1947) Read more
• 2007 — Ze'ev Schiff, Israeli journalist and author (born 1932) Read more
• 2004 — Clayton Kirkpatrick, journalist and newspaper editor (born 1915) Read more
• 2001 — Stanley Mosk, American lawyer, jurist, and politician (born 1912) Read more
• 2001 — John Heyer, Australian director and producer (born 1916) Read more
• 1995 — Peter Townsend, Burmese-English captain and pilot (born 1914) Read more
• 1993 — William Golding, British novelist, playwright, and poet, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1911) Read more
• 1991 — Jean Arthur, American actress (born 1900) Read more
• 1990 — George Addes, American trade union leader, co-founded United Automobile Workers (born 1911) Read more
• 1990 — Isobel Andrews, New Zealand writer (born 1905) Read more
• 1989 — Betti Alver, Estonian author and poet (born 1906) Read more
• 1988 — Fernand Seguin, Canadian biochemist and academic (born 1922) Read more
• 1988 — Gladys Spellman, American lawyer and politician (born 1918) Read more
• 1987 — Margaret Carver Leighton, American author (born 1896) Read more
• 1986 — Len Bias, American basketball player (born 1963) Read more
• 1984 — Lee Krasner, American painter and educator (born 1908) Read more
• 1981 — Anya Phillips, Chinese-American band manager (born 1955) Read more
• 1981 — Subhash Mukherjee, Indian scientist and physician who created India's first, and the world's second, child using in-vitro fertilisation (born 1931) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Deodatus (or Didier) of Nevers (or of Jointures); Christian feast day: Gervasius and Protasius (Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Hildegrim of Châlons; Christian feast day: Juliana Falconieri; Christian feast day: Blessed Michelina of Pesaro; Christian feast day: Rémy Isoré; Christian feast day: Romuald; Christian feast day: Ursicinus of Ravenna; Christian feast day: Zosimus; Christian feast day: June 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); New Church Day; Day of the Independent Hungary (Hungary); Feast of Forest (Palawan); Juneteenth (United States); Labour Day (Trinidad and Tobago); Laguna Day (Laguna); Birthday of Jose Gervasio Artigas (Uruguay); World Sickle Cell Day (International); Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's commencement of work at the Workers' Party Central Committee (DPRK)

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