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On This Day in History — March 19
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Highlights of March 19
- 2016 — Flydubai Flight 981 crashed during an aborted landing at Rostov-on-Don Airport, Russia, resulting in the deaths of all 62 passengers and crew on board. Read more
- 2011 — First Libyan Civil War: The French Air Force launched Opération Harmattan, beginning foreign military intervention in Libya. Read more
- 2008 — The gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B, the farthest object from Earth that was observable by the naked eye, was observed. Read more
- 2008 — The gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B was observed, setting a record for the farthest event from Earth observable with the naked eye. Read more
- 1987 — American televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as the host of The PTL Club in the midst of a sex scandal. Read more
- 1979 — The American cable television network C-SPAN, covering government proceedings and public-affairs programming, was launched. Read more
- 1964 — Between 300,000 and 500,000 Brazilians attended the March of the Family with God for Liberty (pictured), in protest against the government of João Goulart and against communism. Read more
- 1962 — Influential American musician Bob Dylan released his eponymous debut album, mainly comprising traditional folk, blues and gospel songs. Read more
- 1944 — The secular oratorio A Child of Our Time by Michael Tippett premiered at the Adelphi Theatre in London. Read more
- 1928 — The highly influential American radio comedy show Amos 'n' Andy made its debut. Read more
- 1911 — Established by Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker, and others, International Women's Day was first observed. Read more
- 1865 — American Civil War: The last battle of the Carolinas Campaign, the Battle of Bentonville, began, which contributed to the ultimate Union victory in the war. Read more
- 1824 — American explorer Benjamin Morrell departed Antarctica after a voyage later plagued by claims of fraud. Read more
- 1808 — King Charles IV of Spain was forced to abdicate in favour of his son Ferdinand VII as a result of the Tumult of Aranjuez. Read more
- 1563 — The Edict of Amboise was signed, ending the first war in the French Wars of Religion and inaugurating a period of official peace that lasted until 1567. Read more
- 1279 — Mongol conquest of Song China: Zhao Bing (pictured), the last Song emperor, drowned at the end of the Battle of Yamen, bringing the Song dynasty to an end after three centuries. Read more
- 1277 — The Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice signed a treaty that renegotiated and extended by two years a previous treaty between them. Read more
Events
- 2023 — The Swiss Government brokers a deal for UBS to buy out rival Credit Suisse in an attempt to calm the 2023 banking crisis. Read more
- 2019 — The first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, resigns from office after nearly three decades, leaving Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as the acting President and successor. Read more
- 2016 — Flydubai Flight 981 crashes while attempting to land at Rostov-on-Don international airport, killing all 62 on board. Read more
- 2016 — An explosion occurs in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, killing five people and injuring 36. Read more
- 2013 — A series of bombings and shootings kills at least 98 people and injures 240 others across Iraq. Read more
- 2011 — Libyan Civil War: After the failure of Muammar Gaddafi's forces to take Benghazi, the French Air Force launches Opération Harmattan, beginning foreign military intervention in Libya. Read more
- 2008 — GRB 080319B: A cosmic burst that is the farthest object visible to the naked eye is briefly observed. Read more
- 2004 — Catalina affair: A Swedish DC-3 shot down by a Soviet MiG-15 in 1952 over the Baltic Sea is finally recovered after years of work. Read more
- 2004 — March 19 Shooting Incident: The Republic of China (Taiwan) president Chen Shui-bian is shot just before the country's presidential election on March 20. Read more
- 2004 — The Konginkangas bus disaster kills 23 and injures 14 people in Äänekoski, Finland. Read more
- 2003 — United States President George W. Bush addresses the nation, announcing the invasion of Iraq. Read more
- 1998 — An Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 727 crashes on approach to Kabul International Airport, killing all 45 on board. Read more
- 1990 — The ethnic clashes of Târgu Mureș begin four days after the anniversary of the Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire. Read more
- 1989 — The Egyptian flag is raised at Taba, marking the end of Israeli occupation since the Six Days War in 1967 and the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in 1979. Read more
- 1982 — Falklands War: Argentinian forces land on South Georgia Island, precipitating war with the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1979 — The United States House of Representatives begins broadcasting its day-to-day business via the cable television network C-SPAN. Read more
- 1969 — The 385-metre-tall (1,263 ft) TV-mast at Emley Moor transmitting station, United Kingdom, collapses due to ice build-up. Read more
- 1965 — The wreck of the SS Georgiana, valued at over $50,000,000 and said to have been the most powerful Confederate cruiser, is discovered by teenage diver and pioneer underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence, exactly 102 years after its destruction. Read more
- 1964 — Over 500,000 Brazilians attend the March of the Family with God for Liberty, in protest against the government of João Goulart and against communism. Read more
- 1962 — The Algerian War of Independence ends. Read more
- 1958 — The Monarch Underwear Company fire leaves 24 dead and 15 injured. Read more
- 1946 — French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion become overseas départements of France. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Off the coast of Japan, a dive bomber hits the aircraft carrier USS Franklin, killing 724 of her crew. Badly damaged, the ship is able to return to the US under her own power. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Adolf Hitler issues his "Nero Decree" ordering all industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities in Germany to be destroyed. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The German army occupies Hungary. Read more
- 1943 — Frank Nitti, the Chicago Outfit Boss after Al Capone, commits suicide at the Chicago Central Railyard. Read more
- 1932 — The Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened. Read more
- 1921 — Irish War of Independence: One of the biggest engagements of the war takes place at Crossbarry, County Cork. About 100 Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteers escape an attempt by over 1,300 British forces to encircle them. Read more
- 1920 — The United States Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles for the second time (the first time was on November 19, 1919). Read more
- 1918 — The US Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time. Read more
- 1885 — Louis Riel declares a provisional government in Saskatchewan, beginning the North-West Rebellion. Read more
- 1865 — American Civil War: The Battle of Bentonville begins. By the end of the battle two days later, Confederate forces had retreated from Four Oaks, North Carolina. Read more
- 1831 — First documented bank heist in U.S. history, when burglars steal $245,000 (1831 values) from the City Bank (now Citibank) on Wall Street. Most of the money was recovered. Read more
- 1824 — American explorer Benjamin Morrell departs Antarctica after a voyage later plagued by claims of fraud. Read more
- 1812 — The Cortes of Cádiz promulgates the Spanish Constitution of 1812. Read more
- 1808 — Charles IV, king of Spain, abdicates after riots and a popular revolt at the winter palace Aranjuez. His son, Ferdinand VII, takes the throne. Read more
- 1687 — Explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River, is murdered by his own men. Read more
- 1649 — The House of Commons of England passes an act abolishing the House of Lords, declaring it "useless and dangerous to the people of England". Read more
- 1563 — The Edict of Amboise is signed, ending the first phase of the French Wars of Religion and granting certain freedoms to the Huguenots. Read more
- 1452 — Frederick III of Habsburg is the last Holy Roman Emperor crowned by medieval tradition in Rome by Pope Nicholas V. Read more
- 1284 — The Statute of Rhuddlan incorporates the Principality of Wales into England. Read more
- 1279 — A Mongol victory at the Battle of Yamen ends the Song dynasty in China. Read more
- 1277 — The Byzantine–Venetian treaty of 1277 is concluded, stipulating a two-year truce and renewing Venetian commercial privileges in the Byzantine Empire. Read more
- 1227 — Election of Ugolino di Conti as Pope Gregory IX following the death of Pope Honorius III. Read more
- 1205 — Latin forces under Henry of Flanders defeat a Nicaean army under Constantine Laskaris in the Battle of Adramyttion. Read more
Born on March 19
- 1999 — Nico Collins, American football player Read more
- 1998 — Caylee Cowan, American actress Read more
- 1998 — Julian Love, American football player Read more
- 1998 — Sakura Miyawaki, Japanese singer Read more
- 1996 — Yung Gravy, American rapper Read more
- 1996 — Barbara Haas, Austrian tennis player Read more
- 1996 — Quenton Nelson, American football player Read more
- 1995 — Héctor Bellerín, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1995 — Julia Montes, Filipino actress Read more
- 1993 — Hakim Ziyech, Moroccan footballer Read more
- 1991 — Aleksandr Kokorin, Russian footballer Read more
- 1990 — EJ Manuel, American football player Read more
- 1990 — Anders Nilsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Clayton Kershaw, American baseball player Read more
- 1988 — Ben Uzoh, Nigerian-American basketball player Read more
- 1987 — AJ Lee, American wrestler and author Read more
- 1987 — Michal Švec, Czech footballer Read more
- 1987 — Miloš Teodosić, Serbian basketball player Read more
- 1986 — Tyler Bozak, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1986 — Ahmad Bradshaw, American football player Read more
- 1982 — Jonathan Fanene, American football player Read more
- 1982 — Brad Jones, Australian footballer Read more
- 1982 — Hana Kobayashi, Venezuelan singer Read more
- 1982 — Landon Powell, American baseball player and manager Read more
- 1981 — Steve Cummings, English cyclist Read more
- 1981 — Casey Jacobsen, American basketball player and sportscaster Read more
- 1981 — Kolo Touré, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 1980 — Luca Ferri, Italian footballer Read more
- 1980 — Taichi Ishikari, Japanese wrestler Read more
- 1980 — Mikuni Shimokawa, Japanese singer-songwriter Read more
- 1980 — Theo Von, American stand-up comedian Read more
- 1979 — Sheldon Brown, American football player Read more
- 1979 — Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player Read more
- 1979 — Christos Patsatzoglou, Greek footballer Read more
- 1979 — Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkish basketball player Read more
- 1978 — Cydonie Mothersille, Jamaican-Caymanian sprinter Read more
- 1977 — David Ross, American baseball player and manager Read more
- 1976 — Derek Chauvin, American criminal and former police officer Read more
- 1976 — Andre Miller, American basketball player Read more
- 1976 — Alessandro Nesta, Italian footballer and manager Read more
Died on March 19
- 2026 — Chuck Norris, American martial artist and actor (born 1940) Read more
- 2021 — Glynn Lunney, American engineer (born 1936) Read more
- 2019 — William Whitfield, British architect (born 1920) Read more
- 2016 — Roger Agnelli, Brazilian banker and businessman (born 1959) Read more
- 2016 — Jack Mansell, English footballer and manager (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Gus Douglass, American farmer and politician (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Safet Plakalo, Bosnian author and playwright (born 1950) Read more
- 2015 — Danny Schechter, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1942) Read more
- 2014 — Patrick Joseph McGovern, American businessman, founded IDG (born 1937) Read more
- 2014 — Fred Phelps, American lawyer, pastor, and activist, founded the Westboro Baptist Church (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Heather Robertson, Canadian journalist and author (born 1942) Read more
- 2014 — Robert S. Strauss, American diplomat, United States Ambassador to Russia (born 1918) Read more
- 2014 — Lawrence Walsh, Canadian-American lawyer, judge, and politician, 4th United States Deputy Attorney General (born 1912) Read more
- 2014 — Joseph F. Weis, Jr., American lawyer and judge (born 1923) Read more
- 2012 — Jim Case, American director and producer (born 1927) Read more
- 2012 — Ulu Grosbard, Belgian-American director and producer (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Hugo Munthe-Kaas, Norwegian intelligence agent (born 1922) Read more
- 2011 — Kym Bonython, Australian drummer and radio host (born 1920) Read more
- 2009 — Maria Bergson, Austrian-American architect and interior designer (born 1914) Read more
- 2008 — Arthur C. Clarke, English science fiction writer (born 1917) Read more
- 2008 — Hugo Claus, Belgian author, poet, and playwright (born 1929) Read more
- 2008 — Paul Scofield, English actor (born 1922) Read more
- 2005 — John DeLorean, American engineer and businessman, founded the DeLorean Motor Company (born 1925) Read more
- 2004 — Mitchell Sharp, Canadian economist and politician, 23rd Canadian Minister of Finance (born 1911) Read more
- 2003 — Michael Mathias Prechtl, German soldier and illustrator (born 1926) Read more
- 2000 — Joanne Weaver, American baseball player (born 1935) Read more
- 2000 — Shafiq-ur-Rahman, Pakistani physician and author (born 1920) Read more
- 1999 — Tofilau Eti Alesana, Samoan politician, 5th Prime Minister of Samoa (born 1924) Read more
- 1998 — E. M. S. Namboodiripad, Indian theorist and politician, 1st Chief Minister of Kerala (born 1909) Read more
- 1997 — Willem de Kooning, Dutch-American painter and educator (born 1904) Read more
- 1997 — Eugène Guillevic, French poet and author (born 1907) Read more
- 1996 — Lise Østergaard, Danish psychologist and politician (born 1924) Read more
- 1996 — Alan Ridout, English composer and teacher. (born 1934) Read more
- 1996 — Virginia Henderson, American nurse, researcher, theorist and author (born 1897) Read more
- 1993 — Henrik Sandberg, Danish production manager and producer (born 1915) Read more
- 1990 — Andrew Wood, American singer-songwriter (born 1966) Read more
- 1988 — Bun Cook, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1904) Read more
- 1987 — Louis de Broglie, French physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1892) Read more
- 1986 — Sabino Barinaga, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1922) Read more
- 1984 — Garry Winogrand, American photographer (born 1928) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian Observances:
Alkmund of Derby; Christian Observances:
Blessed Andrea Gallerani; Christian Observances:
Saint Joseph (Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20)
Saint Joseph's Day (Roman Catholicism and Anglican Communion) related observances:
Falles, celebrated on the week leading to March 19 (Valencia); Christian Observances:
Saint Joseph (Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20)
Saint Joseph's Day (Roman Catholicism and Anglican Communion) related observances:
Father's Day (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Honduras, and Bolivia); Christian Observances:
Saint Joseph (Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20)
Saint Joseph's Day (Roman Catholicism and Anglican Communion) related observances:
"Return of the Swallow", annual observance of the swallows' return to Mission San Juan Capistrano in California; Christian Observances:
Blessed Marcel Callo; Christian Observances:
Blessed Sibyllina Biscossi; Christian Observances:
March 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Christian Observances:
Earliest day on which Maundy Thursday can fall, while April 22 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday before Easter (Christianity); Minna Canth's Birthday and the Day of Equality (Finland); Kashubian Unity Day (Poland)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “March 19”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.