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On This Day in History — May 19
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Highlights of May 19
- 2024 — In Iran, a helicopter crash killed eight people, including President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Read more
- 2018 — The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (both pictured) took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England. Read more
- 2015 — A corroded pipeline near Refugio State Beach, California, spilled 142,800 gallons (3,400 barrels) of crude oil onto the Gaviota Coast. Read more
- 2010 — In Bangkok, the Thai military concluded a week-long crackdown on widespread protests by forcing the surrender of opposition leaders. Read more
- 1997 — The Sierra Gorda Biosphere, which encompasses the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, was established as a result of grassroots efforts. Read more
- 1991 — Breakup of Yugoslavia: With the local Serb population boycotting the referendum, Croatians voted in favour of independence from Yugoslavia. Read more
- 1962 — Actress Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" during a televised celebration for U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Read more
- 1915 — First World War: Australian and New Zealand troops repelled the third attack on Anzac Cove, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Ottoman forces. Read more
- 1845 — Captain John Franklin (pictured) departed Greenhithe, England, on an expedition to the Canadian Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage; all 129 men were later lost when their ships became icebound in Victoria Strait. Read more
- 1828 — The United States Congress passed the largest tariff in the nation's history, which resulted in severe economic hardship in the American South. Read more
- 1780 — A combination of thick smoke, fog, and heavy cloud cover caused darkness to fall on parts of Canada and the New England area of the United States by noon. Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: A Continental Army garrison west of Montreal surrendered to British troops at the Battle of the Cedars. Read more
- 1743 — French physicist Jean-Pierre Christin published the design of a mercury thermometer using the centigrade scale, with 0 representing the melting point of water and 100 its boiling point. Read more
- 1674 — John III Sobieski (pictured) was elected by the szlachta as the monarch of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Read more
- 1655 — Anglo-Spanish War: English forces invaded Jamaica, then administered by Spain as the Colony of Santiago, and captured it a week later. Read more
- 715 — Gregory II began his pontificate; his conflict with Byzantine emperor Leo III eventually led to the establishment of the temporal power of the pope. Read more
Events
- 2024 — A helicopter crash in Iran leaves 8 people dead, including the country's president Ebrahim Raisi & foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Read more
- 2018 — The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion. Read more
- 2016 — EgyptAir Flight 804 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea while traveling from Paris to Cairo, killing all on board. Read more
- 2015 — The Refugio oil spill deposited 142,800 U.S. gallons (3,400 barrels) of crude oil onto an area in California considered one of the most biologically diverse coastlines of the west coast. Read more
- 2012 — Three gas cylinder bombs explode in front of a vocational school in the Italian city of Brindisi, killing one person and injuring five others. Read more
- 2012 — A car bomb explodes near a military complex in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor, killing nine people. Read more
- 2010 — The Royal Thai Armed Forces concludes its crackdown on protests by forcing the surrender of United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship leaders. Read more
- 2007 — President of Romania Traian Băsescu survives an impeachment referendum and returns to office from suspension. Read more
- 2007 — A mass shooting starts in Moscow, Idaho, which would leave 3 non-shooters dead and 3 more injured, before the shooter committed suicide the next day. Read more
- 2000 — Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-101 to resupply the International Space Station. Read more
- 1997 — The Sierra Gorda biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, is established as a result of grassroots efforts. Read more
- 1996 — Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on mission STS-77. Read more
- 1993 — SAM Colombia Flight 501 crashes on approach to José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín, Colombia, killing 132. Read more
- 1991 — Croatians vote for independence in a referendum. Read more
- 1986 — The Firearm Owners Protection Act is signed into law by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Read more
- 1971 — Mars probe program: Mars 2 is launched by the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1963 — The New York Post Sunday Magazine publishes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Read more
- 1962 — A birthday salute to U.S. President John F. Kennedy takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York City. The highlight is Marilyn Monroe's rendition of "Happy Birthday". Read more
- 1961 — Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost contact with Earth a month earlier and did not send back any data). Read more
- 1961 — At Silchar Railway Station, Assam, 11 Bengalis die when police open fire on protesters demanding state recognition of Bengali language in the Bengali Language Movement. Read more
- 1959 — The North Vietnamese Army establishes Group 559, whose responsibility is to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam; the resulting route is the Ho Chi Minh trail. Read more
- 1950 — A barge containing munitions destined for Pakistan explodes in the harbor at South Amboy, New Jersey, devastating the city. Read more
- 1945 — Syrian demonstrators in Damascus are fired upon by French troops injuring twelve, leading to the Levant Crisis. Read more
- 1943 — Winston Churchill's second wartime address to the U.S. Congress Read more
- 1942 — World War II: In the aftermath of the Battle of the Coral Sea, Task Force 16 heads to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Read more
- 1934 — Zveno and the Bulgarian Army engineer a coup d'état and install Kimon Georgiev as the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria. Read more
- 1933 — Finnish cavalry general C. G. E. Mannerheim is appointed the field marshal. Read more
- 1922 — The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union is established. Read more
- 1921 — The United States Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act establishing national quotas on immigration. Read more
- 1919 — Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lands at Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, initiating what is later termed the Turkish War of Independence. Read more
- 1917 — The Norwegian football club Rosenborg BK is founded. Read more
- 1911 — Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, is established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department of the Interior. Read more
- 1900 — Great Britain annexes Tonga Island. Read more
- 1900 — Second Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking. Read more
- 1883 — Buffalo Bill's first Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska. Read more
- 1848 — Mexican–American War: Mexico ratifies the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, thus ending the war and ceding California, Nevada, Utah and parts of four other modern-day U.S. states to the United States for US$15 million. Read more
- 1845 — Captain Sir John Franklin and his ill-fated Arctic expedition depart from Greenhithe, England. Read more
- 1828 — U.S. President John Quincy Adams signs the Tariff of 1828 into law, sparking outrage in the South and leading to the Nullification crisis. Read more
- 1802 — Napoleon Bonaparte founds the Legion of Honour. Read more
- 1798 — Napoleon Bonaparte and his expedition force leave France to invade Egypt. Read more
- 1780 — New England's Dark Day, an unusual darkening of the day sky, is observed over the New England states and parts of Canada. Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: A Continental Army garrison surrenders in the Battle of The Cedars. Read more
- 1749 — King George II of Great Britain grants the Ohio Company a charter of land around the forks of the Ohio River. Read more
- 1743 — Jean-Pierre Christin develops the centigrade temperature scale. Read more
- 1674 — John III Sobieski becomes king of Poland-Lithuania. Read more
- 1655 — The Invasion of Jamaica begins during the Anglo-Spanish War. Read more
- 1649 — An Act of Parliament declaring England a Commonwealth is passed by the Long Parliament. England would be a republic for the next eleven years. Read more
- 1643 — Thirty Years' War: French forces under the duc d'Enghien decisively defeat Spanish forces at the Battle of Rocroi, marking the symbolic end of Spain as a dominant land power. Read more
- 1542 — The Prome Kingdom falls to the Taungoo Dynasty in present-day Myanmar. Read more
- 1536 — Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, is beheaded for adultery, treason, and incest. Read more
- 1535 — French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships, 110 men, and Chief Donnacona's two sons (whom Cartier had kidnapped during his first voyage). Read more
- 1499 — Catherine of Aragon is married by proxy to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Catherine is 13 and Arthur is 12. Read more
- 1445 — John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo. Read more
- 1051 — Henry I of France marries the Rus' princess, Anne of Kiev. Read more
- 934 — The Byzantine Empire reconquers Melitene under the leadership of John Kourkouas. Read more
- 715 — Pope Gregory II is elected. Read more
- 639 — Ashina Jiesheshuai and his tribesmen assault Emperor Taizong at Jiucheng Palace. Read more
Born on May 19
- 2003 — Jojo Siwa, American dancer, singer, actress, and YouTube personality Read more
- 2002 — Riccardo Calafiori, Italian footballer Read more
- 2002 — Rafa Marín, Spanish footballer Read more
- 2001 — Elizabeth Mandlik, American tennis player Read more
- 1996 — Michael Carcone, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1995 — Taane Milne, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1994 — Carlos Guzmán, Mexican footballer Read more
- 1992 — Michele Camporese, Italian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Ola John, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1992 — Felise Kaufusi, New Zealand-Tongan rugby league player Read more
- 1992 — Evgeny Kuznetsov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Marshmello, American electronic music producer and DJ Read more
- 1992 — Sam Smith, English singer-songwriter Read more
- 1992 — Heather Watson, British tennis player Read more
- 1992 — Lainey Wilson, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1991 — Jordan Pruitt, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1987 — Michael Angelakos, American singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1987 — David Edgar, Canadian soccer player Read more
- 1987 — Mariano Torres, Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Mario Chalmers, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Malakai Black, Dutch professional wrestler Read more
- 1984 — Marcedes Lewis, American football player Read more
- 1983 — Michael Che, American comedian Read more
- 1983 — Jessica Fox, English actress Read more
- 1982 — Kevin Amankwaah, English footballer Read more
- 1982 — Pål Steffen Andresen, Norwegian footballer Read more
- 1982 — Klaas Vantornout, Belgian cyclist Read more
- 1981 — Luciano Figueroa, Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1981 — Yo Gotti, American rapper Read more
- 1981 — Michael Leighton, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1981 — Sina Schielke, German sprinter Read more
- 1981 — Klaas-Erik Zwering, Dutch swimmer Read more
- 1980 — Tony Hackworth, English footballer Read more
- 1979 — Andrea Pirlo, Italian footballer Read more
- 1979 — Diego Forlán, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1979 — Shooter Jennings, American country singer, songwriter Read more
- 1978 — Marcus Bent, English footballer Read more
- 1978 — Dave Bus, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1977 — Manuel Almunia, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1977 — Wouter Hamel, Dutch singer and guitarist Read more
Died on May 19
- 2024 — Christian Malanga, Congolese politician, businessman and military officer (born 1983) Read more
- 2024 — Victims in the 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash: Read more
- 2024 — Victims in the 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash: Read more
- 2023 — Andy Rourke, English bassist (born 1964) Read more
- 2021 — Paul Mooney, American comedian (born 1941) Read more
- 2018 — Zhengzhang Shangfang, Chinese linguist (born 1933) Read more
- 2017 — Nawshirwan Mustafa, General coordinator of the Movement for Change (Gorran) (born 1944) Read more
- 2017 — Stanislav Petrov, Lt. Colonel in Soviet Air Defence Forces (born 1939) Read more
- 2016 — Alan Young, English-born Canadian-American actor (born 1919) Read more
- 2016 — Morley Safer, Canadian-born American journalist (born 1931) Read more
- 2015 — Bruce Lundvall, American businessman (born 1935) Read more
- 2015 — Ted McWhinney, Australian-Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1924) Read more
- 2015 — Happy Rockefeller, American philanthropist, socialite; 31st Second Lady of the United States (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Robert S. Wistrich, English historian, author, and academic (born 1945) Read more
- 2014 — Simon Andrews, English motorcycle racer (born 1982) Read more
- 2014 — Jack Brabham, Australian race car driver (born 1926) Read more
- 2014 — Sam Greenlee, American author and poet (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — Vincent Harding, American historian and scholar (born 1931) Read more
- 2014 — Gabriel Kolko, American historian and author (born 1932) Read more
- 2014 — Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, Polish boxer (born 1934) Read more
- 2013 — G. Sarsfield Ford, American lawyer and jurist (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Robin Harrison, English-Canadian pianist and composer (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — Neil Reynolds, Canadian journalist and politician (born 1940) Read more
- 2012 — Bob Boozer, American basketball player (born 1937) Read more
- 2012 — Tamara Brooks, American conductor and educator (born 1941) Read more
- 2012 — Ian Burgess, English race car driver (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Gerhard Hetz, German-Mexican swimmer (born 1942) Read more
- 2012 — Phil Lamason, New Zealand soldier and pilot (born 1918) Read more
- 2011 — Garret FitzGerald, Irish lawyer and politician, 8th Taoiseach of Ireland (born 1926) Read more
- 2011 — Jeffrey Catherine Jones, American artist (born 1944) Read more
- 2009 — Robert F. Furchgott, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1916) Read more
- 2009 — Nicholas Maw, English composer and academic (born 1935) Read more
- 2009 — Clint Smith, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1913) Read more
- 2008 — Vijay Tendulkar, Indian playwright and screenwriter (born 1928) Read more
- 2007 — Bernard Blaut, Polish footballer and coach (born 1940) Read more
- 2007 — Dean Eyre, New Zealand politician (born 1914) Read more
- 2004 — Mary Dresselhuys, Dutch actress and screenwriter (born 1907) Read more
- 2002 — John Gorton, Australian lieutenant and politician, 19th Prime Minister of Australia (born 1911) Read more
- 2002 — Walter Lord, American historian and author (born 1917) Read more
- 2001 — Alexey Maresyev, Russian soldier and pilot (born 1916) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Calocerus (Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Crispin of Viterbo; Christian feast day:
Dunstan (Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church; commemoration, Anglicanism); Christian feast day:
Ivo of Kermartin; Christian feast day:
Joaquina Vedruna de Mas; Christian feast day:
Maria Bernarda Bütler; Christian feast day:
Peter Celestine; Christian feast day:
Pudentiana (Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Blessed Umiliana de' Cerchi; Christian feast day:
May 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Pontian Greek Genocide Remembrance Day (Greece); Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Turkey, Northern Cyprus); Remembrance Day (Sri Lanka); Hồ Chí Minh's Birthday (Vietnam); Malcolm X Day (United States of America); National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States); Hepatitis Testing Day (United States); Mother's Day (Kyrgyzstan)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “May 19”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.