TODAY IN HISTORY: MAY 19

 

May 19

May 19th is a significant date in history for various reasons. From historical events to celebrities' birthdays, May 19th has left its mark in many ways. In this article, we will explore the significance of May 19th and delve into some noteworthy events that have occurred on this day.

One of the most prominent events tied to May 19th is the birth of Malcolm X, the influential civil rights activist born in 1925. Malcolm X played a critical role in the fight against racial discrimination and championed the rights of African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. His powerful speeches and ideas continue to inspire countless individuals around the world.

Another notable event associated with May 19th is the release of the acclaimed movie \The Empire Strikes Back\ in 1980. This film is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy and is widely considered one of the best movies in the franchise. Its memorable characters, epic battles, and iconic plot twists have made it a beloved classic among fans of the series.

On May 19th, 1921, the legendary actress and princess Grace Kelly was born. Known for her elegance, beauty, and talent, Grace Kelly rose to stardom in the 1950s and became an iconic figure in both Hollywood and Monaco. Her acting career included notable films such as \Rear Window\ and \To Catch a Thief,\ and her marriage to Prince Rainier III made her a beloved princess.

In the year 1536, May 19th marked a dark moment in British history with the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII and had a significant impact on English politics and the religious reformation during her time as queen. However, due to various accusations of adultery and treason, she was beheaded, leaving a lasting mark on British history.

Moving to the world of sports, May 19th, 1962, saw the New York Yankees' baseball player, Mickey Mantle, hit his 4th career grand slam, setting a new Major League Baseball record. Mantle's accomplishments on the field earned him numerous accolades, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Shifting gears to the world of literature, on May 19th, 1967, the novel \One Hundred Years of Solitude\ by Gabriel García Márquez was published. This masterpiece of magical realism has captivated readers worldwide with its captivating storytelling and imaginative narrative. It continues to be celebrated as one of the greatest works of literature in the 20th century.

May 19th also holds significance for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2012, President Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to express support for same-sex marriage on this date. This announcement marked a major milestone in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and is seen as a pivotal moment in US history.

In conclusion, May 19th has been marked by various significant events throughout history. From the birth of influential figures like Malcolm X and Grace Kelly to the release of iconic movies like \The Empire Strikes Back,\ this date continues to hold a special place in our collective memory. It serves as a reminder of the pivotal moments that have shaped the world we live in today.

Here are more events from this day:

639 – Ashina Jiesheshuai and his tribesmen assaulted Emperor Taizong at Jiucheng Palace.

715 – Pope Gregory II is elected.

1051 – Henry I of France marries the Rus' princess, Anne of Kiev.

1445 – John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo.

1499 – Catherine of Aragon is married by proxy to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Catherine is 13 and Arthur is 12.

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).

1536 – Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, is beheaded for adultery, treason, and incest.

1542 – The Prome Kingdom falls to the Taungoo Dynasty in present-day Myanmar.

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.

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.

1655 – The Invasion of Jamaica begins during the Anglo-Spanish War.

1743 – Jean-Pierre Christin developed the centigrade temperature scale.

1749 – King George II of Great Britain grants the Ohio Company a charter of land around the forks of the Ohio River.

1776 – American Revolutionary War: A Continental Army garrison surrenders in the Battle of The Cedars.

1780 – New England's Dark Day, an unusual darkening of the day sky, was observed over the New England states and parts of Canada.

1802 – Napoleon Bonaparte founds the Legion of Honour.

1828 – U.S. President John Quincy Adams signs the Tariff of 1828 into law, protecting wool manufacturers in the United States.

1845 – Captain Sir John Franklin and his ill-fated Arctic expedition depart from Greenhithe, England.

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.

1883 – Buffalo Bill's 1st Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska.

1900 – Great Britain annexes Tonga Island.

1900 – Second Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking.

1911 – Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, is established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department of the Interior.

1917 – The Norwegian football club Rosenborg BK is founded.

1919 – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lands at Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, initiating what is later termed the Turkish War of Independence.

1921 – The United States Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act establishing national quotas on immigration.

1922 – The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union is established.

1933 – Finnish cavalry general C. G. E. Mannerheim was appointed the field marshal.

1934 – Zveno and the Bulgarian Army engineer a coup d'état and install Kimon Georgiev as the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

1942 – World War II: In the aftermath of the Battle of the Coral Sea, Task Force 16 heads to Pearl Harbor.

1945 – Syrian demonstrators in Damascus are fired upon by French troops injuring twelve, leading to the Levant Crisis.

1950 – A barge containing munitions destined for Pakistan explodes in the harbor at South Amboy, New Jersey, devastating the city.

1950 – Egypt announces that the Suez Canal is closed to Israeli ships and commerce.

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.

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).

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.

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".

1963 – The New York Post Sunday Magazine publishes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail.

1971 – Mars probe program: Mars 2 is launched by the Soviet Union.

1986 – The Firearm Owners Protection Act is signed into law by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

1991 – Croatians vote for independence in a referendum.

1993 – SAM Colombia Flight 501 crashes on approach to José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín, Colombia, killing 132.

1996 – Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on mission STS-77.

1997 – The Sierra Gorda biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, is established as a result of grassroots efforts.

2000 – Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-101 to resupply the International Space Station.

2007 – President of Romania Traian Băsescu survives an impeachment referendum and returns to office from suspension.

2010 – The Royal Thai Armed Forces concludes its crackdown on protests by forcing the surrender of United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship leaders.

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.

2012 – A car bomb explodes near a military complex in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor, killing nine people.

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.

2016 – EgyptAir Flight 804 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea while traveling from Paris to Cairo, killing all on board.

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.