August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 134 days remaining until the end of the year.
Today in history
43 BC – Octavian, later known as Augustus, compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul.
1504 – Battle of Knockdoe.
1561 – An 18-year-old Mary Queen of Scots returns to Scotland, after spending 13 years in France.
1666 – Second Anglo-Dutch War: Rear Admiral Robert Holmes leads a raid on the Dutch island of Terschelling, destroying 150 merchant ships, an act later known as "Holmes's Bonfire".
1692 – Salem witch trials: in Salem, Massachusetts, Province of Massachusetts Bay five people, one woman and four men, including a clergyman, are executed after being convicted of witchcraft.
1745 – Jacobite Rising, Prince Charles Edward Stuart lands from a French warship in Glenfinnan, raises his standard and marches on London – the start of the Second Jacobite Rebellion known as "the 45".
1768 – Saint Isaac's Cathedral is founded in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
1772 – Gustavus III of Sweden stages a Coup d'état, in which he assumes power and enacts a new constitution that divides power between the Riksdag and the King.
1782 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Blue Licks – the last major engagement of the war, almost ten months after the surrender of the British commander Lord Cornwallis following the Siege of Yorktown.
1812 – War of 1812: American frigate USS Constitution defeats the British frigate HMS Guerrière off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada earning her nickname "Old Ironsides".
1813 – Gervasio Antonio de Posadas joins Argentina's second triumvirate.
1839 – Presentation of Jacque Daguerre's new photographic process to the French Academy of Sciences.
1848 – California Gold Rush: the New York Herald breaks the news to the East Coast of the United States of the gold rush in California (although the rush started in January).
1861 – First ascent of Weisshorn, fifth highest summit in the Alps.
1862 – Indian Wars: during an uprising in Minnesota, Lakota warriors decide not to attack heavily-defended Fort Ridgely and instead turn to the settlement of New Ulm, killing white settlers along the way.
1895 – American frontier murderer and outlaw, John Wesley Hardin, is killed by an off-duty policeman in a saloon in El Paso, Texas.
1919 – Afghanistan gains full independence from the United Kingdom.
1927 – Metropolitan Sergius proclaims the declaration of loyalty of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Soviet state.
1934 – The first All-American Soap Box Derby is held in Dayton, Ohio.
1934 – The creation of the position Führer is approved by the German electorate with 89.9% of the popular vote.
1942 – World War II: Operation Jubilee – the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division leads an amphibious assault by allied forces on Dieppe, France and fails, many Canadians are killed or captured. The operation was doomed to fail, and was intended to develop and try new amphibious landing tactics for the coming full invasion in Normandy.
1944 – World War II: Liberation of Paris – Paris rises against German occupation with the help of Allied troops.
1945 – Vietnam War: Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh take power in Hanoi, Vietnam.
1953 – Cold War: the CIA helps to overthrow the government of Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran and reinstate the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
1955 – In the Northeast United States, severe flooding caused by Hurricane Diane, claims 200 lives.
1960 – Cold War: in Moscow, downed American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is sentenced to ten years imprisonment by the Soviet Union for espionage.
1960 – Sputnik program: Sputnik 5 – the Soviet Union launches the satellite with the dogs Belka and Strelka, 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants.
1965 – Japanese prime minister Eisaku Sato becomes the first post-World War II sitting prime minister to visit Okinawa.
1980 – Saudia Flight 163, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar burns after making an emergency landing at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killing 301 people.
1981 – Gulf of Sidra Incident: United States fighters intercept and shoot down two Libyan Sukhoi Su-22 fighter jets over the Gulf of Sidra.
1987 – Hungerford Massacre: in the United Kingdom, Michael Ryan kills sixteen people with an assault rifle and then commits suicide.
1989 – Polish president Wojciech Jaruzelski nominates Solidarity activist Tadeusz Mazowiecki to be the first non-communist Prime Minister in 42 years.
1989 – Raid on offshore pirate station, Radio Caroline in North Sea by British and Dutch governments.
1990 – Leonard Bernstein conducts his final concert, ending with Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.
1991 – Collapse of the Soviet Union, August Coup: Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is placed under house arrest while on holiday in the town of Foros, Crimea.
1991 – Hurricane Bob hits the Northeast.
1999 – In Belgrade, tens of thousands of Serbians rally to demand the resignation of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milošević.
2002 – A Russian Mi-26 helicopter carrying troops is hit by a Chechen missile outside of Grozny, killing 118 soldiers.
2003 – A car-bomb attack on United Nations headquarters in Iraq kills the agency's top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 other employees.
2003 – A Hamas planned suicide attack on a bus in Jerusalem kills 23 Israelis, 7 of them children in the Jerusalem bus 2 massacre.
2005 – The first-ever joint military exercise between Russia and China, called Peace Mission 2005 begins.
2005 – A series of strong storms lashes Southern Ontario spawning several tornadoes as well as creating extreme flash flooding within the city of Toronto and its surrounding communities. In Toronto, it is also dubbed as the Toronto Supercell.
Births
1342 – Katharine of Bohemia, Duchess of Bavaria (d. 1395)
1398 – Marqués de Santillana, Spanish poet (d. 1458)
1557 – Frederick I, Duke of Württemberg (d. 1608)
1590 – Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland, English soldier (d. 1649)
1596 – Elizabeth Stuart, Electress Palatine and Queen of Bohemia (d. 1662)
1621 – Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, Dutch painter (d. 1674)
1631 – John Dryden, English poet (d. 1700)
1646 – John Flamsteed, English astronomer (d. 1719)
1686 – Eustace Budgell, English writer (d. 1737)
1689 – Samuel Richardson, English writer (d. 1761)
1711 – Edward Boscawen, British admiral (d. 1761)
1743 – Madame du Barry, French courtesan (d. 1793)
1846 – Luis Martín, Spanish Superior-General of the Society of Jesus (d. 1906)
1848 – Gustave Caillebotte, French Painter (d. 1894)
1853 – Aleksei Brusilov, Russian general (d. 1926)
1870 – Bernard Baruch, American financier (d. 1965)
1871 – Orville Wright, American aviation pioneer (d. 1948)
1875 – Stjepan Seljan, Croatian explorer (d. 1936)
1878 – Manuel L. Quezon, 2nd President of the Philippines (d. 1944)
1881 – George Enescu, Romanian composer (d. 1955)
1883 – José Mendes Cabeçadas, 95th Prime Minister of Portugal and 9th President of Portugal (d. 1965)
1883 – Coco Chanel, French clothing designer (d. 1971)
1883 – Elsie Ferguson, American film actress (d. 1961)
1892 – Alfred Lunt, American actor (d. 1977)
1896 – Olga Baclanova, Russian-born actress (d. 1974)
1899 – Charlie Hall, English comedian actor (d. 1959)
1900 – Colleen Moore, American film actress.(d. 1988)
1900 – Gilbert Ryle, British philosopher (d. 1976)
1902 – Ogden Nash, American poet (d. 1971)
1902 – J. B. L. Reyes, Filipino jurist (d. 1994)
1903 – James Gould Cozzens, American novelist (d. 1978)
1906 – Philo Farnsworth, American inventor (d. 1971)
1907 – Thruston B. Morton, American politician (d. 1982)
1912 – Austin Dobson, British racing driver (d. 1963)
1913 – Richard Simmons, American actor (d. 2003)
1913 – John Argyris, Greek aeronautical engineer, one of the creators of the Finite Element Method (d. 2004)
1914 – Lajos Baróti, Hungarian footballer (d. 2005)
1915 – Ring Lardner Jr, American journalist and screenwriter (d. 2000)
1915 – Alfred Rouleau, French Canadian businessman and administrator (Desjardins Group) (d. 1985)
1919 – Malcolm Forbes, American publisher (d. 1990)
1921 – Gene Roddenberry, American television producer (d. 1991)
1925 – Claude Gauvreau, Canadian playwright (d. 1971)
1926 – Arthur Rock, American venture capitalist
1928 – Bernard Levin, English journalist, author, and broadcaster (d. 2004)
1928 – Norman Brooks, Canadian singer (d. 2006)
1928 – Walter Massey, Canadian actor
1930 – Frank McCourt, Irish-American author (d. 2009)
1931 – Willie Shoemaker, American jockey (d. 2003)
1932 – Thomas P. Salmon, 75th Governor of Vermont
1934 – Renée Richards, American physician
1935 – Bobby Richardson, American baseball player
1938 – Diana Muldaur, American actress
1939 – Ginger Baker, English musician (Cream)
1940 – Johnny Nash, American singer-songwriter
1940 – Jill St. John, American actress
1942 – Fred Thompson, American politician and actor
1943 – Billy J. Kramer, British singer
1944 – Buzz Kilman, Chicago radio personality
1944 – Bodil Malmsten, Swedish writer
1944 – Charles Wang, Chinese-born philanthropist
1945 – Ian Gillan, English singer (Deep Purple)
1946 – Bill Clinton, American politician, forty-second President of the United States
1946 – Beat Raaflaub, Swiss conductor
1946 – Dawn Steel, American film producer (d. 1997)
1947 – Dave Dutton, English actor
1947 – Terry Hoeppner, American football coach (d. 2007)
1947 – Gerard Schwarz, American conductor
1948 – Gerald McRaney, American actor
1948 – Tipper Gore, Second Lady of the United States
1950 – Jennie Bond, British journalist
1950 – Graeme Beard, Australian cricketer
1951 – John Deacon, English musician (Queen)
1951 – Gustavo Santaolalla, Argentine film composer
1952 – Jonathan Frakes, American actor and director
1953 – Lynwood Slim, American blues musician
1953 – Mary Matalin, American political consultant
1953 – Nanni Moretti, Italian film actor, director and producer
1954 – Oscar Larrauri, Argentine racing driver
1955 – Peter Gallagher, American actor
1955 – Ned Yost, American baseball player and manager
1956 – Adam Arkin, American actor
1957 – Li-Young Lee, Indonesia-born American poet
1957 – Christine Soetewey, Belgian high jumper
1957 – Ian Gould, England cricketer
1957 – Paul-Jan Bakker, Netherland cricketer
1958 – Anthony Muñoz, American football player
1958 – Gary Gaetti, American baseball player
1958 – Brendan Nelson, Australian politician
1959 – Ricky Pierce, American basketball player
1959 – Susan Cummings, Monegasque-born American heiress and convicted murderer
1960 – Morten Andersen, American football player
1960 – Ron Darling, American baseball player and announcer
1961 – Jonathan Coe, British author
1962 – Tammy Bruce, American political commentator
1962 – Valérie Kaprisky, French actress
1963 – John Stamos, American actor
1963 – Yip Sai Wing, Hong Kong musician (Beyond)
1963 – Joey Tempest, Swedish singer (Europe)
1965 – Kyra Sedgwick, American actress
1965 – Kevin Dillon, American actor
1965 – Maria de Medeiros, Portuguese actress and director
1966 – Lilian Garcia, wrestling announcer
1966 – Lee Ann Womack, American musician
1968 – Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, Greek windsurfer
1968 – Mark McGuinn, country music singer
1969 – Nate Dogg, American rapper
1969 – Kirk Herbstreit, American football analyst (College GameDay)
1969 – Emigdio Preciado, Hispanic fugitive on FBI's Most Wanted list
1969 – Paula Jai Parker, American actress
1969 – Matthew Perry, American actor
1969 – Kazuyoshi Tatsunami, Japanese baseball player
1969 – Patrick Van Horn, American actor
1969 – Clay Walker, American singer
1970 – Fat Joe, American rapper
1970 – Jeff Tam, American baseball Player
1971 – João Vieira Pinto, Portuguese football player
1971 – Mary Jo Fernandez, Tennis player
1972 – Roberto Abbondanzieri, Argentine footballer
1972 – Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Hong Kong singer and actress
1972 – Chihiro Yonekura, Japanese singer
1973 – Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway
1973 – Callum Blue, British actor
1973 – Marco Materazzi, Italian footballer
1973 – Carl Bulfin, New Zealand cricketer
1975 – Chynna Clugston, American comic book creator
1975 – Tracie Thoms, American actress
1975 – Marco Coti Zelati, Italian bassist (Lacuna Coil)
1977 – Iban Mayo, Spanish cyclist
1977 – Takahiro Yamada, Japanese bassist (Asian Kung-Fu Generation)
1978 – Chris Capuano, American baseball player
1979 – Dave Douglas, American musician (Relient K, Attack Cat)
1979 – Oumar Kondé, Swiss footballer
1980 – Jun Jin, Korean rapper (Shinhwa)
1980 – Houcine Camara, French singer
1980 – Darius Danesh, Scottish singer-songwriter & actor
1980 – Paul Parry, Welsh footballer
1980 – Michael Todd, American musician (Coheed and Cambria)
1982 – Erika Christensen, American actress
1982 – J. J. Hardy, American baseball player
1982 – Kevin Rans, Belgian pole vaulter
1983 – Missy Higgins, Australian singer-songwriter
1983 – John McCargo, American football player
1983 – Tammin Sursok, Australian actress & singer
1983 – Mike Conway, British racing driver
1984 – Micah Alberti, American actor
1984 – Alessandro Matri, Italian footballer
1984 – Ryan Taylor, English footballer
1985 – Megan Rochell, American singer
1986 – Saori Kimura, Japanese volleyball player
1987 – Anaïs Lameche, Swedish singer (Play)
1987 – Ileana D'Cruz, Indian actress
1987 – Richard Stearman, English footballer
1988 – Travis Tedford, American actor
1989 – Romeo, American rapper
1998 – Ella Guevara, Filipino actress
Deaths
14 – Augustus, Roman Emperor (b. 63 BC)
1186 – Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany (b. 1158)
1245 – Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence (b. 1195)
1284 – Alphonso, Earl of Chester, son of Edward I of England (b. 1273)
1297 – Saint Louis of Toulouse, French Catholic bishop (b. 1274)
1493 – Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1415)
1580 – Andrea Palladio, Italian architect (b. 1508)
1646 – Alexander Henderson, Scottish theologian
1662 – Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher (b. 1623)
1680 – Jean Eudes, French catholic priest, founder of the Eudists (b. 1601)
1692 – John Proctor, Salem farmer and tavern keeper (b.1632)
1753 – Balthasar Neumann, German architect (b. 1687)
1819 – James Watt, Scottish inventor (b. 1736)
1822 – Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, French mathematician (b. 1749)
1883 – Jeremiah S. Black, American statesman (b. 1810)
1889 – Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-Adam, French writer (b. 1838)
1895 – John Wesley Hardin, American gunfighter (b. 1853)
1900 – Jean-Baptiste Accolay, Belgian composer (b. 1833)
1914 – Franz Xavier Wernz, German Superior General of the Society of Jesus (b. 1844)
1923 – Vilfredo Pareto, Italian sociologist and economist (b. 1845)
1929 – Sergei Diaghilev, Russian ballet impresario (b. 1872)
1936 – Federico García Lorca, Spanish author (b. 1898)
1944 – Günther von Kluge, German field marshal (b. 1882)
1945 – Tomas Burgos, Chilean philanthropist (b. 1875)
1950 – Giovanni Giorgi, Italian physicist (b. 1871)
1954 – Alcide De Gasperi, Prime Minister of Italy (b. 1881)
1957 – David Bomberg, English painter (b. 1890)
1957 – Carl-Gustaf Rossby, Swedish meteorologist (b. 1898)
1959 – Jacob Epstein, American-born sculptor (b. 1880)
1959 – Blind Willie McTell, American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist (b. 1901)
1963 – Kathleen Parlow, Canadian violinist (b. 1890)
1967 – Hugo Gernsback, Luxembourg-born editor and publisher (b. 1884)
1967 – Isaac Deutscher, British Marxist historian (b. 1907)
1968 – George Gamow, Ukrainian-born physicist (b. 1904)
1970 – Paweł Jasienica, Polish historian (b. 1909)
1975 – Mark Donohue, American race car driver and engineer (b. 1937)
1975 – Jim Londos, wrestler (b. 1897)
1976 – Alastair Sim, Scottish actor and rector of Edinburgh University (b. 1900)
1976 – Ken Wadsworth, New Zealand cricketer (b. 1946)
1977 – Groucho Marx, American comedian and actor (b. 1890)
1977 – Peter Dyneley, British actor (b. 1921)
1979 – Joel Teitelbaum, Great Rebbi and Talmudic scholar(b. 1887)
1979 – Dorsey Burnette, American singer (b. 1932)
1980 – Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank (b. 1889)
1981 – Jessie Matthews, English actress (b. 1907)
1982 – August Neo, Estonian wrestler (b. 1908)
1986 – Hermione Baddeley, English actress (b. 1906)
1994 – Linus Pauling, American chemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Peace (b. 1901)
1995 – Pierre Schaeffer, French composer (b. 1910)
2000 – Antonio Pugliese, Italian professional wrestler (b. 1941)
2000 – Bineshwar Brahma, Bodo littérateur and religious figure (birth date unknown)
2001 – Donald Woods, South African journalist and anti-apartheid activist (b. 1933)
2001 – Betty Everett, American singer and pianist (b. 1939)
2003 – Carlos Roberto Reina, President of Honduras (b. 1926)
2003 – Sérgio Vieira de Mello, Brazilian diplomat (b. 1948)
2005 – Bueno de Mesquita, Dutch comedian and actor (b. 1918)
2008 – Levy Mwanawasa, Zambian politician (b. 1948)
2008 – LeRoi Moore, American musician (Dave Matthews Band) (b. 1961)
Holidays and observances
Afghanistan – Afghan Independence Day
United States – National Aviation Day
