May 19 in History

Historical Events on May 19

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

1802 Napoleon Bonaparte founds the Legion of Honour.

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.

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

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

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.

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".

1991 Croatians vote for independence in a referendum.

All Events

Famous Birthdays on May 19

1881 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

1925 Pol Pot

1925 Malcolm X

1979 Andrea Pirlo

All Births

Famous Deaths on May 19

1536 Anne Boleyn

1898 William Ewart Gladstone

1935 T. E. Lawrence

1994 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

All Deaths

Choose Another Date