On This Day in History – August 19

August 19 has played host to revolutionary moments, scientific breakthroughs, and historic milestones in global leadership. From coups to first flights, this day has helped shape the modern world.

Major Events

• 43 BC – Octavian, later known as Augustus, wins a decisive victory at the Battle of Mutina, paving his rise to become the first Roman emperor.
• 1612 – The Pendle witches are tried and executed in Lancashire, England, in one of England’s most famous witch trials.
• 1839 – The French government announces the invention of the daguerreotype, the first publicly available photographic process.
• 1934 – Germany holds a referendum that gives Adolf Hitler the powers of president and chancellor, consolidating his dictatorship.
• 1942 – The Dieppe Raid is launched during World War II; thousands of Allied soldiers are killed or captured on the beaches of France.
• 1953 – The CIA and British intelligence orchestrate a coup d’état in Iran, overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
• 1960 – Soviet Union launches Sputnik 5, carrying dogs Belka and Strelka, who return safely—paving the way for human spaceflight.
• 1987 – Hungerford massacre in England: a gunman kills 16 people before taking his own life, prompting changes to UK gun laws.
• 1991 – Hardline members of the Soviet government attempt a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev, but it collapses in three days.
• 2003 – A suicide bombing at the UN headquarters in Baghdad kills 22 people, including top UN envoy Sérgio Vieira de Mello.

Famous Birthdays

• Orville Wright (1871–1948) – American aviation pioneer who co-invented and piloted the first powered aircraft.
• Coco Chanel (1883–1971) – French fashion designer who revolutionized women’s clothing and founded the Chanel brand.
• Malcolm Forbes (1919–1990) – American publisher of Forbes magazine and entrepreneur.
• Gene Roddenberry (1921–1991) – American television screenwriter and creator of Star Trek.
• Bill Clinton (1946– ) – 42nd President of the United States, served from 1993 to 2001.
• Tipper Gore (1948– ) – American author and activist, former Second Lady of the United States.
• Jonathan Frakes (1952– ) – American actor and director best known for Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• John Stamos (1963– ) – American actor and musician known for Full House.
• Matthew Perry (1969–2023) – American actor best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends.
• Christina Perri (1986– ) – American singer-songwriter known for Jar of Hearts.

Notable Deaths

• Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) – French mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher.
• Otto Frank (1889–1980) – Father of Anne Frank and sole survivor of the family.
• Groucho Marx (1890–1977) – American comedian and actor, member of the Marx Brothers.
• W. H. Auden (1907–1973) – English-American poet and literary critic.
• Sérgio Vieira de Mello (1948–2003) – Brazilian diplomat and UN representative, killed in Baghdad bombing.
• Patricia Neal (1926–2010) – American actress and Academy Award winner.
• Fred Thompson (1942–2015) – American politician, attorney, and actor.
• Trevor Moore (1980–2021) – American comedian and co-founder of The Whitest Kids U’ Know.
• Gulzarilal Nanda (1898–1998) – Indian politician, twice acting Prime Minister of India.
• Don Ho (1930–2007) – Hawaiian singer and entertainer known for “Tiny Bubbles.”

Holidays

• World Humanitarian Day (UN) – Honors humanitarian workers and advocates for global aid efforts, established after the 2003 UN bombing in Baghdad.
• Afghanistan Independence Day – Commemorates the 1919 treaty that ended British control over Afghan foreign affairs.
• National Aviation Day (United States) – Celebrates aviation history and honors Orville Wright’s birthday.
• Coco Chanel Day (France, unofficial) – Celebrated by fashion enthusiasts and design schools.
• Photography Day (Global) – A nod to the daguerreotype announcement in 1839, celebrating visual storytelling.

Fun Facts

• Orville Wright’s birthday is the reason National Aviation Day is observed in the United States.
• Sputnik 5 carried the first living beings to return safely from space—dogs Belka and Strelka—earning them global fame.
• Coco Chanel introduced the “little black dress” and made women’s fashion more practical and stylish.
• Gene Roddenberry, born on this day, imagined a diverse and cooperative future in Star Trek decades before it was widely embraced.
• The 1953 coup in Iran remains a controversial example of Cold War geopolitics and Western intervention.