October 19
Today in America's Present Past
1720 | Abolitionist John Woolman was born.
1765 | Stamp Act Congress meets in New York City, writes the Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
1773 | War of Independence: The East India Company’s tea ships’ cargo are burned at Annapolis, Maryland.
1781 | War of Independence: The Battle of Yorktown is won by the Americans, ending the war with England at 2 pm.
1789 | SCOTUS: Chief Justice John Jay was sworn in.
1790 | Founder Lyman Hall died.
1806 | African-American author, surveyor, and farmer Benjamin Banneker died.
1818 | Indian wars: Via treaty, the Chickasaw Indians cede Tennessee and Kentucky.
1839 | Inventor Almon Brown Strowger was born.
1885 | Banker Charles E. Merrill was born.
1864 | Civil War: The Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia.
1868 | Politician Bertha Knight Landes was born.
1871 | Scientist Walter Bradford Cannon was born.
1897 | Entrepreneur George Pullman died.
1901 | Admiral Arleigh Burke was born.
1917 | The Army opens Love Field, a military airplane pilot training center, in Dallas, Texas.
1922 | Journalist Jack Anderson was born.
1926 | Philosopher Joel Feinberg was born in Detroit, Michigan.
1934 | Musician Dave Guard was born.
1936 | Activist James Bevel was born.
1945 | Actor John Lithgow was born.
1945 | Activist Patricia Ireland was born.
1953 | Ray Bradbury published “Fahrenheit 451.”
1960 | Civil Rights: Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in an Atlanta sit-in.
1960 | The U.S. imposes an embargo on exports to Cuba.
1962 | Boxer Evander Holyfield was born.
1966 | Actor Jon Favreau was born.
1966 | Entrepreneur Elizabeth Arden died.
1969 | Director Trey Parker was born.
1983 | Congress: The Senate established Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday.
2024 | Activist Thelma Mothershed Wair died.