Today in History for 19th April 2025
Historical Events
1937 – 41st Boston Marathon won by Walter Young of Canada in 2:33:20
1983 – France performs nuclear test
1989 – Gun turret explodes on USS Iowa, killing 47 sailors
1990 – Marla Maples appears on ABC’s Prime-Time
2020 – Turkey passes Iran to become the Middle Eastern country with the most COVID-19 cases with 86,306 infections, Iran continues to have the most deaths
Famous Birthdays
1660 – Sebastián Durón, Spanish composer, born in Brihuega, Guadalajara, Spain (d. 1716)
1861 – Edward Vermeulen, Flemish writer, born in Beselare, Belgium (d. 1934)
1937 – Joseph Estrada, Filipino actor and 13th President of the Philippines (1998-01), born in Tondo, Philippines
1962 – Gerhard Mans, Namibian rugby union utility back (27 Tests; Orange Free State RFU, South West Africa RFU), born in Karasburg, Namibia (d. 2022)
1987 – Maria Sharapova, Russian tennis player (5 Grand Slam singles titles), born in Nyagan, Russia
Famous Deaths
1739 – Nicholas Saunderson, English scientist and mathematician, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics Cambridge University, dies at 57
1992 – Alice Mary Riley, entertainer, dies of cancer at 51
2012 – Levon Helm, American drummer and singer (The Band – “Up On Cripple Creek”; “The Weight”), and actor (Coal Miner’s Daughter; The Right Stuff), dies from throat cancer at 71
2012 – Greg Ham, Australian rock saxophonist and flutist (Men At Work – “Who Can It Be Now”), dies under mysterious circumstances at 58
2022 – Mike Gregory, English darts player (BDO World C’ship 1992 runner-up), dies from dementia at 65
