Today in History for 19th May 2025
Historical Events
1547 – Capitulation of Wittenberg: John Frederick I, Protestant Elector of Saxony, resigns after his capture by Catholic Hapsburg forces of Charles V at the Battle of Mühlberg,
1932 – Revival of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical “Show Boat” opens at the Casino Theater, NYC; runs for 180 performances
1935 – English Cardinal John Fisher and statesman Thomas More, both executed by Henry VIII, canonized as saints by Pope Pius XI
1962 – US performs nuclear test at Christmas Island (atmospheric)
1995 – World’s youngest doctor, Balamurali Ambati, 17, graduates from Mount Sinai
Famous Birthdays
1812 – Felix Zollicoffer, American journalist and Confederate Brigadier General who was killed in the Battle of Mill Springs, born in Maury County, Tennessee (d. 1862)
1938 – James Bilbray, American lawyer and politician (Rep-D-Nevada 1987-95), born in Las Vegas, Nevada
1948 – Boet van Dulmen, Dutch motorcycle racer (84 starts, 1 win, 4 podiums,1 pole; Finnish 500cc GP 1979), born in Ammerzoden, Netherlands (d. 2021)
1962 – Iain Harvie, Scottish rock guitarist and songwriter (Del Amitri – “Roll To Me”, “Nothing Ever Happens”), born in Glasgow, Scotland
1968 – Jeanne Basone, American actor and professional wrestler (Hollywood in “GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling”), born in Glendale, California
Famous Deaths
1319 – Prince Louis, Count of Évreux, son of King Philip III of France, dies at 43
1872 – Johan Hendrik van Dale, Dutch schoolmaster and lexicographer(Van Dale’s Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language), dies of smallpox at 44
1984 – John Betjeman, poet (Mount Zion) and English Poet Laureate (1972-1984), dies at 77
2009 – Nicholas Maw, British composer, dies at 73
2009 – Herbert York, American physicist (b. 1921)
