What Happened On
Strelka, one of the two dogs aboard
Strelka, one of the two dogs aboard
First Living Organisms to Return from Orbit
August 19, 1960
The Soviet Sputnik 5 is launched. Its payload included two dogs, 40 mice, 2 rats, and various insects and plants which were recovered the following day.
Coup supporters celebrate victory in Tehran
Coup supporters celebrate victory in Tehran
US and GB Overthrow of Iran's Prime Minister
August 19, 1953
The United States and Great Britain with help from the CIA overthrow Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in favor of strengthening the monarchical rule of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Mosaddegh had made moves to nationalize Iran's oil fields after the British oil company Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC, now part of BP) refused to cooperate in the auditing of oil payments to Iran. Following the coup, a government formed placing the Shah of Iran to rule as a monarch. The Shah ruled for 26 years until anti Shah sentiment led to the 1979 Iranian Revolution in which he was overthrown.
Photo Credit: Associated Press
Photo Credit: Associated Press
Shortest MLB Player
August 19, 1951
3-foot 7-inch (109 cm) tall Eddie Gaedel pinch hits for the St. Louis Browns and is walked after being pitched four straight balls. It was his only time at bat in the major leagues. After his time at bat he said, "Man, I felt like Babe Root."
Popsicle
August 19, 1924
The popsicle is patented by lemonade-mix salesman Frank Epperson. He claimed to have discovered the idea when he was eleven years old and accidentally left a glass of lemonade on a windowsill overnight causing it to freeze.
He originally called it the "Epsicle."
Lincoln demonstrates his deadly advantage to Shields
Lincoln demonstrates his deadly advantage to Shields
Abraham Lincoln Challenged to a Duel
August 19, 1842
A letter to the editor is published in the local paper calling James Shields a "fool as well as a liar" and describing him, "If I was deaf and blind I could tell him by the smell." Lincoln had written the letter under the pseudonym of a farmer named Rebecca. Lincoln's future wife Mary Todd and a close friend continued writing insulting letters to the paper without Lincoln's knowledge. When Lincoln took responsibility for the letters, Shields challenged him to duel. As the one challenged, Lincoln chose the weapons. Since Shields was an excellent marksman, Lincoln chose a cavalry broadsword which, due to Lincoln's height and long arms, gave him the advantage. They met at a popular dueling site where the two men faced each other with a plank between them that neither was allowed to cross. Lincoln swung his sword cutting a tree branch above Shields' head, demonstrating to Shields that he was at a fatal disadvantage. The two men then called a truce, later becoming good friends.
Salem Witch Trials
August 19, 1692
George Burroughs (Harvard graduate and former minister of Salem), John Proctor, John Willard, George Jacobs, and Martha Carrier are hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.
Soviet Coup Attempt
August 19, 1991
Hard-line communists, including the Soviet vice-president, Soviet Defense Minister, and head of the KGB, attempt to remove Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev from power. They failed, largely due to the efforts of Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
U.S. Navy Phantom II escorting a Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
U.S. Navy Phantom II escorting a Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
Hitler Voted President
August 19, 1934
German Chancellor Adolf Hitler is voted president, giving him full command of the country.
The Christian Union
August 19, 1886
The Christian Union is founded, by Baptist minister Richard G. Spurling. In 1923 it became the Church of God.
Evaporated Milk
August 19, 1856
Gail Borden receives a patent for his improved process of making evaporated milk.
USS Constitution
August 19, 1812
Called Old Ironsides, it defeats the British ship Guerriere off Nova Scotia during the War of 1812.
Birthdays
Bill Clinton (William Jefferson Blythe III)
Born August 19, 1946
American politician. 42nd U.S. President (1993-2001).
Invented the First All Electronic TV
Philo Taylor Farnsworth
Born August 19, 1906 d. 1971
American inventor. He invented the first all electronic TV, conceiving of his invention when he was 14 years old. He also invented a small nuclear fusion device, known as the Farnsworth-Hirsch fusor, or simply "fusor." Farnsworth held 300 patents, mostly in radio and television.
Orville piloting, Wilbur on ground.
Orville piloting, Wilbur on ground.
Orville Wright
Born August 19, 1871 d. 1948
American aviator. He and his brother Wilbur Wright are credited with building and flying the first manned heavier-than-air flying machine (1903). However, there is evidence that Gustave Whitehead made a powered, heavier-than-air-flight two years earlier.
The Forgotten Sidekick
Samuel Prescott
Born August 19, 1751 d. circa 1777
American soldier. Prescott rode with Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous ride to warn of the British advancement (1775). Prescott was the only one to complete their mission. The three were riding together when they encountered a British mounted patrol on the road from Lexington to Concord. They split into different directions to evade the British. Revere was captured, but released without his horse. Dawes fell off his horse and had to continue on foot. Both returned to Lexington. Prescott and his horse successfully jumped a wall and were able to escape the British. He was the only one who completed the mission by making it to Concord.
He was later captured by the Royal Navy and died between November 23, 1776 and December 26, 1777 while a prisoner in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Tabitha Soren
Born August 19, 1967
American TV news correspondent, host of MTV's The Week in Rock.
Tipper Gore
Born August 19, 1948
American Second Lady of the U.S. (1993 -2001), wife of 45th U.S. Vice-President Al Gore.
Gerald McRaney
Born August 19, 1947
American actor. TV: Simon & Simon (Rick Simon) and Major Dad (Major MacGillis).
Johnny Nash (John Lester Nash Jr.)
Born August 19, 1940 d. 2020
American singer, songwriter. Music: I Can See Clearly Now (1972, #1).
Jill St. John (Jill Oppenheim)
Born August 19, 1940
American actress. Film: Diamonds Are Forever (1971, Tiffany Case, the first American Bond girl). TV: Batman (The Riddler's moll Molly).
Renee Richards
Born August 19, 1934
tennis player, transsexual.
Willie Shoemaker
Born August 19, 1931 d. 2003
American horse jockey. All-time leader in wins (8,833) and four time winner of the Kentucky Derby (also the oldest winner, age 54 in 1986). In 1991, he rolled his Ford Bronco II, leaving him a quadriplegic. He sued Ford and won a $1,000,000 settlement.
Gene Roddenberry
Born August 19, 1921 d. 1991
American television writer, producer. TV: Star Trek (1966-69).
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes
Born August 19, 1919 d. 1990
American magazine publisher.
Harry Mills
Born August 19, 1913 d. 1982
American singer, with the Mills Brothers, the most popular vocal group of all time.
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel
Born August 19, 1883 d. 1971
French fashion designer, for whom Chanel No. 5 perfume, introduced in 1922, is named.
Manuel Luis Quezon
Born August 19, 1878 d. 1944
Philippine statesman, first president of the Philippine Commonwealth (1935).
Bernard Mannes Baruch
Born August 19, 1870 d. 1965
American stock broker. He was an advisor to every president from Woodrow Wilson to John F. Kennedy.
James M. Black
Born August 19, 1856 d. 1938
American Methodist composer. Music: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (wrote the tune).
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield
Born August 19, 1843 d. 1921
American Bible teacher. Editor of the Scofield Reference Bible (1909) and founded the Central American Mission (1890).
James Nasmyth
Born August 19, 1808 d. 1890
British engineer, invented the steam hammer (1839).
Deaths
Top to bottom: Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Groucho, and Zeppo Marx
Groucho Marx (Julius Marx)
Died August 19, 1977 b. 1890
American comedian, cigar-smoking Marx Brother and host of TV's You Bet Your Life.
Quote: "I sent the club a wire stating, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER."
Quote: "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
Blaise Pascal
Died August 19, 1662 b. 1623
French mathematician, philosopher, physicist, one of the founders of the theory of probability, and designed a mechanical computer, although it was never built. He was one of the first inventors of mechanical calculators (1642), created Pascal's Triangle (1653), and made important contributions to the study of fluids and the concepts of pressure and vacuums.
Octavian (Gaius Octavius Thurinus)
Died August 19, A.D. 14 b. 63 B.C.
the first Roman Emperor. Also known as Octavianus, he was the heir of Julius Caesar. His defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium in AD 31 made him ruler of the world, at which time he was granted the name "Augustus." After their defeat, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.
Dick Gregory (Richard Claxton Gregory)
Died August 19, 2017 b. 1932
American comedian, civil rights activist, anti-Vietnam War activist, diet-mix salesman.
Alberta King Assassin
Marcus Wayne Chenault, Jr.
Died August 19, 1995 b. 1951
American Assassin. He shot and killed Alberta King (1974, mother of Martin Luther King, Jr.) while she was playing The Lord's Player on the organ during a church service. Deacon Edward Boykin also died in the incident.
Chenault said that his mission was to kill Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., but he shot his wife Mrs. King instead because she was close to him and that he had acted out of hatred for Christianity and because his god had told him to.
Linus Carl Pauling
Died August 19, 1994 b. 1901
American Nobel-winning chemist and vitamin C advocate. He also won a Nobel Peace Prize.
Baddeley (left) as Mrs. Naugatuck
Baddeley (left) as Mrs. Naugatuck
Hermione Baddeley
Died August 19, 1986 b. 1906
British actress. Film: Room at the Top (1959), Mary Poppins (1964, the housekeeper), and The Aristocats (1970, voiced Madame Adelaide Bonfamille). TV: Maude (1974-77, Mrs. Naugatuck).
Otto Frank
Died August 19, 1980 b. 1889
German businessman, Jewish war victim. His daughter Anne Frank's diary, which chronicled their family and friends hiding from the Nazis in an attic, has been read by millions. He was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. He had served in the Imperial German Army during World War I.
Hugo Gernsback
Died August 19, 1967 b. 1884
American publisher, pioneer science fiction author. He founded Modern Electronics (1908, the first radio magazine) and Amazing Stories (1926).
Saint Sixtus III
Died August 19, 440 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 44th Pope (432-440).