This day in history: 19 may

Europa

Battle of Rocroi (1643)

• French forces under the duc d’Enghien achieved a decisive victory over Spanish troops at the Battle of Rocroi during the Thirty Years’ War. This battle is often seen as marking the symbolic end of Spanish military dominance in Europe.

Execution of Anne Boleyn (1536)

• Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed for high treason at the Tower of London. Her death was a pivotal moment in English history, leading to further religious and political upheaval.

Creation of the Legion of Honour (1802)

• Napoleon Bonaparte established the Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur), which remains the highest French order of merit for military and civil merits.

Invention of the Celsius Thermometer (1743)

• Jean-Pierre Christin introduced the Celsius thermometer, setting the standard for the centigrade temperature scale widely used in Europe and beyond.

America

New England’s Dark Day (1780)

• An unusual darkening of the daytime sky occurred over New England and parts of Canada, known as “New England’s Dark Day.” The cause is still debated, but it was likely due to a combination of smoke from forest fires, thick fog, and cloud cover.

Homestead Act Signed (1862)

• President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law, granting 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, provided they improved the land. This act greatly accelerated the settlement of the American West.

Siege of Vicksburg (1863)

• General Ulysses S. Grant launched a major assault on the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the American Civil War, a pivotal moment in the Union campaign.

Formation of the Ringling Bros. Circus (1884)

• The Ringling brothers opened their circus in Baraboo, Wisconsin, which would grow into the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Publication of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963)

• Dr. King’s influential letter defending civil disobedience and nonviolent protest against segregation was published, becoming a foundational text for the Civil Rights Movement.

Other Notable Events:

• 1836: Cynthia Ann Parker was captured in Texas and adopted by a Native American tribe.
• 1848: Mexico ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ceding vast territories to the United States and ending the Mexican–American War.
• 1921: The U.S. Congress established a national quota system sharply curbing immigration.
• 1994: Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died.

Asia

Founding of the Viet Minh (1941)

• On May 19, 1941, the Viet Minh was founded as a guerrilla force to liberate Vietnam from Japanese occupation. Ho Chi Minh soon emerged as its leader, and the movement played a crucial role in Vietnam’s struggle for independence.

Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in Turkey (1919)

• May 19 is celebrated as Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in Turkey. It commemorates Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s landing at Samsun in 1919, which marked the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence.

Rajah Suliman’s Resistance in the Philippines (1571)

• On May 19, Rajah Suliman, the ruler of Manila, led a battle against Spanish forces, marking a significant event in Philippine resistance to Spanish colonization.

Other Notable Events

• On May 19, 2016, EgyptAir flight MS804, en route from Paris to Cairo, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, with all 66 people on board perishing. The cause remains inconclusive, but the event had a significant impact in the region.

Africa

African Liberation Day

• May 19 is celebrated by many as African Liberation Day, a day that honors the continent’s ongoing struggle for freedom, unity, and self-determination. The day is closely associated with the Pan-African movement and the vision of leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, and Kwame Ture, who called for the total liberation and unification of Africa under a Pan-Africanist government. African Liberation Day serves as a focal point for commemorative events and solidarity actions, both within Africa and among the African diaspora.

Connection to African Independence Movements

• The celebration of African Liberation Day on May 19 is rooted in the broader history of African independence movements, which swept the continent throughout the 20th century as nations fought to end European colonial rule and achieve self-governance. These movements were driven by a desire for justice, peace, and the reclamation of African land and identity.

Cultural and Political Significance

• The day is marked by events, rallies, and educational activities that highlight Africa’s ongoing quest for unity and liberation. It is also a time to reflect on the achievements of past independence struggles and the continuing work toward Pan-African solidarity.