Europa
- First Battle of Ypres Begins (1914)
On October 19, 1914, the First Battle of Ypres started in the Belgian city of Ypres. This significant World War I battle marked the beginning of a prolonged and bloody conflict between German forces and the combined Belgian, French, and British troops. The fighting continued until late November, with both sides suffering heavy casualties as they vied for control of Flanders. - Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow (1812)
On this day in 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte began his retreat from Moscow, marking a turning point in the French invasion of Russia. The disastrous retreat led to massive losses for the French army due to harsh winter conditions and constant attacks by Russian forces. - Battle of Ulm (1805)
On October 19, 1805, during the War of the Third Coalition, Austrian General Mack surrendered his army to Napoleon at the Battle of Ulm. This victory solidified Napoleon’s dominance in Central Europe at the time. - Treaty of Drottningholm (1791)
The Treaty of Drottningholm was signed between Sweden and Russia on this day, impacting the balance of power in Northern Europe. - Battle of Leipzig (1813)
Napoleon was forced to retreat from Germany after his defeat at the Battle of Leipzig, which concluded around this date and is considered one of the largest battles in European history. - Marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella (1469)
On October 19, 1469, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile were married in Valladolid, Spain. Their union eventually led to the unification of Spain and had profound effects on European and world history.
America
- Surrender at Yorktown (1781)
On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army of about 8,000 men to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. This decisive event effectively ended the American Revolutionary War, as the Franco-American siege forced the British to capitulate after being surrounded by American and French troops and blockaded by the French navy. The surrender at Yorktown marked the last major battle of the war, leading to American independence, which was formally recognized with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. - John Jay Becomes First Chief Justice (1789)
On this day, John Jay was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, establishing the foundation of the American judicial system. - Confederate Raid on St. Albans, Vermont (1864)
During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers based in Canada crossed into St. Albans, Vermont, and robbed three banks in an effort to agitate the Union. - Black Monday Stock Market Crash (1987)
October 19, 1987, became known as “Black Monday” when the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted by 508 points, or 22.6%—the largest one-day percentage drop in stock market history. - 1765: The Stamp Act Congress adopted a declaration of rights and liberties in New York, challenging British taxation.
- 1960: The United States began a limited embargo against Cuba, covering all commodities except medical supplies and certain food products.
- 1960: Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested during a sit-in protest at a lunch counter in Atlanta.
- 1951: President Harry S. Truman signed an act formally ending the state of war with Germany.
Asia
- Sino-Tibetan Conflict: Battle of Chamdo Ends (1950)
On October 19, 1950, the Battle of Chamdo concluded with Chinese forces defeating the Tibetan Army at Chambo (Chamdo). This marked the effective incorporation of Tibet into the People’s Republic of China, as Chinese troops took control of the border city, initiating negotiations over Tibet’s future status. - Korean War: Battle of Pyongyang (1950)
On the same day, the Battle of Pyongyang ended with a United Nations victory. Shortly after, Chinese forces began crossing into Korea, escalating the conflict and setting the stage for a major phase of the Korean War. - Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration (1956)
The Soviet Union and Japan signed a Joint Declaration, officially ending the state of war that had existed between the two countries since August 1945, normalizing diplomatic relations and paving the way for future cooperation. - First Recorded Ascent of Cho Oyu (1954)
Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth-highest mountain on the Nepal-China border, was climbed for the first time by Nepalese climber Pasang Dawa Lama and Austrians Joseph Jöchler and Herbert Tichy. - Trial of Saddam Hussein Begins (2005)
The trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity began in Baghdad, drawing global attention to Iraq’s post-war justice process. - Mother Teresa Founds Missionaries of Charity (1950, India)
Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta (now Kolkata), which became one of the world’s most recognized humanitarian organizations.
Africa
- Battle of Zama (202 BC)
On October 19, 202 BC, the Battle of Zama took place near Carthage (in present-day Tunisia). Roman general Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal Barca, ending the Second Punic War and establishing Rome as the dominant power in the western Mediterranean. - Italy Takes Possession of Libya (1912)
On this day in 1912, during the Italo-Turkish War, Italy formally took possession of what is now Libya, ending centuries of Ottoman rule and marking a significant moment in North African colonial history. - League of Nations Sanctions on Italy for Invasion of Ethiopia (1935)
The League of Nations imposed economic sanctions on Italy for its invasion of Ethiopia, an event that highlighted the limitations of international organizations in curbing colonial aggression and foreshadowed the coming global conflict. - Suez Canal Pact: End of British Military Occupation in Egypt (1954)
On October 19, 1954, Egypt and Britain concluded a pact that ended 72 years of British military occupation of the Suez Canal zone, with Britain agreeing to withdraw its forces. This was a key milestone in Egypt’s move toward full sovereignty and the decline of European colonial power in Africa. - Grenada: Assassination of Maurice Bishop (1983)
On October 19, 1983, Maurice Bishop, the Prime Minister of Grenada and a prominent figure in the African diaspora, was assassinated in a coup. Bishop had established a Marxist regime and his death led to the U.S. invasion of Grenada six days later. - Recent Events: Violence and Political Unrest in Nigeria and Chad (2020)
On October 19, 2020, several violent incidents occurred during the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, including the deaths of protestors in Abuja and Edo, and a deadly prison break in Benin City. On the same day, six Chadian soldiers and ten Boko Haram militants were killed in a clash on the Chadian side of Lake Chad, and the Nigerian Air Force killed several ISWA militants in Borno State.
This day in history: 19 october