✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 353rd day of the year

December 19

A look at December 19 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Édith Piaf and Karim Benzema, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2016

    Andrei Karlov

    Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov is assassinated while at an art exhibition in Ankara. The assassin, Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, is shot and killed by a Turkish guard.

    Russian diplomat (1954–2016)
  2. 1998

    Bill Clinton

    President Bill Clinton is impeached by the United States House of Representatives, becoming the second president of the United States to be impeached.

    President of the United
  3. 1997

    SilkAir Flight 185

    SilkAir Flight 185 crashes into the Musi River, near Palembang in Indonesia, killing 104.

    1997 aircraft crash in
  4. 1985

    Aeroflot Flight 101/435

    Aeroflot Flight 101/435 is hijacked to China by its first officer.

    1985 Soviet aircraft hijacking
  5. 1984

    Sino-British Joint Declaration

    The Sino-British Joint Declaration, stating that China would resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and the United Kingdom would restore Hong Kong to China with effect from July 1, 1997, is signed in Beijing by Deng Xiaoping and Margaret Thatcher.

    1984 treaty on the
  6. 1956

    John Bodkin Adams

    Irish-born physician John Bodkin Adams is arrested in connection with the suspicious deaths of more than 160 patients. Eventually he is convicted only of minor charges.

    British physician and fraudster
  7. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: Adolf Hitler appoints himself as head of the Oberkommando des Heeres.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  8. 1929

    Indian National Congress

    The Indian National Congress promulgates the Purna Swaraj (the Declaration of the Independence of India).

    Political party in India
  9. 1776

    Thomas Paine

    Thomas Paine publishes one of a series of pamphlets in The Pennsylvania Journal entitled "The American Crisis".

    American philosopher and author
  10. 1154

    Henry II of England

    Henry II of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey.

    King of England from
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 19

Édith Piaf

b. 1915

French singer-songwriter and actress

Karim Benzema

b. 1987

French footballer

Alberto Tomba

b. 1966

Italian skier

Sally Kipyego

b. 1985

Kenyan runner

Orna Berry

b. 1949

Israeli computer scientist and businesswoman

Lee Myung-bak

b. 1941

South Korean businessman and politician, 10th President of South Korea

Mige (musician)

b. 1974

Finnish musician, bassist and founding member of the gothic rock band HIM

M'Baye Niang

b. 1994

French footballer

Deaths

  • 2016Andrei Karlov, Russian diplomat, Ambassador to Turkey
  • 1999Desmond Llewelyn, Welsh soldier and actor
  • 1996Marcello Mastroianni, Italian-French actor and singer
  • 1946Paul Langevin, French physicist and academic
  • 1807Friedrich Melchior, Baron von Grimm, German-French author and playwright
  • 1111Al-Ghazali, Persian jurist, philosopher, theologian, and mystic

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church)
  • —Christian feast day: O Radix
  • —Christian feast day: Pope Anastasius I
  • —Christian feast day: Pope Urban V
  • —Christian feast day: December 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —Christian feast day: Saint Nicholas Day
  • —Goa Liberation Day (Goa, India)
  • —National Heroes and Heroines Day (Anguilla)

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