✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 19th day of the year

January 19

A look at January 19 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Javier Pérez de Cuéllar and Janis Joplin, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2012

    Megaupload

    The Hong Kong-based file-sharing website Megaupload is shut down by the FBI.

    Defunct file hosting service
  2. 2007

    Hrant Dink

    Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink is assassinated in front of his newspaper's Istanbul office by 17-year-old Turkish ultra-nationalist Ogün Samast.

    Turkish-Armenian journalist (1954–2007)
  3. 1993

    Czech Republic

    Czech Republic and Slovakia join the United Nations.

    Country in Central Europe
  4. 1966

    Indira Gandhi

    Indira Gandhi becomes India's first female prime minister.

    Prime Minister of India
  5. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: HMS Greyhound and other escorts of convoy AS-12 sink Italian submarine Neghelli with all hands 64 kilometres (40 mi) northeast of Falkonera.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1920

    American Civil Liberties Union

    The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is founded.

    Legal advocacy organization in
  7. 1853

    Giuseppe Verdi

    Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il trovatore receives its premiere performance in Rome.

    Italian opera composer (1813–1901)
  8. 1829

    Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust: The First Part of the Tragedy receives its premiere performance.

    German writer and polymath
  9. 1795

    Batavian Republic

    The Batavian Republic is proclaimed in the Netherlands, replacing the Dutch Republic.

    State in Europe (1795–1806)
  10. 1419

    Hundred Years' War

    Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England, completing his reconquest of Normandy.

    Medieval Anglo-French conflicts, 1337–1453
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 19

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar

b. 1920

Peruvian politician and diplomat, 135th Prime Minister of Peru

Janis Joplin

b. 1943

American singer-songwriter

James Watt

b. 1736

Scottish chemist and engineer

Jenson Button

b. 1980

English racing driver

Danese Cooper

b. 1959

American computer scientist and programmer

Nancy Lynch

b. 1948

American computer scientist and academic

Auguste Comte

b. 1798

French economist, sociologist, and philosopher

Dragotin Kette

b. 1876

Slovenian poet and author

Deaths

  • 2007Hrant Dink, Turkish-Armenian journalist and activist
  • 2000Hedy Lamarr, Austrian-American actress, singer, and mathematician
  • 1983Ham (chimpanzee), chimpanzee and animal astronaut, first hominid in space
  • 1948Tony Garnier (architect), French architect and urban planner, designed the Stade de Gerland
  • 1865Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, French philosopher and politician
  • 1576Hans Sachs, German poet and playwright

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Bassianus of Lodi
  • —Christian feast day: Faustina and Liberata of Como
  • —Christian feast day: Henry of Uppsala
  • —Christian feast day: Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum
  • —Christian feast day: Mark of Ephesus (Eastern Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Pontianus of Spoleto
  • —Christian feast day: Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester
  • —Christian feast day: January 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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