🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on October 19:

1987 ─ Black Monday strikes as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges nearly 23 percent, marking one of the largest single-day drops in stock market history.

1914 ─ First Battle of Ypres begins in western Flanders during World War I, as Allied and German forces engage in a bloody and prolonged conflict.

1864 ─ Confederate soldiers raid St. Albans, Vermont, robbing three banks in a cross-border attack from Canada to agitate the Union during the American Civil War.

1812 ─ Napoleon begins his disastrous retreat from Russia, suffering immense losses to his once-mighty Grand Army due to harsh winter and persistent Russian attacks.

1781 ─ Lord Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, effectively ending major combat in the American Revolutionary War and paving the way for American independence.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On October 19, we’re singing to:

Aleksey Fyodorovich Orlov (1786) ─ Russian prince and military leader who played a significant role in the Russian Empire's expansion and political landscape during the 19th century.

John Lithgow (1945) ─ Versatile American actor known for his work in film, television, and stage, celebrated for his memorable roles in both drama and comedy.

Trey Parker (1969) ─ American screenwriter, actor, and producer, best known as the co-creator of the groundbreaking animated television series South Park. 

 🪦Who Died Today?

On October 19, we’re saying goodbye to:

Jonathan Swift (1745) ─ Anglo-Irish author and clergyman renowned for his satirical works, including the classic Gulliver’s Travels, which critiqued society and politics with sharp wit.

Ernest Rutherford (1937) ─ British physicist who is often considered the father of nuclear physics, credited with pioneering discoveries about the structure of the atom.

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