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30 fun facts for October, 19

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
October 19th is filled with a variety of historical and cultural events, ranging from the end of the American Revolutionary War to the first live music event broadcast on the internet. Notable birthdays include Austrian Empress Elisabeth "Sisi," and important national observances such as Taiwan's Poetry Day also occur on this date.
30 Fun facts
  1. On October 19, 1781, the British army under Lord Cornwallis surrendered to the American Revolutionary forces led by General George Washington after the Siege of Yorktown, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War.
  2. In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte's armies were retreating from Russia in a disastrous campaign, and by October 19, they began crossing the Berezina River, losing thousands of soldiers.
  3. Austrian Empress Elisabeth "Sisi" was born on October 19, 1837, and later became an influential figure in Austrian society and a symbol of the fading glory of the Habsburg monarchy.
  4. The first commercial movie theater, the Edisonia Vitascope Hall, opened in Buffalo, New York, on October 19, 1896, showcasing Thomas Edison's Vitascope projector.
  5. In 1901, the first recorded car accident occurred on October 19 in New York City, between an automobile driven by Henry Bliss and a horse-drawn vehicle driven by David Pullman.
  6. Abel Gance's silent film "J'accuse" premiered in Paris on October 19, 1919, known for its strong anti-war sentiment following the end of World War I.
  7. On October 19, 1933, the Berlin Reichstag passed the "Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring," which essentially legalized eugenics and involuntary sterilization in Nazi Germany.
  8. In 1935, Mao Zedong and 25,000 communist troops ended their 6,000-mile Long March on October 19, arriving in Yan'an, China after a year of travel.
  9. On October 19, 1950, UN troops entered Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, during the Korean War, eventually forcing the North Koreans to retreat.
  10. The cornerstone for the U.S. Marine Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, was laid on October 19, 1954, to honor those who have fought or continue to fight on behalf of the United States.
  11. On October 19, 1957, Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Montreal Canadiens hockey player, became the first player in NHL history to score 500 career goals.
  12. In 1960, the United States imposed a near-total trade embargo on Cuba on October 19 as a response to Cuba's increasing ties with the Soviet Union.
  13. On October 19, 1973, the world premiere of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich's "Prelude" was performed; it was the first composition by former Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
  14. U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill into law on October 19, 1976, restoring the citizenship rights of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, 111 years after he was stripped of them for his role in the Civil War.
  15. The first public observance of Diwali as a major event in London's Trafalgar Square occurred on October 19, 1981, celebrating the Hindu Festival of Lights.
  16. The Toronto Blue Jays became the first Major League Baseball team to win back-to-back World Series titles on October 19, 1993.
  17. The first live music event, a Rolling Stones concert, was broadcast on the internet on October 19, 1994.
  18. On October 19, 1998, the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil celebrated its 50th anniversary.
  19. In 2001, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was officially created on October 19, with U.S. President George W. Bush signing the USA PATRIOT Act into law in response to the September 11 attacks.
  20. Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003, in front of over 300,000 believers in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City.
  21. On October 19, 2004, Burma freed over 6,000 prisoners, including dissident journalist San San Nweh, who was jailed in 1994 for reporting on government corruption.
  22. The Comedy Central television series "South Park" first aired its controversial episode "Trapped in the Closet" criticizing Scientology on October 19, 2005.
  23. On October 19, 2007, the movie "Gone Baby Gone," directed by Ben Affleck, debuted, gaining critical praise and marking his transition from an actor to a filmmaker.
  24. The last mission of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was initiated on October 19, 2009, intentionally crashing into the moon as part of NASA’s mission to search for water.
  25. On October 19, 2010, the European Space Agency successfully launched the first two operational navigation satellites of the Galileo navigation system.
  26. Taiwan held its first-ever Poetry Day on October 19, 2011, enabling students, poets, and literature lovers to celebrate their love of poetry.
  27. On October 19, 2012, the movie "Cloud Atlas" premiered, starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, based on the novel by David Mitchell.
  28. The World Health Organization declared Nigeria an Ebola-free country on October 19, 2014, following 42 days without any new cases of the disease.
  29. In 2015, Canada elected its 23rd Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on October 19, and he formed a majority government.
  30. On October 19, 2017, “Bitcoin” officially became a word in the Oxford English Dictionary.

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