Historical Events -  September 19

1513– A Spanish conquistador, Vasco de Balboa, today reached the west coast of America and became the first European to cast his eyes on the western ocean.

1888– The World’s first beauty contest took place in Belgium, and the contest was won by 18-years old Bertha Soucaret from Guadeloupe, who collected the 5,000-franc prize.

1893– Women gained the right to vote in New Zealand.

1928– Hollywood artist Walt Disney today released the first sound cartoon film, Steamboat Willie. The film features Mickey mouse and Disney himself provides his squeaky voice on the soundtrack.

1945,– Lord Haw-Haw was sentenced to hang for treason.

1957– The US conducted the first underground atomic bomb test.

1959– Russian President Nikita Khrushchev was barred from visiting Disneyland in the United States for security reasons.

1983– St. Kitts and Nevis gain independence.

2000– Karnam Malleshwari became the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal in the 69 kg weightlifting category at the Sydney Olympics.

2007– Yuvraj Singh became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a T20 cricket match. 

 

Famous Birthdays – September 19

1551 – Henry III, King of France and Poland.

1911 – William Golding, British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate. best known for The Lord of the files.

1912 – Ruben David, Indian veterinarian and founder of the zoo.

1922 – Salil Chawdhary, Bengali-Indian composer, poet, and playwright.

1941 – Cass Elliot, an American singer, and actress who is best known for having been a member of the Mamas and the Papas.

1965 – Sunita Williams, American astronaut, and a United States Navy officer.

1974 – Jimmy Fallon, American talk show host, and comedian.

1977 – Akash Chopra, Indian cricketer, commentator, and sportscaster.

 

Death Anniversaries – September 19

1710 – Ole Romer, Danish astronomer.

1881 – James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. He was shot on July 2 has been in office for just four months.

1925 –Sir Francis Darwin, English botanist.

1963 – Sir David Lowe, a world-famous cartoonist.

1968 – Chester Carlson, American inventor of the Xerox photocopying system.

1987 –Ener Gerhardesen, Norway’s first prime minister.

1993 – Dinsha K. Mehta, Gandhi’s health advisor, and colleague.