Historical Events on June 19
- 1862: The United States Congress prohibits slavery in U.S. territories.
- 1865: Two after after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in the town of Galveston in Texas are finally told that they are free. The anniversary of this date is still celebrated in Texas and other states as Juneteenth.
- 1867: In Queretaro in Mexico, Maximilian I is executed by a firing squad.
- 1910: In Spokane, Washington, the first Father’s Day is celebrated on this date.
- 1934: The U.S Federal Communications Commission – the FCC – is created when the Communications Act of 1934 is passed.
- 1943: Due to player shortages caused by World War 2, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles are merged into one team for one season.
- 1944: The Battle of the Philippine Sea begins on this day during World War II.
- 1949: The first official NASCAR race is held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.
- 1953: At Sing Sing in New York, Julius Rosenberg and Ethel Rosenberg are executed.
- 1964: After an 83-day filibuster in the U.S. Senate, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is finally approved.
- 1978: The comic-strip Garfield debuts on this date.
- 1990: In Moscow, the Communist Party of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic is founded.
- 1991: The Soviet Union ends its occupation of Hungary.
- 2009: After a local chef in Shishou, China dies mysteriously, over ten thousand people and ten thousand police officers collide during mass riots.
Famous Birthdays
- English chemist and Nobel Prize laureate, Cyril Norman Hinshelwood is born in 1897.
- American comedian and actor, Moe Howard is born in 1897.
- American actress Mildred Natwick is born in 1905.
- American chemist, engineer and Nobel Prize laureate is born in 1910.
- Danish physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, Aage Bohr is born in 1922.
- Italian actress Marisa Pavan is born in 1932.
- Burmese politician and Nobel Prize laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi is born in 1945.
- American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress, Paula Abdul is born in 1962.
- French comedian and actor, Jean Dujardin is born in 1972.