This Day In History, May 19th.

Five Historical Events That Happened on May 19th.

  • On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife, was killed in the Tower of London on allegations of adultery, incest, and treason.

  • During the English Civil War, a parliamentarian force headed by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell defeated a royalist army in the Battle of Wakefield.

  • A strange darkness arrived on New England and parts of Canada in 1780, causing alarm and uncertainty. The cause of the occurrence, dubbed "New England's Dark Day," remains unknown.

  • Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived at Samsun, Turkey, kicking off the Turkish War of Independence and eventually establishing the Republic of Turkey.

  • Marilyn Monroe sang a sensuous performance of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" for President John F. Kennedy at a Madison Square Garden charity event in 1962.

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was beheaded at the Tower of London on May 19, 1536, on charges of adultery, incest, and treason.

Anne Boleyn was accused of adultery with multiple men, including her own brother, and of plotting to assassinate the king. A court of peers tried and found her guilty, and she was condemned to death by beheading. On May 19, 1536, she was executed at the Tower of London. Henry VIII married his third wife, Jane Seymour, after her execution.

A parliamentary army led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell defeated a royalist army at the Battle of Wakefield during the English Civil War.

During the English Civil War, a parliamentarian force headed by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell defeated a royalist army in the Battle of Wakefield. This fight was a major success for the parliamentary troops, and it contributed to their control in the north of England. The conflict took place near the Yorkshire town of Wakefield, and it culminated in the death of the royalist leader, the Earl of Newcastle.

A mysterious darkness descended on New England and parts of Canada, causing panic and confusion. The cause of the event, known as "New England's Dark Day," is still unknown.

A peculiar and unexplained darkness swept over sections of New England and eastern Canada on May 19, 1780, turning day into night. This became known as "New England's Dark Day" and created considerable terror and confusion among the inhabitants. Some thought it was an omen of the end of the world, while others thought it was caused by a big fire or volcanic explosion. The exact origin of the event is uncertain, however it is thought to have been caused by a mix of variables such as wildfires, high smoke, and meteorological conditions.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed in Samsun, Turkey, marking the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence and the eventual establishment of the Republic of Turkey.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a military commander and politician who would eventually become the founder and first president of modern Turkey, arrived at Anatolia's Black Sea port of Samsun on May 19, 1919. His presence signaled the start of the Turkish War of Independence, which intended to prevent the victorious Allied Powers from splitting the Ottoman Empire following World War I. Atatürk's leadership and military battles were instrumental in the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, which succeeded the Ottoman Empire as the country's sovereign authority.

Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" for President John F. Kennedy at a fundraising event at Madison Square Garden.

Marilyn Monroe sang a legendary and sensuous performance of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" for President John F. Kennedy at a fundraising event held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 19, 1962. The performance has become an iconic moment in American pop culture, and it is frequently referenced as evidence of Monroe's continuing sex appeal and star power. The event was particularly noteworthy politically since it occurred at the height of the Cold War and coincided with Kennedy's efforts to boost American morale and world prestige.

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This Day In History, May 20th.

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This Day In History, May 18th.