Year 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.
SEPTEMBER 19
Daily Historical Chronicle
UPSC CSE • State PSC • SSC CGL Matrix
19 September: What Happened On This Day in History
Curated historical timeline of momentous political pacts, freedom struggle uprisings, constitutional developments, scientific breakthroughs, and prominent birthdays recorded on 19 September.
Observances & Special Days
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Year 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.
Year 1893
Women gained the right to vote in New Zealand.
Year 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.
Year 1945
Lord Haw-Haw was sentenced to hang for treason.
Year 1950
U. N. Assembly rejects Indian-Soviet proposal to admit Communist China in New York.
Year 1957
The US conducted the first underground atomic bomb test.
Year 1959
Russian President Nikita Khrushchev was barred from visiting Disneyland in the United States for security reasons.
Year 1960
Sindhu River water-sharing settement was signed between India and Pakistan.
Year 1965
Government extends ultimatum to India to dismantle forts within four days in China.
Year 1983
St. Kitts and Nevis gain independence.
Year 1990
Rajeev Goswami, a student of Delhi University, attempts to self immolate himself in protest against the implementation of Mandal Commission Report.
Year 1991
Lok Sabha passes unanimously the Places of Worship Special Provisions Bill for maintaining the status quo of religious places as on 1947.
Year 1997
A Delhi court rules that interviewing of the child and parents by school authorities, for admission to primary classes, is illegal and improper.
Year 2000
India remains committed to a unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests, but we will not allow this stand to stand in the way of our protecting India's supreme natural interest,'' said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on his return from the US.
Year 2000
Karnam Malleshwari became the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal in the 69 kg weightlifting category at the Sydney Olympics.
Year 2007
Yuvraj Singh became the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a T20 cricket match.
Born 1551
Henry III, King of France and Poland.
Born 1911
Boyi Bhimanna, great Hindi writer, poet and prolific author, was born at Mamidikuduru in AP.
Born 1911
William Golding, British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate. best known for The Lord of the files.
Born 1912
Reuben David, Indian veterinarian and zoo founder (d. 1989)
Born 1922
Salil Chawdhary, Bengali-Indian composer, poet, and playwright.
Born 1927
Kunwar Narayan, famous writer of 'Atmajayee' and 'Akaron Ke Aas Pas', was born.
Born 1933
Sunit Francis Rodrigues, former Chief Army General, was born.
Born 1941
Cass Elliot, an American singer, and actress who is best known for having been a member of the Mamas and the Papas.
Born 1965
Sunita Williams, American astronaut, and a United States Navy officer.
Born 1974
Jimmy Fallon, American talk show host, and comedian.
Born 1977
Akash Chopra, Indian cricketer, commentator, and sportscaster.
Died 1581
Guru Ramdasji died. His son Arjun Dev succeeded him and changed the offerings to the Guru into a regular tax.
Died 1704
Guru Govind Singh died.
Died 1710
Ole Romer, Danish astronomer.
Died 1726
Khandoballal died.
Died 1881
James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. He was shot on July 2 has been in office for just four months.
Died 1925
Sir Francis Darwin, English botanist.
Died 1936
Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, Indian singer and musicologist (b. 1860). He was also a lawyer, professor and social reformer.
Died 1944
Guy Gibson, Indian-English commander, Victoria Cross recipient (b. 1918)
Died 1963
Sir David Lowe, a world-famous cartoonist.
Died 1968
Chester Carlson, American inventor of the Xerox photocopying system.
Died 1987
Ener Gerhardesen, Norway’s first prime minister.
Died 1993
Dinsha K. Mehta, Gandhi’s health advisor, and colleague.
Died 1997
Ambar Roy, Indian test batsman (1969-70), died in Calcutta.
Died 2004
Damayanti Joshi, Indian dancer and choreographer (b. 1928)