MAY 19 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1536 – Anne Boleyn the 2nd wife of Henry VIII of England was beheaded on the 19th May 1536, for adulterytreason and incest.

1861 – Nellie Melba the Australian soprano was born on the 19th May 1861 (died 1931).

1897 – Oscar Wilde was released from Reading Gaol Prison on the 19th May 1897.

1925 – Pol Pot the Cambodian politician and 29th Prime Minister of Cambodia was born on the 19th May 1925 (died 1998).

1925 – Malcolm X the American minister and activist was born on the 19th May 1925 (died 1965).

1938Herbie Flowers the English musician specialising in bass guitar, double-bass and tuba was born Brian Keith Flowers on the 19th May 1938. He is a noted member of Blue MinkT. Rex and Sky, and known as one of Britain’s best-known session bass-players, with contributions to recordings by Elton JohnDavid BowieLou ReedDavid EssexHarry NilssonCat StevensGeorge Harrison and others.

1945 – Pete Townshend the English singer-songwriter and guitarist  from The Who was born on the 19th May 1945.

1947David Helfgott the Australian concert pianist was born in Melbourne on the 19th May 1947. David Helfgott’s life was the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film Shine, which he was played by Geoffrey RushDavid Helfgott’s offical website: www.DavidHelfgott.com

1949 – Dusty Hill the American singer-songwriter and bass player from ZZ Top was born on the 19th May 1949.

1951 – Joey Ramone the American singer-songwriter from Ramones was born on the 19th May 1951.

1953Roddy Lorimer the Scottish musician from The Waterboys was born on the 19th May 1953. Roddy Lorimer has also performed with Blur, Gene, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Eric Clapton, Suede, Beyonce, Jamiriquai, Dr John and Kick Horns. YouTube video: The Whole of The Moon (1985) by The Waterboys with Roddy Lorimer…

1954 – Phil Rudd the Australian drummer from AC/DC and Buster Brown was born on the 19th May 1954.

1957James Reyne the Australian rock musician, singer and songwriter from Australian Crawl was born on the 19th May 1957 in Lagos, Nigeria.

1960 – Yazz the English singer was born on the 19th May 1960.

1962 – A birthday salute to U.S. President John F. Kennedy took place at Madison Square Garden, New York City on the 19th May 1962. The highlight was Marilyn Monroe‘s rendition of Happy Birthday.

1971 – Mars 2 was launched by the Soviet Union on the 19th May 1971.

1972 – Jenny Berggren the Swedish singer-songwriter from Ace of Base was born on the 19th May 1972.

1972 – Claudia Karvan the Australian actress, producer, and screenwriter was born on the 19th May 1972.

1986 – The Firearm Owners Protection Act was signed into law by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on the 19th May 1986.

1988 – Lily Cole the English actress and model was born on the 19th May 1988.

Today in History for May 19th ~ video presented by the Associated Press

MAY 18 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

Today in History for May 18th ~ video presented by the Associated Press

1048 – Omar Khayyám the Persian mathematician, poet, and philosopher was born on the 18th day of May in 1048 (d. 1131)

1756 – The Seven Years’ War begun when Great Britain declared war on France on the 18th day of May in 1756.

1808 – Elijah Craig the American minister, inventor, and educator, invented Bourbon whiskey died was born on the 18th day of May in 1808.

1883 – Walter Gropius the German architect who founded the Bauhaus school was born on the 18th day of May in 1883 (d. 1969).

1910 – The Earth passed through the tail of Comet Halley on the 18th day of May in 1910.

1912 – Perry Como the American singer and actor was born on the 18th day of May in 1912 (d. 2001).

1920 – Pope John Paul II was born on the 18th day of May in 1920 (d. 2005).

1931 – Don Martin the American cartoonist was born on the 18th day of May in 1931 (d. 2000).

1941 – Lobby Loyde the Australian guitarist, songwriter, and producer was born on the 18th day of May in 1941 (d. 2007).

1944 – Albert Hammond the English singer-songwriter, musician, and producer was born on the 18th day of May in 1944.

1949 – Rick Wakeman the English musician, songwriter, and composer was born on the 18th day of May in 1949.

1950 – Mark Mothersbaugh the American singer, musician, and composer from Devo was born on the 18th day of May in 1950.

1953 – Jackie Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier on the 18th day of May in 1953.

1977International Museum Day began on the 18th day of May in 1977.

1980 – Ian Curtis the English singer-songwriter from Joy Division ended his life was born on the 18th day of May in 1980 (b. 1956).

1969 – Martika the Cuban-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress was born on the 18th day of May in 1969.

1975 – Jack Johnson the American singer-songwriter and musician was born on the 18th day of May in 1975.

1980 – Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage on the 18th day of May in 1980.

1995 – Elizabeth Montgomery the American actress died on the 18th day of May in 1995 (b. 1933).

1993 – Jessica Watson the Australian sailor was born on the 18th day of May in 1993.

1998World AIDS Vaccine Day began on the 18th day of May in 1998.

2005 – A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirmed that Pluto had 2 additional moons named Nix and Hydra on the 18th day of May in 2005.