1919

Events in 1919 65

• 1832 – 1919 William Crookes (1832-1919) Died 4 April 1919, aged 86 Crookes was a British chemist and physicist who discovered the element thallium and developed the Crookes tube used in early cathode ray research. His work laid groundwork later used in the discovery of the electron and X-rays.
• 1835 – 1919 Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) Died 11 August 1919, aged 83 Carnegie built the Carnegie Steel Company into the dominant force in the American steel industry before selling it in 1901 to devote himself to philanthropy. He gave away most of his fortune, funding thousands of public libraries and institutions worldwide.
• 1841 – 1919 Wilfrid Laurier (1841-1919) Died 17 February 1919, aged 77 Laurier served as prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911, the country's first French-Canadian to hold the office. He championed national unity between English and French Canada and remained leader of the Liberal Party until his death.
• 1841 – 1919 Pierre-Auguste Renoir Impressionism · France Pierre-Auguste Renoir (February 25, 1841 – December 3, 1919) was a French Impressionist painter whose warm, sensuous depictions of leisure and pleasure are among the most joyful in art history.
• 1842 – 1919 Lord Rayleigh (1842-1919) Died 30 June 1919, aged 76 John William Strutt, third Baron Rayleigh, was a British physicist who co-discovered the element argon and won the 1904 Nobel Prize in Physics. His research also explained why the sky is blue, through what is now known as Rayleigh scattering.
• 1849 – 1919 William Osler (1849-1919) Died 29 December 1919, aged 70 Osler was a Canadian physician regarded as one of the founders of modern medical education, emphasizing bedside clinical training for students. He helped establish Johns Hopkins Hospital's medical school before becoming Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford.
• 1856 – 1919 L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) Died 6 May 1919, aged 62 Baum was an American author best known for writing "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its many sequels. His work became one of the most enduring and widely adapted children's fantasy series in American literature.
• 1858 – 1919 Theodore Roosevelt 26th President — Trust Buster, conservationist Theodore Roosevelt (Oct 27, 1858 – Jan 6, 1919) was the 26th President 1901-1909, youngest ever at age 42. He busted monopolies, built the Panama Canal, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and created the national parks system.
• 1867 – 1919 Kurt Eisner (1867-1919) Died 21 February 1919, aged 51 Eisner led the revolution that toppled the Bavarian monarchy in 1918 and became the first minister-president of the People's State of Bavaria. He was assassinated by a nationalist gunman in Munich while on his way to resign from office.
• 1871 – 1919 Karl Liebknecht (1871-1919) Died 15 January 1919, aged 47 Liebknecht co-founded the Spartacist League and the German Communist Party with Rosa Luxemburg and helped lead the failed January uprising in Berlin. He was captured alongside Luxemburg and killed by Freikorps troops on the same day.
• 1871 – 1919 Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) Died 15 January 1919, aged 47 Luxemburg was a Marxist theorist and co-founder of the Spartacist League who helped lead the January 1919 uprising in Berlin. She was captured and murdered by Freikorps soldiers after the revolt was suppressed.
• 1879 – 1919 Emiliano Zapata (1879-1919) Died 10 April 1919, aged 39 Zapata led peasant revolutionary forces in southern Mexico during the Mexican Revolution, fighting under the banner of land reform and the slogan "Tierra y Libertad." He was ambushed and killed by government soldiers at Chinameca and became a lasting symbol of agrarian revolt.
• 1919 – 1922 Ataturk and the War of Independence Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) organises Turkish nationalist resistance to the Allied partition of Anatolia following WWI, defeating Greek, Armenian and French forces in the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922). The victory is celebrated as the salvation of the Turkish homeland. The sultanate is abolished (1 November 1922); the caliphate follows (3 March 1924). The Republic of Turkey is proclaimed on 29 October 1923 with Ankara as its capital. Ataturk's radical westernisation programme -- alphabet reform, secularism, women's suffrage -- transforms Turkey into a modern nation-state.
• 1919 – 1962 Ernie Kovacs (1919-1962) Died 13 January 1962, aged 42 American comedian and television pioneer Ernie Kovacs died in a car accident in Los Angeles on January 13, 1962. He was known for his surreal, experimental approach to early television comedy that influenced later generations of TV producers. His widow, actress Edie Adams, spent years working to preserve his television legacy.
• 1919 – 1952 Eva Peron (1919-1952) Died 26 July 1952, aged 33 Eva Peron, the influential First Lady of Argentina and wife of President Juan Peron, died of cervical cancer on 26 July 1952. Known as "Evita," she championed workers' rights and women's suffrage and was revered by much of the Argentine working class. Her body was embalmed and became the subject of a decades-long saga before permanent burial.
• 1919 – 1972 Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) Died 24 October 1972, aged 53 Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947 when he debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first Black player in the modern major leagues. He went on to a Hall of Fame career and later became a prominent civil rights advocate. He died of complications from diabetes and heart disease.
• 1919 League of Nations founded League of Nations founded The League of Nations was created by the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919, the first general international organisation built around collective security. The United States Senate refused to ratify the treaty, leaving the League without its main sponsor. It failed to halt aggression in the 1930s and was formally replaced by the United Nations in 1946.
• 1919 – 1965 Nat King Cole (1919-1965) Died 15 February 1965, aged 45 Nat King Cole was an American singer and pianist whose smooth vocal style made him one of the most popular recording artists of the mid-20th century. He was among the first Black performers to host a US network television series. He died of lung cancer in Santa Monica, California, on 15 February 1965.
• 1919 – present The White Rose of Finland National Honors System The highest order of chivalry in Finland, established by Mannerheim.
• 1919 – 2010 J.D. Salinger (1919-2010) Died 27 January 2010, aged 91 Salinger was an American author best known for his novel The Catcher in the Rye, a defining work of postwar American literature. He lived as a recluse in New Hampshire for decades after achieving fame, publishing almost nothing after the mid-1960s. He died at his home of natural causes.
• 1919 German Workers' Party founded in Munich Small nationalist group later becomes the Nazi Party Anton Drexler founded the German Workers' Party in Munich as a small nationalist, anti-communist political group. Adolf Hitler joined later that year, and the party was renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party in 1920.
• 1919 Spartacist uprising in Berlin Communist revolt crushed by the German government The Spartacist League, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, attempted to seize power in Berlin through strikes and armed insurrection. The government crushed the revolt using regular troops and Freikorps paramilitaries, and both leaders were captured and killed.
• 1919 – 2011 Andy Rooney (1919-2011) Died 4 November 2011, aged 92 The American writer delivered wry commentary in his "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney" segment on CBS's "60 Minutes" for more than three decades. He retired from the broadcast just weeks before his death. He died in New York City from complications following surgery.
• 1919 Boston Molasses Flood Burst storage tank kills 21 in Boston's North End A massive steel tank holding over two million gallons of molasses ruptured in Boston's North End, sending a wave of molasses through the streets at destructive speed. Twenty-one people were killed and dozens injured, and the disaster led to stricter engineering regulations.
• 1919 Eighteenth Amendment ratified United States constitutionally bans alcohol The required three-quarters of states ratified the Eighteenth Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transport of intoxicating liquors nationwide. It took effect in January 1920 and ushered in the Prohibition era.
• 1919 – 1920 The Paris Peace Conference Paris, France Thirty-two states attended; Germany and Russia were not invited. Clemenceau wanted security, Lloyd George a workable Europe, Wilson his principles. The maps drawn here are still being contested.
• 1919 First Dail Eireann convenes in Dublin Irish republicans declare an independent parliament Members elected on a Sinn Fein platform met at the Mansion House in Dublin to form Dail Eireann, an independent parliament asserting Irish sovereignty separate from Westminster. It adopted a Declaration of Independence and issued an appeal to the international community.
• 1919 Irish War of Independence begins IRA ambush at Soloheadbeg kills two policemen Irish Volunteers ambushed and killed two Royal Irish Constabulary officers at Soloheadbeg, County Tipperary, in an action later regarded as the opening shot of the Irish War of Independence. The guerrilla conflict between republican forces and British authorities continued until a truce in 1921.
• 1919 Seattle General Strike First general strike in U.S. history Roughly 65,000 workers walked out in Seattle in support of striking shipyard workers, shutting down most of the city for five days. It was the first general strike in American history and fueled fears of Bolshevik-style revolution during the First Red Scare.
• 1919 – 2006 Jack Palance (1919-2006) Died 10 November 2006, aged 87 Jack Palance, the American actor known for menacing villain roles and his Oscar-winning turn in "City Slickers," died of natural causes at his home in Pennsylvania. His decades-long career spanned westerns, dramas and comedies. He was known for performing one-armed push-ups on stage after winning his Academy Award.
• 1919 Grand Canyon National Park established U.S. Congress protects the Arizona landmark Congress designated the Grand Canyon as a U.S. national park, granting federal protection to the gorge carved by the Colorado River. It became one of the most visited natural landmarks in the United States.
• 1919 Communist International founded in Moscow Lenin establishes a global organization for revolution Delegates meeting in Moscow founded the Communist International, or Comintern, to coordinate and promote communist revolution worldwide under Bolshevik leadership. It became the principal vehicle for Soviet influence over foreign communist parties until its dissolution in 1943.
• 1919 – 2009 Jennifer Jones (1919-2009) American actress, Oscar winner for The Song of Bernadette, and wife of David O. Selznick.
• 1919 Egyptian Revolution of 1919 Mass uprising against British rule Widespread protests, strikes, and demonstrations erupted across Egypt after British authorities exiled nationalist leader Saad Zaghlul, who had demanded Egyptian independence at the Paris Peace Conference. The unrest forced Britain to eventually negotiate and unilaterally declare Egyptian independence in 1922.
• 1919 Hungarian Soviet Republic established Bela Kun's communist government seizes power in Budapest Communist leader Bela Kun proclaimed a Soviet republic in Hungary after the collapse of the short-lived Hungarian Democratic Republic. The regime collapsed within months under military pressure from Romania, ending in August 1919.
• 1919 Benito Mussolini founds the Fasci di Combattimento Origins of the Italian Fascist movement Mussolini and a group of nationalist veterans formed the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento in Milan, combining anti-socialist politics with paramilitary organization. The movement grew rapidly amid postwar economic turmoil and evolved into the National Fascist Party within three years.
• 1919 Red Summer race riots Wave of racial violence sweeps the United States A series of white supremacist attacks on Black communities erupted in dozens of American cities and towns, killing hundreds of people amid postwar racial and economic tensions. The violence, later termed the "Red Summer," was among the worst periods of racial conflict in U.S. history.
• 1919 Bauhaus school founded in Weimar Walter Gropius launches an influential design school Architect Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus in Weimar, Germany, merging fine art, craft, and industrial design education. The school's principles went on to shape modern architecture and design worldwide.
• 1919 Amritsar Massacre British troops fire on unarmed civilians in Punjab British Indian Army troops under General Reginald Dyer fired on an unarmed crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, killing hundreds of men, women, and children. The massacre galvanized the Indian independence movement and severely damaged British claims to moral authority in India.
• 1919 – 2004 Howard Keel (1919-2004) American actor and baritone, star of MGM musicals and later of Dallas.
• 1919 – 2014 Pete Seeger (1919-2014) Died 27 January 2014, aged 94 Pete Seeger, the folk singer and activist behind songs including "If I Had a Hammer" and "We Shall Overcome," died in New York. He used his music for decades in support of civil rights, labor and environmental causes. He was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for his political views.
• 1919 May Fourth Movement erupts in China Student protests reject the Treaty of Versailles Thousands of students demonstrated in Beijing after the Paris Peace Conference awarded former German concessions in Shandong to Japan instead of returning them to China. The protests sparked a broader cultural and political movement that shaped modern Chinese nationalism.
• 1919 Third Anglo-Afghan War Afghanistan wins control of its foreign affairs Emir Amanullah Khan's forces fought British India in a brief border war after Afghanistan declared full independence from British influence. The resulting treaty recognized Afghanistan's right to conduct its own foreign policy for the first time.
• 1919 – 1987 Liberace (1919-1987) Died 4 February 1987, aged 67 Liberace was an American pianist and entertainer famed for his flamboyant stage shows who became one of the highest-paid performers in the world during the 1950s and 1970s. He died of complications from AIDS at his home in Palm Springs, California. His death brought renewed public attention to the AIDS epidemic.
• 1919 Nineteenth Amendment passed by Congress Women's suffrage amendment sent to the states The U.S. Senate joined the House in approving a constitutional amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote, sending it to the states for ratification. It was ratified in August 1920, enfranchising millions of American women.
• 1919 First nonstop transatlantic flight Alcock and Brown fly from Newfoundland to Ireland British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown flew a modified Vickers Vimy bomber nonstop from St. John's, Newfoundland, to a bog near Clifden, Ireland. The sixteen-hour flight won the Daily Mail prize and marked a milestone in aviation history.
• 1919 – 2001 Pauline Kael (1919-2001) Died 3 September 2001, aged 82 Kael was the film critic of The New Yorker for more than two decades, whose vivid, combative reviews made her among the most influential American critics of the century. She championed directors such as Altman and Scorsese and dismissed many acknowledged classics. Her collections included the pointedly titled I Lost It at the Movies.
• 1919 German fleet scuttled at Scapa Flow Interned warships sunk to avoid Allied seizure Admiral Ludwig von Reuter ordered the German High Seas Fleet interned at Scapa Flow to be scuttled, sinking most of its 74 ships rather than surrendering them to the Allies. The action denied the fleet's use in postwar treaty negotiations and remains one of the largest single losses of shipping in history.
• 1919 The Treaty of Versailles Versailles, France Signed five years to the day after Sarajevo, in the hall where the German Empire had been proclaimed in 1871. Germany lost 13 per cent of its territory, accepted sole guilt for the war and an unpayable reparations bill. Ferdinand Foch called it a twenty-year truce.
• 1919 – 1983 Slim Pickens (1919-1983) Died 8 December 1983, aged 64 Slim Pickens was an American character actor and former rodeo performer known for roles in films such as Dr. Strangelove and Blazing Saddles. His deep drawl and comic timing made him a familiar presence in westerns and comedies. He worked steadily in film and television from the 1950s through the early 1980s.
• 1919 Wimbledon 1919 — return from war Men: Gerald Patterson · Women: Suzanne Lenglen First Wimbledon after World War I. French legend Suzanne Lenglen made her debut, winning the first of six titles in a dominant run.
• 1919 – 1996 Jon Pertwee (1919-1996) Died 20 May 1996, aged 76 Jon Pertwee was an English actor best known for playing the third incarnation of the Doctor in the BBC science fiction series "Doctor Who" from 1970 to 1974. He also had a long career in British radio comedy and children's television. He died of a heart attack while on holiday in the United States.
• 1919 – 2008 Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008) Died 11 January 2008, aged 88 New Zealand mountaineer and explorer who, with Tenzing Norgay, made the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. He spent much of his later life supporting humanitarian projects in Nepal.
• 1919 – 1987 Primo Levi (1919-1987) Died 11 April 1987, aged 67 Levi was an Italian chemist and writer best known for If This Is a Man, his memoir of surviving imprisonment at Auschwitz. His writing became central to Holocaust literature worldwide. He died at his home in Turin in a fall ruled by authorities to be suicide.
• 1919 Weimar Constitution adopted Germany's new republic gets a democratic charter The National Assembly meeting in Weimar adopted a constitution establishing Germany as a federal parliamentary republic with Friedrich Ebert as president. The document combined proportional representation with sweeping presidential emergency powers that would later be exploited by opponents of democracy.
• 1919 – 1989 Malcolm Forbes (1919-1989) Died 24 February 1989, aged 69 Malcolm Forbes was the publisher of Forbes magazine, which he built into a leading business publication. He was known for his flamboyant lifestyle, including hot-air ballooning and motorcycle expeditions. His son Steve Forbes succeeded him as publisher.
• 1919 – 1990 Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) Died 24 February 1990, aged 70 Malcolm Forbes was an American publisher who built Forbes magazine into a leading business publication and became known for his flamboyant lifestyle. He was also an avid hot-air balloonist and motorcyclist. He died at his home in New Jersey on 24 February 1990.
• 1919 Boston Police Strike Police walkout leads to disorder and mass firings Boston police officers struck over pay and the right to unionize, leading to looting and disorder before the Massachusetts State Guard restored order. Governor Calvin Coolidge's firm response and refusal to reinstate the strikers boosted his national political profile.
• 1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye signed Austria formally dissolves the Austro-Hungarian Empire The treaty between the Allied powers and the new Republic of Austria confirmed the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and recognized the independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland, and other successor states. It also banned the political union of Austria and Germany.
• 1919 – 1960 Fausto Coppi Il Campionissimo The dominant force post-WWII; revolutionized training and diet. Winner: 2x Tour de France, 5x Giro d'Italia.
• 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal Players conspire to fix the World Series Eight Chicago White Sox players were later found to have conspired with gamblers to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. The scandal, exposed the following year, led to lifetime bans for the players involved and lasting reforms in professional baseball.
• 1919 – 1990 Art Blakey (1919-1990) Died 16 October 1990, aged 71 Art Blakey was an American jazz drummer and bandleader who led the Jazz Messengers for over three decades. His group served as a training ground for generations of jazz musicians. He died in New York City on 16 October 1990.
• 1919 – 2000 Pierre Trudeau (1919-2000) Died 28 September 2000, aged 80 Pierre Elliott Trudeau was prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1984, a charismatic figure who inspired "Trudeaumania". He patriated the constitution with its Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, championed official bilingualism, and invoked emergency powers in the 1970 October Crisis. His death brought national mourning.
• 1919 – 2013 Doris Lessing (1919-2013) Died 17 November 2013, aged 94 Doris Lessing was a British novelist awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007 for works including The Golden Notebook. She died at her home in London.
• 1919 Volstead Act passed over presidential veto Congress sets rules for enforcing Prohibition Congress overrode President Wilson's veto to pass the National Prohibition Act, known as the Volstead Act, which defined enforcement mechanisms for the Eighteenth Amendment. It set the legal framework that governed Prohibition until its repeal in 1933.