19 May 751

A Saturday in history

Weekday

Saturday

Season

Spring (N. Hemisphere)

Century

8th century

Records

374

  1. 2024

    In Iran, a helicopter crash killed eight people, including President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

    Source
  2. 2018

    The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (both pictured) took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England.

    Source
  3. 2015

    A corroded pipeline near Refugio State Beach, California, spilled 142,800 gallons (3,400 barrels) of crude oil onto the Gaviota Coast.

    Source
  4. 2010

    In Bangkok, the Thai military concluded a week-long crackdown on widespread protests by forcing the surrender of opposition leaders.

    Source
  5. 1997

    The Sierra Gorda Biosphere, which encompasses the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, was established as a result of grassroots efforts.

    Source
  6. 1991

    Breakup of Yugoslavia: With the local Serb population boycotting the referendum, Croatians voted in favour of independence from Yugoslavia.

    Source
  7. 1962

    Actress Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" during a televised celebration for U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

    Source
  8. 1915

    First World War: Australian and New Zealand troops repelled the third attack on Anzac Cove, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Ottoman forces.

    Source
  9. 1845

    Captain John Franklin (pictured) departed Greenhithe, England, on an expedition to the Canadian Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage; all 129 men were later lost when their ships became icebound in Victoria Strait.

    Source
  10. 1828

    The United States Congress passed the largest tariff in the nation's history, which resulted in severe economic hardship in the American South.

    Source
  11. 1780

    A combination of thick smoke, fog, and heavy cloud cover caused darkness to fall on parts of Canada and the New England area of the United States by noon.

    Source
  12. 1776

    American Revolutionary War: A Continental Army garrison west of Montreal surrendered to British troops at the Battle of the Cedars.

    Source
  13. 1743

    French physicist Jean-Pierre Christin published the design of a mercury thermometer using the centigrade scale, with 0 representing the melting point of water and 100 its boiling point.

    Source
  14. 1674

    John III Sobieski (pictured) was elected by the szlachta as the monarch of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

    Source
  15. 1655

    Anglo-Spanish War: English forces invaded Jamaica, then administered by Spain as the Colony of Santiago, and captured it a week later.

    Source
  16. 715

    Gregory II began his pontificate; his conflict with Byzantine emperor Leo III eventually led to the establishment of the temporal power of the pope.

    Source

Photo archive

24 historic images from this day — tap to open the gallery.

What was life like?

Prices, jobs, food, music and everyday routine — the world as it felt to live in.

Sources & fact check

Every claim is traced to primary sources, archives, universities and the press — with an explicit confidence rating. Dossiers are generated once and cached permanently.

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