All Events

Historical Events on February 19

  • Sigismund III Vasa

    1594

    Having already been elected to the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1587, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa is crowned King of Sweden, having succeeded his father John III of Sweden in 1592.

  • Aaron Burr

    1807

    Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield, Alabama and confined to Fort Stoddert.

  • South Shetland Islands

    1819

    British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands and claims them in the name of King George III.

  • Austin, Texas

    1846

    In Austin, Texas the newly formed Texas state government is officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transfers power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States.

  • Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign

    1915

    World War I: The first naval attack on the Dardanelles begins when a strong Anglo-French task force bombards Ottoman artillery along the coast of Gallipoli.

  • Bombing of Darwin

    1942

    World War II: Nearly 250 Japanese warplanes attack the northern Australian city of Darwin, killing 243 people.

  • Executive Order 9066

    1942

    World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese Americans to internment camps.

  • Cyprus

    1959

    The United Kingdom grants Cyprus independence, which is formally proclaimed on August 16, 1960.

  • Mars Odyssey

    2002

    NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system.