May 19: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On May 19, 1962, Marilyn Monroe breathed Happy Birthday, Mr. President into a microphone at Madison Square Garden—and the world has been talking about it ever since.
About May 19
May 19 carries deep historical weight in several nations. In Turkey, it marks the 1919 day when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stepped ashore at Samsun on the Black Sea coast, igniting what became the Turkish War of Independence. Today, Turks celebrate Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in his official birthday's honor. Meanwhile, Vietnam observes Hồ Chí Minh's Birthday, remembering the revolutionary leader born on this day in 1890.
The date has witnessed dramatic turning points across centuries. In 1643, French forces shattered the Spanish army at the Battle of Rocroi—a blow widely seen as the symbolic end of Spain's dominance as a land power. In 1780, New Englanders experienced an eerie, unexplained darkening of the daytime sky that became known as New England's Dark Day. Fast forward to 2018, and Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor, drawing an estimated 1.9 billion viewers worldwide.
Science and exploration also claim this day. Jacques Cartier sailed from France in 1535 on his second voyage to North America, while in 1961 the Soviet probe Venera 1 became the first human-made object to fly past another planet—Venus—though it had already lost contact with Earth. And then there's that unforgettable 1962 evening at Madison Square Garden, when Monroe's sultry tribute to John F. Kennedy turned a birthday salute into pop-culture legend.
Holidays & Observances on May 19
- Pontian Greek Genocide Remembrance Day (Greece)
- Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Turkey, Northern Cyprus)
- Remembrance Day (Sri Lanka)
- Hồ Chí Minh's Birthday (Vietnam)
- Malcolm X Day (United States of America)
- National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States)
- Hepatitis Testing Day (United States)
- Mother's Day (Kyrgyzstan)
Fun & National Days on May 19
- National Devil's Food Cake Day — Indulge in a rich, chocolatey slice of devil's food cake—pure decadence on a plate.
- May Ray Day — Soak up some sunshine and celebrate the warming rays of late spring.
- Dinosaur Day — Channel your inner paleontologist and geek out about your favorite prehistoric beasts.
- Accounting Day — Thank the number-crunchers who keep the books balanced and the budgets sane.
- Boy's Club Day
- Celebrate Your Elected Officials Day
- EMS Safety Day
- National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- National Hepatitis Testing Day
- National Roadie Day
On This Day in History
- 1535 — French explorer Jacques Cartier departed on his second North American voyage with three ships, 110 men, and two kidnapped sons of Chief Donnacona.
- 1643 — French troops under the duc d'Enghien crushed Spanish forces at the Battle of Rocroi, effectively ending Spain's long reign as Europe's dominant land power.
- 1743 — French scientist Jean-Pierre Christin developed the centigrade temperature scale, establishing the foundation for how much of the world measures heat.
- 1780 — An unexplained, eerie darkening of the daytime sky spread across New England and parts of Canada, an event still known as New England's Dark Day.
- 1798 — Napoleon Bonaparte departed France with an expeditionary force, launching his ambitious military campaign to conquer Egypt.
- 1848 — Mexico ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War by ceding vast western territories to the United States for $15 million.
- 1883 — Buffalo Bill launched his first Wild West show in Omaha, Nebraska, creating an entertainment phenomenon that captivated audiences for decades.
- 1919 — Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed at Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, setting in motion the Turkish War of Independence.
- 1961 — The Soviet space probe Venera 1 became the first human-made object to fly past another planet, passing Venus though it had lost contact a month earlier.
- 1962 — Marilyn Monroe delivered her legendary sultry rendition of Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
- 2018 — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in a ceremony watched by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion people.
Famous Birthdays on May 19
- 1881 — Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey's founding father and first president, whose 1919 landing at Samsun launched the Turkish War of Independence.
- 1890 — Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese revolutionary and first president, who led his nation's struggle for independence from colonial rule.
- 1925 — Malcolm X, Charismatic American civil rights leader and minister whose powerful advocacy made him an enduring icon of Black empowerment.
- 1941 — Nora Ephron, Beloved American filmmaker and screenwriter behind romantic comedy classics like When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle.
- 1945 — Pete Townshend, Legendary English guitarist and songwriter who powered The Who with his windmill chords and explosive stage presence.
- 1946 — André the Giant, French-American professional wrestler and actor whose enormous stature made him a beloved pop-culture figure worldwide.
- 1948 — Grace Jones, Jamaican-American singer, model, and actress whose striking androgynous style made her an icon of music and fashion.
- 1951 — Joey Ramone, American punk rock pioneer whose distinctive voice and tall, lanky frame fronted the legendary band the Ramones.
- 1976 — Kevin Garnett, Hall of Fame American basketball power forward whose fierce intensity and defensive brilliance defined a generation of NBA play.
- 1992 — Sam Smith, English singer-songwriter whose soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics earned multiple Grammy Awards and global chart success.