March 19

Friday 19, 2004:

Taiwanese president Chen Shui-ban is shot just before the country's presidential election on March 20. See 3-19 Shooting Incident.

Wednesday 19, 2003:

The invasion of Iraq begins (with the time difference, it actually begins on March 20 at 0100 UTC)

Tuesday 19, 2002:

U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda ends (started on March 2) after killing 500 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters with 11 allied troop fatalities.

Thursday 19, 1987:

Following a scandal involving Jessica Hahn, televangelist Jim Bakker resigns from the PTL.

Friday 19, 1982:

Falklands War: Argentines land on South Georgia Island, precipitating war.

Thursday 19, 1981:

Three workers are killed and five injured during a test of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Monday 19, 1979:

The United States House of Representatives begins broadcasting its day-to-day business via the cable television network C-SPAN.

Sunday 19, 1978:

UN Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 were passed, calling upon Israel immediately to cease its military action and withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory (Operation Litani), and established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Sunday 19, 1972:

India and Bangladesh sign a friendship treaty.

Tuesday 19, 1963:

Saxophonist Stan Getz records Getz/Gilberto, including The Girl from Ipanema, sung by Astrud and João Gilberto.

Monday 19, 1962:

Algerian War of Independence: A ceasefire takes effect.

Wednesday 19, 1958:

A fire in a loft building in New York, New York kills 24 people.

Friday 19, 1954:

Joey Giardello knocks out Willie Tory in round seven at Madison Square Garden in the first televised prize boxing fight shown in color.

Thursday 19, 1953:

Academy Awards are first televised.

Tuesday 19, 1946:

French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion become overseas départements of France.

Monday 19, 1945:

World War II: Adolf Hitler issues his "Nero Decree" ordering all industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities and communications facilities in Germany be destroyed.

Sunday 19, 1944:

World War II: Nazi forces occupy Hungary.

Thursday 19, 1942:

The Thoroughbred Racing Association is established in Chicago, Illinois.

Thursday 19, 1931:

Gambling is legalized in Nevada.

Saturday 19, 1932:

Sydney Harbour Bridge opens.

Friday 19, 1920:

The United States Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles for the second time (first time was on November 19, 1919).

Tuesday 19, 1918:

The U.S. Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time.

Sunday 19, 1916:

Eight American planes take off in pursuit of Pancho Villa, the first United States air-combat mission in history.

Friday 19, 1915:

Pluto is photographed for the first time but was not recognized as a planet.

Thursday 19, 1914:

Giuseppe Mercalli, Italian volcanologist (b. 1850)

Sunday 19, 1865:

American Civil War: The Battle of Bentonville begins. By the end of the battle two days later the Confederate forces have retreated from Greenville, North Carolina.

Tuesday 19, 1861:

The First Taranaki War ends in New Zealand.

Saturday 19, 1831:

The City Bank of New York becomes the site of the first bank robbery in United States history ($245,000 taken).

Wednesday 19, 1687:

Explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River, is murdered by his own men.

Sunday 19, 1279:

A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China.

More on March, 19

• People Born on March, 19
• They left us on March, 19