JUNE 19 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on June 19
William H. Webb
Died: October 30, 1899
American shipbuilder who founded the In 1894 he built the Webb Academy and Home for Shipbuilders (now the Webb Institute).
Sam Walter Foss
Died: February 26, 1911
Poet and author of The Coming American and The House by the Side of the Road.
Gladys Mills Phipps
Died: October 19, 1971
Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder who was known as the "First Lady of the Turf".
Wallis Simpson
Died: April 24, 1986
Socialite who married Prince Edward (formerly King Edward VIII). Her status as a divorcée caused a constitutional crisis that led to Edward's abdication.
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig
Died: June 2, 1941
MLB player nicknamed the "Iron Horse". He is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
Karl H. Beyer Jr.
Died: December 2, 1996
Pharmacologist who discovered the first drugs for hypertension and gout.
Pat Buttram
Died: January 8, 1994
Actor fondly remembered as the sidekick of Gene Autry and for his role as Mr. Haney in Green Acres.
Erna Schneider Hoover
Inventor of a computerized telephone switching method that enabled better service during peak calling times.
Neil Asher Silberman
Archaeologist and historian with a special interest in biblical archaeology. He is the author of several books, including The Hidden Scrolls, David and Solomon: In Search of the Bible's Sacred Kings and the Roots of the Western Tradition, and The Archaeology of Israel.
Ann Wilson
Lead singer of the rock band Heart.
Paula Abdul
Singer of the hit songs Straight Up and Opposites Attract.
Dennis Crowley
Founder Dodgeball and Foursquare (social networking sites).
Historical Events on June 19
Events that occurred on June 19 throughout history
President Lincoln signs the Territorial Slavery Act of 1862.
President Lincoln signs the Territorial Slavery Act of 1862, prohibiting slavery in all past and present U.S. territories.
Slaves in Texas are officially informed of their freedom two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in Texas are officially informed of their freedom. The anniversary officially became known as Juneteenth.
Father's Day is celebrated for the first time in the U.S.
Spokane, WA, celebrates the nation's first Father's Day.
The first Black person performs at the Grand Ole Opry.
DeFord Bailey becomes the first Black to to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. Known as the "Harmonica Wizard," Bailey was a pioneering old-time and blues musician.
Congress passes The Communications Act of 1934.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs The Communication Act of 1934, establishing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Act combined and organized federal regulation of telephone, telegraph, and radio communications. It to oversee these industries.
Two professional football teams merge due to player shortage during WWII.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers merge for one season due to player shortages during by World War II.