August 19

Today in History
• 1263 - King James I of Aragon censors Hebrew writing
• 1504 - Battle of Knockdoe, bloodiest battle of medieval Ireland
• 1692 - Five more people hanged for witchcraft (19 in all) in Salem, Massachusetts
• 1768 - Saint Isaac's Cathedral is founded in Saint Petersburg, Russia
• 1793 - Yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, then the US capital has its 1st fatality
• 1826 - Canada Co. chartered to colonize Upper Canada (Ontario)
• 1839 - Details of Louis Daguerre's 1st practical photographic process are released in Paris
• 1849 - NY Herald reports gold discovery in California


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Afghanistan Independence Day
• Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Day
• International Orangutan Day
• National Patient Advocacy Day
• National Photography Day
• National Potato Day
• Revolution Commemoration Day
• Saviours of the Apple Feast Day

Birthdays
• 1580 - Pierre Vernier, French mathematician, inventor of the vernier caliper
• 1631 - John Dryden, English poet (1st Poet Laureate 1668-1700)
• 1711 - Edward Boscawen, British admiral in the Royal Navy
• 1785 - Seth Thomas, American manufacturer and pioneer in the mass production of clocks
• 1808 - James Nasmyth, Scottish engineer and inventor of the steam hammer
• 1851 - Charles E. Hires, pharmacist, inventor and manufacturer of the Hires Root Beer
• 1871 - Orville Wright, American aviator (Wright Brothers)
• 1878 - Manuel L. Quezon, Second President of the Philippines (1935-42)