Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
July 19 Sunday, July 19, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 19 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
3
Holidays
1544
War 482 years ago
Italian War of 1542-46: The first Siege of Boulogne begins.
English forces under Henry VIII begin besieging the French port of Boulogne during the Italian War of 1542-46.
History
What happened on July 19
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 64Disaster
The Great Fire of Rome causes widespread devastation and rages on for six days, destroying half of the city.
Nero watches as the Great Fire of Rome burns for six days, devastating half the city.
- 484World history
Leontius, Roman usurper, is crowned Eastern emperor at Tarsus (modern Turkey). He is recognized in Antioch and makes it his capital.
Leontius is crowned Eastern emperor in Tarsus and later moves his capital to Antioch.
- 711War
Umayyad conquest of Hispania: Battle of Guadalete: Umayyad forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by King Roderic.
Tariq ibn Ziyad leads Umayyad forces to victory over the Visigoths in the Battle of Guadalete.
- 939European history
Battle of Simancas: King Ramiro II of León defeats the Moorish army under Caliph Abd-al-Rahman III near the city of Simancas.
King Ramiro II of León defeats the Moorish army led by Caliph Abd-al-Rahman III near Simancas.
- 998War
Arab-Byzantine wars: Battle of Apamea: Fatimids defeat a Byzantine army near Apamea.
The Fatimid Caliphate defeats a Byzantine army near Apamea in Syria, securing a significant victory in the ongoing Arab-Byzantine wars.
- 1333War
Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Halidon Hill: The English win a decisive victory over the Scots.
Edward III of England leads his forces to a decisive victory over the Scots at the Battle of Halidon Hill, effectively ending Scottish resistance and securing English dominance in the region.
- 1544War
Italian War of 1542-46: The first Siege of Boulogne begins.
English forces under Henry VIII begin besieging the French port of Boulogne during the Italian War of 1542-46.
- 1545UK history
The Tudor warship Mary Rose sinks off Portsmouth; in 1982 the wreck is salvaged in one of the most complex and expensive projects in the history of maritime archaeology.
The Tudor warship Mary Rose sinks off Portsmouth, later to be salvaged in 1982 in a complex and costly maritime archaeology project.
- 1701US history
Representatives of the Iroquois Confederacy sign the Nanfan Treaty, ceding a large territory north of the Ohio River to England.
Representatives of the Iroquois Confederacy sign the Nanfan Treaty, ceding land north of the Ohio River to England.
- 1702War
Great Northern War: A numerically superior Polish-Saxon army of Augustus II the Strong, operating from an advantageous defensive position, is defeated by a Swedish army half its size under the command of King Charles XII in the Battle of Klissow.
A smaller Swedish force led by King Charles XII defeats a larger Polish-Saxon army commanded by Augustus II the Strong at the Battle of Klissow.
- 1864War
Taiping Rebellion: Third Battle of Nanking: The Qing dynasty finally defeats the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
The Qing dynasty defeats the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the Third Battle of Nanjing, ending the Taiping Rebellion.
- 1936War
Spanish Civil War: The CNT and UGT call a general strike in Spain, mobilizing workers' militias against the Nationalist forces. People's Olympiad of Barcelona cancelled.
The CNT and UGT call a general strike in Spain, mobilizing workers' militias against the Nationalists while cancelling the People's Olympiad in Barcelona.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 19
7 this date All birthdays
Nick Koback
American baseball player and golfer
Nick Koback, the American baseball player who signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates at age 17 as a bonus baby and later became a professional golfer, was born today in 1935.
Born
1935
Died
2015
Conrad Vorstius
Dutch theologian
1569 – 1622
Dick Irvin
Canadian ice hockey player and coach
1892 – 1957
Vladimir Mayakovsky
Russian actor, playwright, and poet
1893 – 1930
Gaston Glock
Austrian engineer and businessman, co-founded Glock Ges.m.b.H.
1929 – 2023
Ilie Năstase
Romanian tennis player and politician
b. 1946 · 80
Roger Binny
Indian cricketer and sportscaster
b. 1955 · 71
Music
The number one songs on July 19
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 19, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport July 19, 1903
Maurice Garin wins the first Tour de France.
Maurice Garin finishes the first Tour de France cycling race in Paris after 65 hours and eight minutes of riding.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 19, 1963
Joe Walker flies a North American X-15 to a record altitude of 106,010 meters (347,800 feet) on X-15 Flight 90. Exceeding an altitude of 100 km, this flight qualifies as a human spaceflight under international convention.
Joe Walker sets a record by flying the North American X-15 to an altitude of 106,010 meters, qualifying as a human spaceflight.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Palace Day
International
Martyrs' Day (Myanmar)
International
Martyrs' Day is a Burmese national holiday observed on 19 July to commemorate Gen
Sandinista Day or Liberation Day (Nicaragua)
International