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On this day

November 19 Thursday, November 19, 2026

A curious almanac of what happened on November 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.

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Were you born on November 19?

Find out what the world looked like the day you arrived.

12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
November 19, 1944: World War II: Thirty members of the Luxembourgish resistance defend the town of Vianden against a larger Waffen-SS attack in the Battle of Vianden.
1944
WWII 82 years ago

World War II: Thirty members of the Luxembourgish resistance defend the town of Vianden against a larger Waffen-SS attack in the Battle of Vianden.

Thirty members of the Luxembourgish resistance defend the town of Vianden against a larger Waffen-SS force in a fierce battle during World War II.

History

What happened on November 19

12 verified entries Full timeline
  1. 461

    Libius Severus is declared emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The real power is in the hands of the magister militum Ricimer.

    Libius Severus is declared emperor of the Western Roman Empire, though actual power remains with magister militum Ricimer.

    Roman history
  2. 636

    The Rashidun Caliphate defeats the Sasanian Empire at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah in Iraq.

    The Rashidun Caliphate defeats the Sasanian Empire, marking a turning point in Islamic expansion.

    War
  3. 1646

    The current Saint Peter's Basilica is consecrated in Rome, replacing an earlier basilica on the same site.

    Pope Urban VIII consecrates the new St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, replacing the original structure on the Vatican Hill.

    Religion
  4. 1794

    The United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain sign Jay's Treaty, which attempts to resolve some of the lingering problems left over from the American Revolutionary War.

    The United States and Great Britain sign Jay's Treaty, aiming to resolve post-Revolutionary War disputes.

    US history
  5. 1847

    The second Canadian railway line, the Montreal and Lachine Railroad, is opened.

    The Montreal and Lachine Railroad opens, becoming Canada's second railway line.

    Canadian history
  6. 1863

    American Civil War: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication ceremony for the military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

    Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of a military cemetery in Pennsylvania.

    US history
  7. 1944

    World War II: Thirty members of the Luxembourgish resistance defend the town of Vianden against a larger Waffen-SS attack in the Battle of Vianden.

    Thirty members of the Luxembourgish resistance defend the town of Vianden against a larger Waffen-SS force in a fierce battle during World War II.

    WWII
  8. 1979

    Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and black American hostages being held at the US Embassy in Tehran.

    Ayatollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and black American hostages from the US Embassy in Tehran.

    US history
  9. 2001

    The Aviation and Transportation Security Act is enacted by the 107th United States Congress in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Act created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

    The Aviation and Transportation Security Act establishes the Transportation Security Administration, federalizing airport security screening in response to the September 11 attacks.

    US history
  10. 2013

    A double suicide bombing at the Iranian embassy in Beirut kills 23 people and injures 160 others.

    A double suicide bombing at the Iranian embassy in Beirut kills 23 and injures 160.

    War
  11. 2022

    A gunman kills five and injures 17 at Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

    A gunman kills five people and injures 17 others at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

    Crime
  12. 2023

    The 2023 Cricket World Cup final takes place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, played between host nation India and Australia.

    India faces Australia in the Cricket World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

    Sports

Born today

Famous birthdays on November 19

Music

The number one songs on November 19

Across the years Full chart history
Stand and Deliver album cover

🇬🇧 #1 on November 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
The Empire Strikes Back poster

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
🏆 Sport

November 19, 2023

The 2023 Cricket World Cup final takes place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, played between host nation India and Australia.

India faces Australia in the Cricket World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Read the story
🔬 Science

November 19, 1995

Java 1.0 is unveiled

Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.

Read the story

Today is also

Holidays & observances

8 celebrated today

Day of Discovery of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico)

International

Puerto Rico celebrates all official U

Day of Missile Forces and Artillery (Russia, Belarus)

International

Day of Missile Forces and Artillery is a holiday celebrated in Russia and Belarus on 19 November

Flag Day (Brazil)

International

In Brazil, public holidays may be legislated at the federal, statewide and municipal levels

Garifuna Settlement Day (Belize)

International

Garifuna Settlement Day is a public holiday in Belize, celebrated each year on November 19

International Men's Day

International

International Men's Day (IMD) is a global awareness day for many issues that men face, including abuse, homelessness, suicide, and violence, celebrated annually on 19 November

Liberation Day (Mali)

International

Liberation Day is a day, often a public holiday, that marks the liberation of a place, similar to an independence day, but differing from it because it does not involve the original creation of stateh

If you don't read, you don't think. Plain and simple.

Joan Collins · born November 19, 1933