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
September 19 Saturday, September 19, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 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
5
Holidays
1893
Politics 133 years ago
In New Zealand, the Electoral Act of 1893 is consented to by the governor, giving all women in New Zealand the right to vote.
New Zealand becomes the first self-governing country to grant all women the right to vote when the governor consents to the Electoral Act.
History
What happened on September 19
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 96World history
Nerva, suspected of complicity of the death of Domitian, is declared emperor by Senate. The Senate then annuls laws passed by Domitian and orders his statues to be destroyed.
Nerva is declared emperor by the Senate, which also annuls Domitian's laws and orders his statues destroyed.
- 634War
Siege of Damascus: The Rashidun Arabs under Khalid ibn al-Walid capture Damascus from the Byzantine Empire.
Khalid ibn al-Walid leads the Rashidun Arab forces to conquer Damascus from the Byzantine Empire.
- 1356War
Battle of Poitiers: An English army under the command of Edward the Black Prince defeats a French army and captures King John II.
Edward the Black Prince leads an English victory over France at Poitiers, capturing King John II.
- 1410War
End of the Siege of Marienburg: The State of the Teutonic Order repulses the joint Polish, Lithuanian forces.
The State of the Teutonic Order successfully defends Marienburg Castle against a combined Polish-Lithuanian siege, preserving its stronghold in Prussia.
- 1676US history
Jamestown is burned to the ground by the forces of Nathaniel Bacon during Bacon's Rebellion.
Jamestown is destroyed by Nathaniel Bacon’s rebels, marking a low point in colonial Virginia’s history.
- 1777War
American Revolutionary War: British forces win a tactically expensive victory over the Continental Army in the First Battle of Saratoga.
British forces secure a costly victory over the Continental Army in the First Battle of Saratoga.
- 1799War
French Revolutionary Wars: French-Dutch victory against the Russians and British in the Battle of Bergen.
French and Dutch forces defeat Russian and British troops at the Battle of Bergen.
- 1864US history
American Civil War: Union troops under Philip Sheridan defeat a Confederate force commanded by Jubal Early. With over 50,000 troops engaged, it was the largest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley.
Union troops led by Philip Sheridan defeat Confederates under Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley.
- 1893Politics
In New Zealand, the Electoral Act of 1893 is consented to by the governor, giving all women in New Zealand the right to vote.
New Zealand becomes the first self-governing country to grant all women the right to vote when the governor consents to the Electoral Act.
- 1970Politics
Kostas Georgakis, a Greek student of geology, sets himself ablaze in Matteotti Square in Genoa, Italy, as a protest against the dictatorial regime of Georgios Papadopoulos.
Kostas Georgakis sets himself on fire in Genoa to抗议希腊军事独裁政权。请再给出一个符合要求的英文句子： Kostas Georgakis sets himself on fire in Genoa as a protest against the Greek military dictatorship.
- 1985Disaster
A strong earthquake kills thousands and destroys about 400 buildings in Mexico City.
A powerful earthquake devastates Mexico City, killing thousands and destroying approximately 400 buildings in the city's center.
- 2006Politics
The Thai army stages a coup. The Constitution is revoked and martial law is declared.
The Thai army seizes power, revoking the constitution and declaring martial law.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 19
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 53
Javier Duarte
Mexican politician
Javier Duarte de Ochoa, former Governor of Veracruz from 2010 to 2016 and ex-PRI congressman, turns 53 today.
Born
1973
Turns 53
today
Thomas Cavendish
English naval explorer, led the third expedition to circumnavigate the globe
1560 – 1592
Ben Turpin
American comedian and actor
1869 – 1940
Candy Dulfer
Dutch saxophonist
b. 1969 · 57
Dimitri Yachvili
French rugby player
b. 1980 · 46
Trae Young
American basketball player
b. 1998 · 28
Precious Achiuwa
Nigerian basketball player
b. 1999 · 27
Music
The number one songs on September 19
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 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 September 19, 2011
Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees surpasses Trevor Hoffman to become Major League Baseball's all-time career saves leader with 602.
Mariano Rivera surpasses Trevor Hoffman as Major League Baseball's all-time career saves leader with his 602nd save.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 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 storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Armed Forces Day (Chile)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Chile; about half of them are Christian holidays
Day of the First Public Appearance of the Slovak National Council
International
Remembrance Days in Slovakia are working days
Second day of Fiestas Patrias (Chile)
International
The Fiestas Patrias of Chile consist of two days, with a third one added on some years:18 September, in commemoration of the proclamation of the First Governing Body of 1810, and marking the beginning
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Saint Kitts and Nevis from the United Kingdom in 1983.
International
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end o
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
International
International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers of Albany, Oregon, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world s