On This Day - August 19
Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Let's look back at some of the most significant events in American history that happened on this day, starting with…
1692: Five More Executed in the Salem Witch Trials
George Jacobs, Martha Carrier, George Burroughs, John Proctor, and John Willard were hanged in Massachusetts for alleged witchcraft, in one of the darkest chapters of colonial America.
1782: The Battle of Blue Licks Took Place
In Kentucky, about 50 Loyalists and 300 Indigenous allies ambushed 182 Kentucky militiamen, including frontiersman Daniel Boone. It was one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War.
1791: Benjamin Banneker Wrote to Thomas Jefferson
The African American mathematician and astronomer sent Jefferson his almanac along with a letter criticizing slavery, urging him to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
1793: Philadelphia’s Yellow Fever Epidemic Began
The first fatality of a devastating outbreak was recorded in the US capital. By the end of November, nearly 5,000 people had died.
1812: The USS Constitution Defeated the Guerriere
In a key naval battle of the War of 1812, the American warship earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” after cannonballs seemed to bounce off its strong oak hull.
1914: President Woodrow Wilson Urged Neutrality
At the outset of World War I, Wilson addressed the Senate and asked Americans to remain “neutral in fact as well as name.”
1955: Hurricane Diane Struck the Northeast
The deadly storm caused catastrophic flooding, killed more than 200 people, and became the first hurricane to cause over $1 billion in damages in the US.
1991: Hurricane Bob Made Landfall
The storm hit Massachusetts and caused widespread damage in New England, leaving 17 people dead and more than $1.5 billion in damages.
2020: Apple Reached a $2 Trillion Valuation
Just two years after crossing the $1 trillion mark, Apple became the first American company ever valued at $2 trillion.
Do you remember any of these events? Or do you have more events (historical or not!) you'd like to share with the community? Post them below and let's reminisce together!
