Poor Gabriel's Almanac

Interesting things that happened May 19th:

Birthdays on this date:

In 1795 Johns Hopkins, philanthropist
In 1861 Dame Nellie Melba, Australian opera singer, toast of town
In 1879 Nancy Astor, viscountess, 1st woman to sit in Brit. Parliament (1919)
In 1881 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, first President of Turkey (1923-38)
In 1890 Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese communist, trail blazer, baker
In 1918 Mike Wallace, newscaster
In 1921 Yuri Kochiyama, civil rights activist
In 1925 Malcolm X, civil rights activist
+ Pol Pot, Cambodian dictator (1975-79)
In 1930 Lorraine Hansberry, playwright (A Raisin in the Sun)
In 1934 Jim Lehrer, news gatherer
In 1935 David Hartman, morning news show host
In 1941 Nora Ephron (in New York), writer
In 1945 Pete Townshend, musician
In 1952 Grace Jones (in Jamaica), singer, actor (Conan II, View to a Kill)
In 1959 Bill Laimbeer, basketball player (Pistons)

Events worth noting:

+ Feast of St. Dunstan, patron of blacksmiths and musicians
In 1536 Anne Boleyn, 2nd wife of Henry VIII, is beheaded for adultery.
In 1568 Mary Queen of Scots is arrested by the order of Queen Elizabeth I.
In 1604 The town of Montreal, Quebec is founded.
In 1649 Parliament declares England a commonwealth.
In 1749 King George II grants the Ohio Company a charter of land.
In 1780 New England's Dark Day - candles were need from noon until next day.
In 1848 Mexico ratifies treaty ending war with the United States.
In 1856 Sen. Charles Sumner, Mass, spoke out against the proslavery people.
In 1862 The Homestead Act becomes law.
In 1863 Siege of Vicksburg. Investment of city complete.
In 1864 Last engagement in series of battles known as Spotsylvania.
In 1865 President Jefferson Davis is captured by Union Cavalry in Georgia.
In 1885 First mass production of shoes (Jan Matzeliger in Lynn, MA).
In 1921 The U.S. Congress passes Emergency Quota Act, affecting immigration.
In 1928 51 frogs enter first annual "Frog Jumping Jubilee" at Angel's Camp in Calaveras County, California.
In 1935 T.E. Lawrence dies of injuries suffered in motorcycle accident.
In 1936 Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind" is published.
In 1971 Mars 2 launched. First spacecraft to crash land on Mars.

And remember ...

National Bike Month

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Although efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, several errors have been found in the past. Don't place any bets on the basis of what you find here. If you spot an error, write to Poor Gabriel at poorgabriel@mystery.com .