Discover the Historical Events and Famous People Born on May 19

By Sunny Sonkar
May 19, 2025
Last Updated: May 17, 2025

History and Event, Latest, Special Event

May 19 is a day filled with interesting events and birthdays. Some big things happened on this day that changed the world. Let’s explore what took place on May 19 and learn about the famous people born on this special day.

You can open Table of Contents show

Historical Events on May 19

Ohio Company Charter

In 1749, British King George II gave a special permission called a charter to the Ohio Company. This allowed them to settle in the Ohio Valley in America. The Ohio Company was a group of Virginian landowners who wanted to start colonies and trade with Native Americans.

Getting this charter was important because it led to more people from Britain coming to live in America. However, it also meant that Native Americans lost some of their land.

Tariff of Abominations

In 1828, U.S. President John Quincy Adams signed a law called the Tariff of 1828 or the Tariff of Abominations. A tariff is a tax on goods coming from other countries. This tariff made the taxes very high on imported goods. The purpose was to protect factories and businesses in the northern states. However, the southern states were very angry about this tariff.

They thought it was unfair and would hurt their economy. This disagreement about the tariff led to more arguments between the north and the south.

Germany Colonizes Cameroon and Togoland

In 1885, the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck decided that Germany should start claiming colonies in Africa. On May 19, Germany took control of two regions called Cameroon and Togoland. Bismarck thought that having colonies would make Germany stronger and richer. However, taking over these lands had a big impact on the people who already lived there. It changed their way of life and their economy.

Premiere of Saint-Saëns’ 3rd Symphony

On May 19, 1886, the famous French composer Camille Saint-Saëns premiered his 3rd Symphony in C at St. James Hall in London. He conducted the orchestra himself. Saint-Saëns was known for his beautiful and emotional music. Today, orchestras still perform his 3rd Symphony, which is particularly well-known. People at the premiere loved the music and it helped make Saint-Saëns even more famous.

First Automobile in the Netherlands

The first Karl Benz automobile arrived in the Netherlands in 1896. Because people used to travel by horse, train, or boat before this, it was a big deal. Karl Benz was a German inventor who created one of the first successful cars. Having a car in the Netherlands changed transportation and society there. It made it easier for people to travel longer distances and move around the country.

Famous Birthdays on May 19

Nellie Melba (1861–1931)

Born: May 19, 1861, in Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Died: February 23, 1931, in Sydney, Australia
Famous for: Opera singing Interesting
Interesting fact: She is the face on the Australian 100 dollar note

Nellie Melba was a famous Australian opera singer. She had a beautiful soprano voice and performed all over the world. Melba trained very hard from a young age to become a great singer. She sang many leading roles in operas and became one of the most celebrated singers of her time.

Even today, Melba is remembered as an important figure in Australian music and culture. You can even see her face on the Australian 100-dollar note!

Manik Bandopadhayay (1908 – 1956)

Manik Bandopadhyay, a renowned Bengali writer. Born on May 19, 1908, Manik’s powerful storytelling and deep understanding of human nature have left a lasting impact on Bengali literature. His works, such as “Padma Nadir Majhi” and “Putul Nacher Itikatha,” continue to inspire readers and writers alike.

Nancy Astor (1879–1964)

Born: May 19, 1879, in Danville, Virginia, United States
Died: May 2, 1964, in Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire, England
Famous for: Being the first woman in the British Parliament
Interesting fact: She was born in America but later moved to England

Nancy Astor was an American-born woman who became famous in British politics. She moved to England after marrying a British man. In 1919, she was elected to the British Parliament, making her the first woman to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP). As an MP, Astor worked on issues like women’s rights and child welfare.

She was known for her clever speeches and strong personality. Even though she faced a lot of challenges as a woman in politics, Astor helped pave the way for other women to become leaders.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938)

Born: May 19, 1881, in Salonica, Ottoman Empire (now Thessaloniki, Greece)
Died: November 10, 1938, in Istanbul, Turkey
Famous for: Being the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey
Interesting fact: He led the Turkish War of Independence

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Turkish military officer and leader who founded the modern country of Turkey. He played a big role in the Turkish War of Independence, which helped Turkey become its own country separate from the Ottoman Empire. After the war, Atatürk became the first President of Turkey. As president, he made many changes to modernize Turkey.

He changed the way people dressed, the alphabet they used, and the laws that governed the country. Atatürk is still remembered as an important leader who helped shape Turkey into the country it is today.

Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969)

Born: May 19, 1890, in Nghệ An Province, French Indochina (now Vietnam)
Died: September 2, 1969, in Hanoi, North Vietnam
Famous for: Leading the Vietnamese independence movement and being the President of North Vietnam
Interesting fact: He used many different names throughout his life

Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese leader who fought for his country’s independence from France. He aspired to establish a free Vietnam under communist principles. Ho Chi Minh led the Viet Minh, a group that fought against the French colonial government. After Vietnam split into North and South, he became the President of North Vietnam.

He continued to fight for a united, communist Vietnam, which led to the Vietnam War. Today, Ho Chi Minh is still an important figure in Vietnam’s history and is remembered for his dedication to his country’s independence.

Florence Chadwick (1918–1995)

Born: May 19, 1918, in San Diego, California, United States
Died: March 15, 1995, in San Diego, California, United States
Famous for: Being the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions
Interesting fact: She set many long-distance swimming records

Florence Chadwick was an American swimmer who broke many records in long-distance swimming. She started swimming at a young age and quickly showed her talent. In 1950, Chadwick became the first woman to swim the English Channel from England to France and then from France back to England.

This means she swam in both directions! She also set records for swimming in other places, like the Catalina Channel in California. Chadwick’s swimming achievements inspired many other people, especially women, to take on big challenges in sports.

Takeaways

As we’ve seen, May 19 is a date with a rich history. From the Ohio Company Charter in 1749 to the first car in the Netherlands in 1896, many significant events took place on this day. We also learned about the remarkable people born on May 19, like the opera singer Nellie Melba, the Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and the record-breaking swimmer Florence Chadwick. By exploring these historical events and biographies, we can better understand and appreciate the people and moments that have shaped our world.

References: