On August 19, 1848, the New York Herald announced the discovery of gold in California, sparking the California Gold Rush. The rush attracted hundreds of thousands of fortune-seekers from around the world, significantly impacting the U.S. economy and accelerating the westward expansion of settlers into California and other western territories.
1848 - California Gold Rush Begins
On August 19, 1692, five women accused of witchcraft—Martha Carrier, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, and Margaret Scott—were hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. This dark period of American colonial history is remembered for its mass hysteria, injustice, and persecution of alleged witches.
1692 - Salem Witch Trials: Five Women Hanged
On August 19, 14 AD, Augustus, the first Roman emperor, died at the age of 75. His reign marked the transformation from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, bringing relative peace and prosperity, known as the Pax Romana. Augustus' death led to the succession of his stepson, Tiberius, as emperor.
14 AD - Augustus, First Roman Emperor, Dies
On August 19, 1839, the French government announced the invention of the daguerreotype, the first practical photographic process, developed by Louis Daguerre. The government gifted the invention to the world, revolutionizing visual documentation and art. This event marked the birth of photography as an accessible medium for both science and creativity.
1839 - Photography is Made Public
On August 19, 1991, a group of hardline Soviet officials launched a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev, attempting to stop his reforms. The coup failed after three days, but it accelerated the collapse of the Soviet Union. Boris Yeltsin's defiance and the lack of military support for the coup marked a turning point in Soviet history.
