On This Day in History

December 19

Historical Events

1776 Thomas Paine publishes his first "American Crisis" essay beginning "These are the times that try men's souls" (date disputed).

1783 William Pitt the Younger becomes the youngest ever British Prime Minister at age 24.

1932 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) begins transmitting overseas.

1958 First radio broadcast from space, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends a Christmas message "to all mankind, America's wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere".

The Sino-British Joint Declaration is signed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (left) and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang (right)

1984 Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration to transfer Hong Kong back to China in 1997.

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Famous Birthdays

Edwin Stanton 1814 - 1869 Leonid Brezhnev 1906 - 1982

Edith Piaf 1915 - 1963 Alyssa Milano 51st Birthday

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Famous Deaths

J. M. W. Turner 1775 - 1851 Alois Alzheimer 1864 - 1915

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Wuthering Heights Author Dies at 30

Emily Brontë, author of the classic novel Wuthering Heights, died on this day. Like her sisters Anne and Charlotte, she passed away at a tragically young age.

Learn About Emily Brontë