Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

August 19

1991
Soviet coup attempt: Hard-line communists, including the Soviet vice-president, Soviet Defense Minister, and head of the KGB, attempt to remove Soviet Pres. Gorbachev from power. They failed, largely due to the efforts of Russian Pres. Boris Yeltsin.

1981
U.S. Navy F-14 fighters shoot down two Libyan jets off the coast of Libya after being fired upon by them.

1960
First living organisms to return from space: The Soviet Sputnik 5 is launched. Its payload included two dogs, two mice, 40 rats, and various insects and plants which were recovered the following day.

1951
3-foot 7-inch tall Eddie Gaedel pinch hits for the St. Louis Browns and is walked. It was his only time at bat in the major leagues.

1934
World War II: German Chancellor Adolf Hitler is voted president, giving him full command of the country.

1929
Amos 'n' Andy debut on NBC radio.

1886
The Christian Union is founded, by Baptist minister Richard G. Spurling. In 1923 it became the Church of God.

1856
Gail Borden receives a patent for his process of making evaporated milk.

1812
USS Constitution, called Old Ironsides, defeats the British ship Guerriere off Nova Scotia during the War of 1812.

1692
Salem Witch Trials: George Burroughs (Harvard graduate and former minister of Salem), John Proctor, John Willard, George Jacobs, and Martha Carrier are hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1967
Tabitha Soren, American TV news correspondent, host of MTV's The Week in Rock.

1948
Gerald McRaney, American actor. TV: Simon & Simon (Rick Simon) and Major Dad (Major MacGillis).

1946
Bill Clinton (William Jefferson Blythe III), 42nd U.S. President (1993-2001).

1940
Johnny Nash, American singer, songwriter, I Can See Clearly Now (1972, #1).

1940
Jill St. John (Jill Oppenheim), American actress.

1934
Renee Richards, tennis player, transsexual.

1931
Willie Shoemaker, American horse jockey, all-time leader in wins (8,833) and four time winner of the Kentucky Derby (also the oldest winner, age 54 in 1986). A 1991 car accident left him a quadriplegic.

1919     d. 1990
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, American magazine publisher.

1913     d. 1982
Harry Mills, American singer, with the Mills Brothers, the most popular vocal group of all time.

1906
Philo Taylor Farnsworth, American inventor of the first all electronic TV.

1883     d. 1971
Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, French fashion designer, for whom Chanel No. 5 perfume, introduced in 1922, is named.

1878     d. 1944
Manuel Luis Quezon, Philippine statesman, first president of the Philippine Commonwealth (1935).

1871     d. 1948
Orville Wright, American aviator. He and his brother Wilbur are credited with building and flying the first manned heavier-than-air flying machine (1903).

1870     d. 1965
Bernard Mannes Baruch, American stock broker. He was an advisor to every president from Wilson to Kennedy.

1856     d. 1938
James M. Black, American Methodist composer. Music: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (wrote the tune). (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1843     d. 1921
Cyrus Ingersoll Scofield, American Bible teacher, editor of the Scofield Reference Bible (1909) and founded the Central American Mission (1890). (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1808     d. 1890
James Nasmyth, British engineer, invented the steam hammer (1839).

1751     d. circa 1777
Samuel Prescott, American soldier.  Rode with Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous ride to warn of the British advancement (1775) . He was the only rider of the three to make it to Concord. He was captured by the Royal Navy and died between November 23, 1776 and December 26, 1777 while a prisoner in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1994     b. 1901
Linus Carl Pauling, American Nobel-winning chemist and vitamin C advocate. He also won a Nobel Peace Prize.

1986     b. 1906
Hermione Baddeley, British actress. Film: Room at the Top (1959) and Mary Poppins (1964, the housekeeper). TV: Maude (Mrs. Naugatuck) and Upstairs Downstairs (Mrs. Bridges the cook).

1977     b. 1890
Groucho Marx (Julius Marx), American comedian, cigar-smoking Marx Brother and host of TV's You Bet Your Life.

1967     b. 1884
Hugo Gernsback, American publisher, pioneer science fiction author. He founded Modern Electronics (1908, the first radio magazine) and Amazing Stories (1926).

1959     b. 1880
Sir Jacob Epstein, British sculpture, known for his controversial sculptures, including Venus (1917) and Adam (1939).

1662     b. 1623
Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, philosopher, physicist, one of the founders of the theory of probability and designed a mechanical computer, although it was never built.

440     b. ????
Saint Sixtus III, Italian religious leader, 44th Pope (432-440).

14 A.D.     b. 63 B.C.
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus, the first Roman Emperor. He was the heir of Julius Caesar. His defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at Actium in 31 A.D. made him ruler of the world.

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