Today in History for 19th February 2026

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Historical Events

1869 - US Assay Office in Boise, Idaho authorized
1953 - William Inge's "Picnic" premieres in NYC
2018 - Syrian government forces bombard Gouta in deadliest day in 3 years, killing over 100 civilians
2018 - Nigeria says 110 girls missing, presumed kidnapped by Boko Haram after attack on school in Dapchi, Yobe state
2019 - Vatican confirms secret church guidelines for children of priests

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Famous Birthdays

1473 - Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish mathematician and astronomer who theorized that planets revolve around the sun (Heliocentric theory), born in Toruń, Royal Prussia, Kingdom of Poland (d. 1543)
1906 - Grace Williams, Welsh composer (Penillion), and first British woman to score a feature film (Blue Scar), born in Barry, Wales (d. 1977)
1925 - Leslie Laing, Jamaican athlete (Olympic gold men's 4x400m relay 1952 WR 3:03.9), born in Linstead, Saint Catherine, Jamaica (d. 2021)
1964 - Jennifer Doudna, American biochemist (2020 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for CRISPR Gene Editing), born in Washington D.C.
1971 - Glyn Milburn, American football running back/kick returner (First-team All-Pro 1999; Pro Bowl 1995, 99; Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears), born in Los Angeles, California

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Famous Deaths

1941 - Hamilton Harty, Irish composer and conductor called "the prince of accompanists", dies at 61
1943 - Lynne Overman, American actor (Reap the Wild Wind), dies from a heart attack at 55
1980 - (Ronald) "Bon" Scott, Australian rock musician, singer, and lyricist (AC/DC -"It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"), dies of acute alcohol poisoning at 33
2000 - Marin Goleminov, Bulgarian violinist, composer, and pedagogue, dies at 91
2008 - Yegor Letov, Russian rock poet, songwriter, and singer (Grazhdanskaya Oborona), dies of heart failure at 43

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