19 July
What happened today in history?
- 64 – The Great Fire of Rome.
- 1545 – Mary Rose, the Tudor ship, sinks off the coast of Portsmouth.
- 1553 – Lady Jane Grey, after ruling for just 9 days, is replaced as Queen of England by Mary I.
- 1588 – The Spanish Armada is spotted in the English Channel.
- 1843 – Isambard Kingdom Brunel launches his steamship, the SS Great Britain.
Who was born today?
- 1814 – Samuel Colt – American inventor.
- 1834 – Edgar Degas – French artist.
- 1947 – Brian May – English musician (member of Queen).
- 1976 – Benedict Cumberbatch – English actor (Sherlock, The Hobbit).
Who died today?
- 1543 – Mary Boleyn – Sister of Anne Boleyn.
- 2009 – Frank McCourt – Irish-American writer (Angela’s Ashes).
