What Happened in May 1819

Historical Events

  • May 21 1st bicycles (swift walkers) in US introduced in NYC
  • May 22 1st steam propelled vessel to cross Atlantic (Savannah leaves Ga)

Famous Birthdays

  • May 1 William Steele, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1885)
  • May 3 Nicola De Giosa, composer
  • May 5 Stanislaw Moniuszko, Polish composer
  • May 15 Thomas Leonidas Crittenden, American lawyer, politician, and Major General (Union Army), born in Russellville, Kentucky (d. 1893)
  • May 16 Daniel Ammen, Capt (Union Navy), (d. 1898)
  • May 17 Johann Nepomuk Kafka, composer
  • May 18 Julius Hopp, Austrian composer, born in Vienna (d. 1885)

Person of interestVictoria

May 24 Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Ireland (1837-1901), born in London (d. 1901)

Queen of the United Kingdom Victoria
Queen of the United Kingdom
Victoria
  • May 27 Julia Ward Howe, American author/lecturer (Battle Hymn of the Republic)
  • May 28 William Birney, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Huntsville, Alabama (d. 1907)
  • May 30 William McMurdo, British army officer (d. 1894)

Person of interestWalt Whitman

May 31 Walt Whitman, American poet (Leaves of Grass), born in West Hills, New York (d. 1892)

Poet Walt Whitman
Poet
Walt Whitman

Famous Deaths

  • May 2 Mary Moser, English painter (Flowers Still Life), dies at 74

Person of interestKamehameha I

May 8 Kamehameha I, King of Hawaii (1782-1819), dies at 81

King of Hawaii Kamehameha I
King of Hawaii
Kamehameha I
  • May 11 Caspar Furstenau, composer, dies at 47
  • May 16 Alexander van Bylandt, military, dies at 75
  • May 22 John H van Kinsbergen, lt-admiral/founder (Corps Marines), dies at 84