Today in History - October 19th

1492 - On this day in history, Columbus sited "Isabela" (Fortune Island, Bahamas) and named the island after the Queen of Spain.
1630 - In Boston, the first general court was held.
1781 - British General Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, Va., bringing an end to the last major battle of the American Revolution.
1812 - French troops under Napoleon Bonaparte began retreating from Moscow.
1869 - Today in history, The United States imposed a partial embargo on goods exported to the island nation of Cuba.

1864 - Approximately 25 Confederates made a surprise attack on St Albans, Vermont.
1864 - On this day in history, during The Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, The Union beat back Confederate troops.
1870 - The first African Americans were elected to House of Representatives.
1914 - For the first time, The US Post Office used an automobile to collect and deliver mail.
1944 - Today in history, The US Navy said that African-American women may join WAVES.
1951 - President Harry Truman formally ended state of war with Germany.
1953 - Today in history, the first jet transcontinental non-stop scheduled service took place.
1960 - The USA imposed embargo on exports to Cuba.
1983 - The Senate passed a bill making Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a public holiday.
1987 - The stock market crashed on what came to be known as "Black Monday." Stocks dropped a record 508 points, or 22.6%, surpassing the drops on October 28 and 29 in 1929, during the start of the Great Depression.
1998 - The Earth Liberation Front set fire to the Vail Mountain ski resort in Vail, Colorado, causing $12 million in damage.
2005 - Saddam Hussein went on trial in Baghdad for crimes against humanity.

HISTORY OF MUSIC - Today in History, October 19th

1859 - Wilhelm Tempel discovered diffuse nebula around Pleid star Merope.
1879 - On this day in history, Thomas Edison demonstrated the electric light.
1901 - Santos-Dumont proved an airship was maneuverable by circling The Eiffel Tower.
1943 - Streptomycin, the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis, was isolated by researchers at Rutgers University.
1977 - Supersonic Concorde jet's first landing in NYC took place.

1941 - The first woman jockey in North America, Anna Lee Wiley, rode in Mexico.
1991 - The longest NCAA football game took place (3:52) as RI beat Maine 52-30 (6 OTs).