August 19

This day in history:

• 1861 – First ascent of Weisshorn, fifth highest summit in the Alps.
• 1153 – Baldwin III of Jerusalem takes control of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from his mother Melisende, and also captures Ascalon.
• 1991 – Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The August Coup begins when Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is placed under house arrest while on holiday in the town of Foros, Ukraine.
• 1848 – California Gold Rush: The New York Herald breaks the news to the East Coast of the United States of the gold rush in California (although the rush started in January).

Births:

• 1945 – Ian Gillan, English singer-songwriter
• 1936 – Richard McBrien, American priest, theologian, and academic (d. 2015)
• 1902 – Ogden Nash, American poet (d. 1971)

Deaths:

• 1976 – Alastair Sim, Scottish-English actor (b. 1900)
• 1957 – David Bomberg, English soldier and painter (b. 1890)
• 2014 – Candida Lycett Green, Anglo-Irish journalist and author (b. 1942)

Holidays:

• National Aviation Day (United States)
• Manuel Luis Quezón Day (Quezon City and other places in the Philippines named after Manuel L. Quezon)
• Birthday of Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Norway)

Random Article of the day:

Tolkien research

The works of J. R. R. Tolkien have generated a body of research covering many aspects of his fantasy writings. These encompass The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, along with his legendarium that remained unpublished until after his death, and his constructed languages, especially the Elvish languages Quenya and Sindarin. Scholars from different disciplines have examined the linguistic and literary origins of Middle-earth, and have explored many aspects of his writings from Christianity to feminism and race.