On this day: June 19

/on/june-19

2007 • neutral • 6 views

Man Reports Waking Up Speaking Language He Never Learned

A bedroom interior with a man sitting upright in bed at dawn, a bedside table with a lamp, and a Welsh-language newspaper folded nearby.

On June 19, 2007, a man in England reported waking from sleep speaking fluent Welsh despite no prior knowledge of the language. The case drew media attention and raised questions about rare neurological and psychological conditions, though experts cautioned against definitive conclusions.

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1869 • neutral • 6 views

The first recorded deadly cosmetic poisoning: arsenic-laced face powders, 19th century

19th-century dressing table with powder pots and boxes of face powder on a wooden vanity, period-appropriate fabrics and glass bottles.

On June 19, 1869, contemporary reports linked deaths and severe illnesses to arsenic-contaminated skin-whitening powders—among the earliest documented cases of dangerous cosmetic poisoning in the modern press.

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1964 • neutral • 5 views

Congress Passes the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Crowd outside the U.S. Capitol and lawmakers in 1964-era dress during congressional deliberations on civil rights legislation, showing banners or signs calling for equality but no identifiable faces.

On June 19, 1964, the U.S. Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act, landmark legislation outlawing segregation in public accommodations and banning employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

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