Once Upon A Time – June 19 – 1917 – The British Royal Family Renounces Its German Names And Titles, Adopts Name Of Windsor

1306 The Earl of Pembroke’s army defeats Robert the Bruce’s Scottish army at the Battle of Methven

1829 Robert Peel introduces the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 into Parliament to establish a unified police force for London, the city’s 1st modern police force

1862 Slavery outlawed in US territories

1865 Union General Gordon Granger declares slaves are free in Texas, now the date the end of slavery is celebrated across the US as Juneteenth

1944 World War II: First day of the 2 day Battle of the Philippine Sea, US naval forces defeat Japanese fleet

1991 Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar surrenders to police

Historical Events Today Events in 2023

Today in Film & TV

2015 Pixar’s animated film “Inside Out” is released with voices by Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling

Today in Music

1960 Loretta Lynn records “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl”

Today in Sport

1867 1st Belmont Stakes: Gilbert Gilpatrick aboard Ruthless wins in 3:05

1846 First officially recognised baseball game (played by Cartwright Rules) – NY Nines 23 defeat Knickerbockers 1 at Hoboken, New Jersey

1917 The British Royal Family, which has had strong German ties since George I, renounces its German names and titles and adopts the name of Windsor

Famous Weddings

1369 Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy marries Margaret 111 Countess of Flanders

1843 Philosopher Karl Marx (25) weds Jenny von Westphalen in Germany

1850 Swedish/Norwegian crown prince Charles weds Dutch princess Wilhelmina

What was claimed to be the first trans-Atlantic crossing by a steam ship – even if sails helped – was completed on this day and is still celebrated – June 19, 1819