History Today

Today in History — May 19

1536

19 May 1536: Anne Boleyn Executed at the Tower of London

On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest, and treason. Her death marked a dramatic turning…

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More from the Archive

1980

18 May 1980: Mount St. Helens Erupts in Catastrophic Volcanic Explosion

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington State erupted with catastrophic force, becoming one of the most significant volcanic events in North American history. The eruption killed 57 people, flattened 230 square miles…

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1954

17 May 1954: Supreme Court Rules Segregation Unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education

On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court delivered one of the most important rulings in American history when it unanimously declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education…

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