It happened today – on this day in history – February 19

1473: Birth of athematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

1736: Handel’s “Alexander’s Feast” premieres at the Covent Garden Theatre, London.

1819: Explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands and claims them in the name of King George III.

1878: Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his phonograph.

1923: Jean Sibelius’ 6th Symphony premieres.

1942: About 150 Japanese warplanes attack the Australian city of Darwin. On the same day, President Roosevelt orders the detention and internment of all west-coast Japanese-Americans.

1944: 823 British bombers attack Berlin.

1945: US 5th Fleet launches invasion of Iwo Jima against the Japanese.

1964: Peter Sellers marries Britt Ekland in London.

1965: The Beatles recorded the John Lennon song ‘You’re Going To Lose That Girl’ in two takes at EMI Studios in Abbey Road for the ‘Help!’ soundtrack album.

1971: Chat show “Parkinson” debuts on BBC1.

1980: AC/DC singer Bon Scott is found dead in a car parked outside a friend’s flat on East Dulwich

1981: George Harrison is ordered to pay ABKCO Music $587,000 for “subconscious plagiarism” of his song “My Sweet Lord” with Ronnie Mack’s song “He’s So Fi.ne”.

1982: Ozzy Osbourne was arrested in San Antonio, Texas for urinating on the cenotaph at the Alamo.

1985: EastEnders begins on BBC1.

1994: Director Derek Jarman dies aged 52.

1995: Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson on Cancun beach, Mexico, four days after they first met.

1996: Singer Bjork attacked a news reporter as she arrived at Bangkok International Airport in Thailand.

2004: Johnny Cash’s family blocked an attempt by advertisers to use his hit song ‘Ring of Fire’ to promote haemorrhoid-relief cream.

2016: Author Harper Lee dies aged 89.

2018: Nigeria says 110 girls are missing, presumed kidnapped by Boko Haram after attack on school in Dapchi, Yobe state.

2019: Democrat Bernie Sanders announces he is running for President for a second time. On the same day, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld dies aged 85.

BIRTHDAYS: Smokey (William) Robinson, singer/songwriter, 80; Pierre van der Linden, drummer (Focus) 74; Tony Iommi, guitarist (Black Sabbath) 72; Andy Powell, guitarist (Wishbone Ash) 70; Jeff Daniels, actor, 65; Dave Wakeling, singer/guitarist (The Beat) 63; Ray Winstone, actor, 63; Steve Nieve (Nason), musician (The Attractions) 62; Prince Andrew, 60; Seal (Henry Samuel) singer, 57; Kate Ashcroft (Radley) musician (Spiritualized) 55; Benicio del Toro, actor, 53; Beth Ditto (Mary Beth Patterson), singer, 39; Millie Bobbie Brown, actress, 16.