What Happened on February 19, 1952

Historical Events

  • American defending champion Dick Button becomes 1st figure-skater to land a triple jump in competition; performs triple loop in Olympic free skate in Oslo; wins gold medal ahead of Austria’s Helmut Seibt
  • First Indochina War: French offensive at Hanoi

Famous Birthdays

  • Amy Tan, American novelist (The Joy Luck Club), born in Oakland, California
  • Gaëtan Dugas, French Canadian flight attendant and HIV patient erroneously vilifed as "Patient Zero", born in Quebec City, Quebec (d. 1984) [1]
  • Rudolfo Neri-Vida, Mexican electrical engineer, PHD, and astronaut (STS 23), born in Chilpancingo, Mexico

Famous Deaths

  • (Percy) Lawrence Grant, British silent and sound screen character actor (Bulldog Drummond; Shanghai Express), dies at 81
  • Knut Hamsun, Norwegian writer (Nobel Prize for Literature, 1920), dies at 92
Died in 1952 1952 Highlights

About February 19, 1952

Day of the Week: Tuesday
How Long Ago? 72 years, 2 months and 9 days
Leap Year: Yes

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Pisces