August 19

Events - Other

295 BC

The first temple to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility, is dedicated by Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges during the Third Samnite War.

Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges consecrated Rome's first temple to Venus, celebrating the goddess of love during the Third Samnite War.
In 295 BC, Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges dedicated the first temple to Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. Set amid the Third Samnite War, this consecration aimed to secure divine favour for Rome's military campaigns. Venus was venerated as the mother of the Roman people, and her new temple symbolized hope and endurance. This dedication marked a milestone in Roman religious and civic architecture. It established a sacred site that would influence Roman worship practices for centuries.
295 BC Venus Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges Third Samnite War
1987day.year

Hungerford massacre: In the United Kingdom, Michael Ryan kills sixteen people with a semi-automatic rifle and then commits suicide.

Michael Ryan carried out a mass shooting in Hungerford, England, killing sixteen people before taking his own life.
On August 19, 1987, Michael Ryan went on a shooting spree in the town of Hungerford, England, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. Over several hours, he killed sixteen victims, including local residents and a police officer, before fatally shooting himself. The tragedy shocked the nation and led to immediate scrutiny of UK firearms laws. In its aftermath, the British government banned most semi-automatic rifles and introduced stricter licensing controls. The Hungerford massacre remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in United Kingdom history and a catalyst for enduring gun policy reforms.
1987 Hungerford massacre semi-automatic rifle