19 October

Across recorded history, 1,479 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 19 October. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← October 18 October 20 →

Ernest Rutherford

1871–1937

New Zealand physicist

Ernest Rutherford was a physicist who pioneered the orbital theory of the atom through his research on radioactivity.

Lu Xun

1881–1936

Chinese novelist and essayist

Lu Xun was a Chinese writer known for his influential novels and essays that shaped modern Chinese literature.

Alija Izetbegović

1925–2003

Bosnian politician, lawyer, philosopher and author

Alija Izetbegović was a politician who served as the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Samora Moisés Machel

1933–1986

1st President of Mozambique

Samora Moisés Machel served as the first president of Mozambique.

Osamu Shimomura

1928–2018

Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist

Osamu Shimomura was a marine biologist who discovered and developed green fluorescent protein.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

1892–1950

American poet

Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American poet known for her lyrical poetry and plays.

Cesare Lombroso

1835–1909

Italian psychiatrist, physician, and criminologist

Cesare Lombroso was a criminologist who founded the field of criminal anthropology.

Jana Novotná

1968–2017

Czech tennis player

Jana Novotná was a Czech tennis player who competed professionally on the international circuit.

Camille Claudel

1864–1943

French sculptor

Camille Claudel was a French sculptor known for her work in stone and bronze.

Vere Gordon Childe

1892–1957

British prehistorian archaeologist

Vere Gordon Childe was a prehistorian who developed influential theories regarding the development of human civilization through archaeological research.

Marie Thérèse of France

1778–1851

French Madame Royale

Marie Thérèse of France was an aristocrat who served as the Madame Royale of France.

Józef Poniatowski

1763–1813

nephew of King of Poland Stanislaus II; Marshal of France

Józef Poniatowski was a military officer and the nephew of King Stanislaus II of Poland who served as a Marshal of France.

Charles Wheatstone

1802–1875

British scientist and inventor

Charles Wheatstone was a British scientist and inventor who contributed to the development of the electric telegraph and the concertina.

Sergio Osmeña

1878–1961

(1878-1961) President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946

Sergio Osmeña was a politician who served as the President of the Philippines.

Henri Michaux

1899–1984

French painter, poet and writer

Henri Michaux was a French poet and painter who produced a diverse body of literary and visual work.

Gig Young

1913–1978

American actor

Gig Young was an American actor who appeared in numerous film, television, and stage productions throughout his career.

Julio Argentino Roca

1843–1914

Argentine politician and general, former president of Argentina

Julio Argentino Roca was an Argentine politician and general who served as the president of Argentina.

Jacqueline du Pré

1945–1987

British cellist

Jacqueline du Pré was a British cellist known for her performances of the classical repertoire.

Sergey Biryuzov

1904–1964

Soviet military commander (1904－1964)

Sergey Biryuzov was a Soviet military commander who served as a high-ranking officer in the armed forces.

André Antoine

1858–1943

French actor and director

André Antoine was a theatre director who founded the Théâtre Libre in Paris.

Mihail Sadoveanu

1880–1961

Romanian writer, journalist and politician

Mihail Sadoveanu was a Romanian writer who produced a prolific body of literary works throughout his career.

Eugène Joseph Delporte

1882–1955

Belgian astronomer

Eugène Joseph Delporte was a Belgian astronomer who discovered numerous asteroids.

Kenneth E. Iverson

1920–2004

Canadian computer scientist

Kenneth E. Iverson was a computer scientist who developed the APL programming language.

Jean-Georges Noverre

1727–1810

French dancer

Jean-Georges Noverre was a choreographer who developed the ballet d'action.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.