1493: Christopher Columbus Discovers Puerto Rico
On November 19, 1493, Christopher Columbus landed on the island now known as Puerto Rico during his second voyage to the New World. This event marked the beginning of European colonization in the Caribbean.
In the new world, we find not just riches but the unknown, and with it, the great challenge of discovery.
~ Christopher Columbus
1620: The Pilgrims Arrive at Cape Cod
On November 19, 1620, the Mayflower anchored at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After a challenging 66-day journey from England, the Pilgrims’ arrival marked a significant moment in the establishment of colonial America.
This new land is as wild and vast as our hopes, promising freedom and the trials of building anew.
~ William Bradford
1831: Birth of James A. Garfield, 20th U.S. President
On November 19, 1831, James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was born. Garfield’s presidency was tragically cut short when he was assassinated only months after taking office, but his rise from poverty to the highest office remains inspirational.
The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.
~ James A. Garfield
Garfield valued honesty, even if it brought hardship, seeing truth as essential to growth.
Ideas control the world.
~ James A. Garfield
He believed that powerful ideas shape the world more than any single leader or event.
I mean to make myself a man, and if I succeed in that, I shall succeed in everything else.
~ James A. Garfield
Garfield was committed to self-improvement, believing that personal growth was the foundation of success.
Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.
~ James A. Garfield
Garfield viewed education as critical to sustaining democracy and freedom.
The civil service can never be placed on a satisfactory basis until it is regulated by law.
~ James A. Garfield
He strongly supported civil service reform, advocating for accountability and fairness in government positions.
A brave man is a man who dares to look the devil in the face and tell him he is a devil.
~ James A. Garfield
Garfield believed that courage involved confronting evil directly, without fear.
I have had many troubles in my life, but the worst of them never came.
~ James A. Garfield
He acknowledged that much of life’s anxiety comes from worrying about things that never actually happen.
The elevation of the laboring classes, without violence, may be regarded as one of the chief works of a successful statesman.
~ James A. Garfield
Garfield promoted fair treatment and opportunities for working people as a marker of good leadership.
Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter.
~ James A. Garfield
This humorous remark highlights Garfield’s lighthearted side, despite his serious political ambitions.
If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.
~ James A. Garfield
Garfield valued a youthful spirit, believing that age should not harden or embitter the heart.
Unusual Facts:
- Garfield was ambidextrous and could write in Latin with one hand and Greek with the other simultaneously.
- He was the last U.S. president to be born in a log cabin.
- Garfield was an ordained preacher before his political career and considered a future in ministry.
- He is the only sitting member of the House of Representatives to be elected president.
- Garfield was shot only four months into his presidency, and his death two months later was largely due to medical malpractice.
1863: President Abraham Lincoln Delivers the Gettysburg Address
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. This brief yet powerful speech became one of the most iconic in American history.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
~ Abraham Lincoln
1917: Birth of Indira Gandhi, First Female Prime Minister of India
On November 19, 1917, Indira Gandhi, India’s first female Prime Minister and a significant figure in Indian politics, was born. Her leadership shaped India’s path in a period of substantial transformation.
You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.
~ Indira Gandhi
1919: U.S. Senate Rejects Treaty of Versailles
On November 19, 1919, the U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended World War I. The rejection, largely due to opposition to the League of Nations, marked a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy.
Peace cannot be legislated with the stroke of a pen, for it must be maintained with the hearts of men.
~ Woodrow Wilson
1959: Ford Announces the Discontinuation of the Edsel
On November 19, 1959, Ford Motor Company announced the discontinuation of the Edsel, a brand launched with high hopes just two years earlier. The Edsel became one of the most famous marketing failures in history.
Success and failure are two sides of the same coin, and the lesson lies in how we face both.
~ Henry Ford
1969: Pelé Scores His 1,000th Goal
On November 19, 1969, Brazilian soccer legend Pelé scored his 1,000th career goal during a match at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. This milestone cemented his legacy as one of the greatest soccer players of all time.
A goal is not just a moment in a match; it is the realization of countless hours of work, determination, and passion.
~ Pelé
1985: Cold War Summit Between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev
On November 19, 1985, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev held their first summit in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting marked the beginning of a thaw in Cold War relations and set the stage for future arms control agreements.
Trust but verify.
~ Ronald Reagan
2006: Nintendo Releases the Wii Gaming Console
On November 19, 2006, Nintendo released the Wii, a revolutionary gaming console that introduced motion-sensing technology to mainstream gaming. The Wii became one of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time.
Gaming is not just about technology; it’s about bringing people together in new and exciting ways.
~ Satoru Iwata, Nintendo CEO
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