October 19 Birthday
On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his army of 7,000 to George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia. The surrender effectively ended the American Revolution. The British band played "The World Turned Upside Down." Cornwallis claimed to be ill and sent his deputy to surrender his sword. Washington, in turn, sent his own deputy to receive it. The formal peace treaty was not signed until 1783. Yorktown was won with French naval support — the French fleet prevented the British from evacuating by sea. On October 19, 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 508 points — 22.6% — the largest one-day percentage decline in history. The crash was triggered by computerized trading programs that automatically sold as prices fell, creating a downward spiral. The market recovered within two years. The crash led to circuit breakers that halt trading during extreme declines. People born on October 19 fall under the zodiac sign of Libra. The birthstone is Opal and the birth flower is Marigold. Historical events on October 19 include 1781: British General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown (American Revolution effectively ends), 1987: Black Monday — stock market crashes 22.6% in one day, 2003: Pope John Paul II beatifies Mother Teresa. Famous people born on October 19 include John le Carré (1931), Evander Holyfield (1962), Trey Parker (1969).