On This Day for June 19 - Rosenbergs executed for espionage, Aung San Suu Kyi is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. June 19 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Aung San Suu Kyi READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1953 Rosenbergs executed for espionage READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2016: The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by star LeBron James, defeated the Golden State Warriors in a thrilling game seven to claim the franchise's first NBA title. [ See where LeBron James ranks on our list of the 10 greatest basketball players of all time.] 2013: American actor James Gandolfini, who was best known for his portrayal of Mafia boss and family man Tony Soprano in the HBO drama series The Sopranos (1999–2007), died of a heart attack while vacationing in Rome. [Take our quiz about actors and acting.] 1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel in space, returned to Earth in the spacecraft Vostok 6. [ Test your knowledge of famous astronauts and cosmonauts.] 1961: Great Britain recognized Kuwait's independence. [ Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about the Middle East.] 1944: During World War II the Japanese Combined Fleet and the U.S. Fifth Fleet engaged in a major air-and-sea battle, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, which ended the next day with a U.S. victory. [Sort fact from fiction in our World War II quiz.] 1934: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was organized in the United States. SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1566 James I king of England and Scotland 1861 José Rizal Filipino political leader and author 1978 Dirk Nowitzki German basketball player 1947 Salman Rushdie British writer 1945 Aung San Suu Kyi Myanmar politician and opposition leader 1951 Ayman al-Zawahiri Egyptian militant SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2021 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help