Today is Friday, October 19, the 293rd day of 2012. There are 73 days left in the year.
1812 ― Napoleon begins his retreat from Moscow
1845 ― Wagner's opera Tannheuser performed for first time
1849 ― Elizabeth Blackwell became first woman in U.S. to receive medical degree
1872 ― World's largest gold nugget (215 kg) found in New South Wales
1944 ― U.S. forces land in Philippines
1950 ― U.N. forces entered Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea
1951 ― President Harry S. Truman formally ends state of war with Germany
1960 ― The U.S. imposes an embargo on exports to Cuba
1963 ― Beatles record "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
1987 ― "Black Monday"; Dow Jones down 508.32, four-times previous record