On this day in History - October 19

1781 – The Siege of Yorktown ends with the British surrender, marking a decisive victory for American and French forces in the American Revolutionary War.

1943 – Researchers at Rutgers University isolate streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis.

1960 – The United States imposes a near-total trade embargo against Cuba.

1974 – Niue becomes self-governing in free association with New Zealand.

1987 – Black Monday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges 508 points, losing approximately 22% of its value in a single day.

2005 – Hurricane Wilma becomes the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, with a minimum central pressure of 882 millibars.