On This Day in Tech History

Stories Published June 19 Throughout History

2025

Historic Tech Events

Michael Pupin Patented Long-Distance Telephony

Michael Pupin Patented Long-Distance Telephony
1900

Michael Pupin was granted a patent for improvements in long-distance telephony in the year 1900. Pupin was a Serbian-American physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of long-distance telephony and other technologies. His patent, which was granted on March 6, 1900, covered a system of loading coils that could be placed along telephone lines to reduce signal distortion and attenuation over long distances. This allowed for clearer and more reliable long-distance communication, and it helped to pave the way for the development of modern telecommunications. Pupin's work on long-distance telephony earned him numerous honors and awards, including the Edison Medal in 1924 and the Franklin Medal in 1931. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of telecommunications and a pioneer of modern communication technologies.

The First Commercial Photoelectric Cell Was Installed

The First Commercial Photoelectric Cell Was Installed
1931

On June 19, 1931, the first commercial photoelectric cell was installed in West Haven, Connecticut. The photoelectric cell was invented by American physicist, Arthur H. Compton, and was used to convert light into electricity. This invention revolutionized the field of electronics and paved the way for the development of many modern technologies, such as solar cells and digital cameras.

Blaise Pascal Was Born

Blaise Pascal Was Born
1623

Blaise Pascal was born on June 19, 1623, in Clermont-Ferrand, France. He is known for his contributions to a wide range of fields, including mathematics, physics, philosophy, theology, and literature. One of Pascal's most significant contributions to computing was indeed the invention of the Pascaline, a mechanical calculator that he designed to help his father with his work as a tax collector. The Pascaline was an early form of a digital calculator, and it used a series of gears and wheels to perform basic arithmetic operations. Although the Pascaline was not a commercial success, it is considered a significant step in the development of modern computing. In addition to his work on the Pascaline, Pascal also made significant contributions to the fields of geometry, probability theory, and fluid mechanics, among others. He died at the age of 39 on August 19, 1662, in Paris, France.

First Woman Cartoonist Debuted

First Woman Cartoonist Debuted
1940

"Brenda Starr" is a comic strip created by Dale Messick, which debuted on June 19, 1940, in the Chicago Tribune. It is considered to be the first syndicated comic strip created by a woman. The strip chronicles the adventures of the glamorous and daring Brenda Starr, a red-haired reporter for the fictional newspaper, The Flash. Dale Messick was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1906 and began her career as a freelance illustrator. She worked on "Brenda Starr" for over 40 years until her retirement in 1980. The strip was known for its portrayal of women in positions of power and independence, making it a groundbreaking and influential comic for its time. At its peak, it was published in over 250 newspapers worldwide, cementing its status as a cultural icon.

2024

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