1. On May 19, 1775, a group of Maine patriots captured the British ship HMS Margaretta, one of the first naval victories for the American Revolution.

2. May 19, 1828, marked the inauguration of the first steamship service to Maine, from Boston to Portland via the Portland Steam Packet Company.

3. The Maine Legislature authorized the establishment of the state's first normal school, now the University of Maine at Farmington, on May 19, 1864.

4. On May 19, 1962, construction began on the Maine Turnpike, one of the first toll highways in the United States.

5. The Maine Women's Hall of Fame inducted its first group of six honorees on May 19, 1990, including activists, artists, educators, and businesswomen who made significant contributions to the state.