Reuters historical calendar - May 19

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) Following are some of the major events to have occurred on May 19 since 1900: 1906 - The Simplon Tunnel opened, connecting Italy and Switzerland through the Alps.

1935 - T E Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, died after a motorcycle accident. He described his military exploits during World War One in the book ''Seven Pillars of Wisdom''.

1993 - The United States recognised the Angolan government after its democratic reforms and urged the rebel UNITA movement to negotiate peace.

1994 - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died.

2001 - Arab foreign ministers, meeting in Egypt, recommended the suspension of political contacts with the Israeli government until it halted military assaults against the Palestinians.

2002 - John Gorton, former prime minister of Australia, died.

2003 - Indonesia's military launched a big offensive on rebel bases in Aceh after peace talks failed the day before.

2004 - The world's first embryonic stem cell bank opened in Britain.

2005 - The oldest surviving version of the FA Cup was sold for 478,400 pounds to an anonymous bidder at auction -- a world record price for an item of soccer memorabilia.

**2006 - Apa Sherpa, 46, of Nepal climbed the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, for the 16th time, bettering his own record set in 2005.

REUTERS DS PM1201