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Contents

Events

Births

Deaths

Holidays and observances

External links

Events

★ 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months; Celestine hoped to return to his previous life as an ascetic hermit.

★ 1545 - Council of Trent begins.

★ 1577 - Sir Francis Drake sets out from Plymouth, England, on his round-the-world voyage.

★ 1636 - The Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes three militia regiments to defend the colony against the Pequot Indians. This organization is recognized today as the founding of the United States National Guard.

★ 1642 - Abel Janszoon Tasman reaches New Zealand.

★ 1643 - English Civil War: The Battle of Alton takes place in Hampshire.

★ 1769 - Dartmouth College founded by the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, with a Royal Charter from King George III, on land donated by Royal Governor John Wentworth.

★ 1862 - American Civil War: At the Battle of Fredericksburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeats the Union Major General Ambrose E. Burnside.

★ 1884 - first performance of any of Richard Strauss's compositions in the United States (Symphony in f, New York Philharmonic)

★ 1895 - Premiere of Gustav Mahler's ''Resurrection Symphony'' in Berlin.

★ 1937 - Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Nanjing - Nanjing, defended by the National Revolutionary Army under the command of General Tang Shengzhi, falls to the Japanese.

★ 1937 - Nanjing Massacre. Japanese troops begin carrying out several weeks of raping and killing of civilians and suspected Chinese resistance after the fall of Nanjing.

★ 1938 - The Holocaust: 100 deportees from Sachsenhausen build the Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg.

★ 1939 - World War II: Battle of the River Plate - Captain Hans Langsdorff of the German Deutschland class cruiser (pocket battleship) ''Admiral Graf Spee'' engages with Royal Navy cruisers HMS ''Exeter'', HMS ''Ajax'' and HMNZS ''Achilles''.

★ 1941 - World War II: Hungary and Romania declare war on the United States.

★ 1943 - World War II: 710 Bombers of U.S. 8th Air Force attack Kiel, Germany.

★ 1949 - The Knesset votes to move the capital of Israel to Jerusalem.

★ 1959 - Archbishop Makarios becomes the first President of Cyprus.

★ 1972 - Apollo program: Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt begin the sixth and final Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) or "Moonwalk" of Apollo 17. This was the last manned mission to the moon of the 20th century.

★ 1973 - Rael, leader of the Raelian Movement claims to meet an ET he says is named Yahweh, during an alleged UFO encounter in Puy de Lassolas, France.

★ 1974 - Malta becomes a republic.

★ 1977 - A DC-3 aircraft chartered from the Indianapolis-based National Jet crashes near Evansville Regional Airport, killing 29, including the University of Evansville basketball team, support staff and boosters of the team.

★ 1978 - The first Susan B. Anthony dollar enters circulation.

★ 1979 - The Canadian Government of Prime Minister Joe Clark is defeated in the House of Commons, prompting the 1980 Canadian election.

★ 1981 - General Wojciech Jaruzelski declares martial law in Poland to prevent dismantling of the communist system by ''Solidarity''.

★ 1983 - The Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons play in the highest scoring NBA game in history, with the Pistons winning 186-184 in triple overtime. In addition to most points in a game, this game also set the record for most field goals made (136), and most assists (93).

★ 1989 - The last issue of ''Gnistan'' (The Spark), the organ of the Solidaritetspartiet, is published in Sweden.

★ 1996 - Kofi Annan is elected as Secretary-General of the United Nations.

★ 2000 - The "Texas 7" escape from the John Connally Unit near Kenedy, Texas and go on a robbery spree, during which police officer Aubrey Hawkins is shot and killed.

★ 2000 - American Vice President Al Gore delivers his concession speech ending his hopes of becoming the 43rd President of the United States.

★ 2001 - the Indian Parliament Sansad is attacked by terrorists, killing 15 people, including all the terrorists.

★ 2002 - Enlargement of the European Union: The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004.

★ 2003 - Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit (see Operation Red Dawn).

★ 2003 - In the most-attended basketball game in history, 78,129 watch Michigan State University lose 79-74 to the University of Kentucky at Ford Field.

★ 2004 - Former Chilean dictator, General Augusto Pinochet is put under house arrest, after being sued under accusations over 9 kidnapping actions and manslaughter. The house arrest is lifted the same day on appeal.

★ 2006 - The Baiji, or Chinese River Dolphin, announced as extinct.

Births

★ 1521 - Pope Sixtus V (d. 1590)

★ 1533 - King Eric XIV of Sweden (d. 1577)

★ 1553 - King Henry IV of France (d. 1610)

★ 1585 - William Drummond of Hawthornden, Scottish poet (d. 1649)

★ 1640 - Robert Plot, English naturalist (d. 1696)

★ 1662 - Francesco Bianchini, Italian philosopher and scientist (d. 1729)

★ 1678 - Yongzheng Emperor of China (d. 1735)

★ 1720 - Carlo Gozzi, Italian dramatist (d. 1804)

★ 1724 - Franz Aepinus, German scientist (d. 1802)

★ 1784 - Archduke Louis of Austria (d. 1864)

★ 1797 - Heinrich Heine, German poet (d. 1856)

★ 1804 - Joseph Howe, Canadian politician (d. 1873)

★ 1816 - Ernst Werner von Siemens, German engineer, inventor, and industrialist (d. 1892)

★ 1818 - Mary Todd Lincoln, First Lady of the United States (d. 1882)

★ 1836 - Franz von Lenbach, German painter (d. 1904)

★ 1854 - Thomas A. Watson, American assistant to Alexander Graham Bell (d. 1934)

★ 1856 - Svetozar Boroević, Austro-Hungarian field marshal (d. 1920)

★ 1860 - Lucien Guitry, French actor (d. 1925)

★ 1864 - Emil Seidel, Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 1947)

★ 1867 - Kristian Birkeland, Norwegian explorer and scientist (d. 1917)

★ 1870 - Edward LeSaint, American actor and director (d. 1940)

★ 1871 - Emily Carr, Canadian artist (d. 1945)

★ 1874 - Josef Lhévinne, Russian-born pianist (d. 1944)

★ 1883 - Belle da Costa Greene, American librarian, bibliographer and archivist (d. 1950)

★ 1887 - George Polya, Hungarian-born mathematician (d. 1985)

★ 1887 - Alvin York, American soldier & Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1964)

★ 1897 - Drew Pearson, American journalist (d. 1969)

★ 1903 - Carlos Montoya, Spanish guitarist (d. 1993)

★ 1906 - Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (d. 1968)

★ 1906 - Sir Laurens van der Post, South African author (d. 1996)

★ 1910 - Van Heflin, American actor (d. 1971)

★ 1911 - Trygve Haavelmo, Norwegian economist and Bank of Sweden Prize winner (d. 1999)

★ 1911 - Kenneth Patchen, American poet and painter (d. 1972)

★ 1913 - Archie Moore, American boxer and World Light-Heavyweight Champion (d. 1998)

★ 1913 - Arnold Brown, the 11th General of The Salvation Army (d. 2002)

★ 1915 - Curd Jürgens, German actor (d. 1982)

★ 1915 - Ross Macdonald, American-born author (d. 1983)

★ 1915 - B.J. Vorster, Prime Minister of South Africa 1966-1978 (d. 1983)

★ 1917 - John Hart, American actor

★ 1919 - Hans-Joachim Marseille, German flying ace of World War II (d. 1942)

★ 1920 - George Shultz, United States Secretary of State 1982-1989

★ 1923 - Philip Warren Anderson, American physicist and Nobel Prize laureate

★ 1923 - Larry Doby, American baseball player (d. 2003)

★ 1925 - Dick Van Dyke, American actor and comedian

★ 1926 - George Rhoden, Jamaican athlete and Olympic gold medalist

★ 1929 - Christopher Plummer, Canadian actor

★ 1930 - Robert Prosky, American actor

★ 1934 - Richard D. Zanuck, American film producer

★ 1935 - Joe Christopher, American baseball player

★ 1935 - Adélia Prado, Brazilian writer

★ 1935 - Ken Hall, American football player, known as the “Sugar Land Express”

★ 1935 - Lindy McDaniel, American baseball player

★ 1936 - His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan (Aga Khan IV), Imam (leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims

★ 1936 - J.C. Martin American baseball player

★ 1939 - Eric Flynn, British actor and singer (d. 2002)

★ 1941 - John Davidson, American actor and game show host

★ 1942 - Anna Eshoo, American politician

★ 1943 - Ferguson Jenkins, Canadian baseball player

★ 1943 - Gösta Winbergh, Swedish tenor (d. 2002)

★ 1944 - Hwang Jang Lee, Korean martial artist and film actor

★ 1945 - Brian McGuire, Australian racing driver (d. 1977)

★ 1947 - Darlene Cates, American actress

★ 1947 - Dave Hamilton, American baseball player

★ 1948 - Ted Nugent, American guitarist

★ 1948 - Jeff Baxter, American guitarist (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers)

★ 1948 - Lillian Board, English athlete (d. 1970)

★ 1948 - Brian Wilson, Scottish politician

★ 1949 - Tom Verlaine, American singer/guitarist of Television

★ 1950 - Wendie Malick, American actress

★ 1950 - Tom Vilsack, Governor of Iowa

★ 1952 - Sylvester Ritter, American professional wrestler better known as "Junkyard Dog" (d. 1998)

★ 1953 - Ben Bernanke, American economist and current United States Chairman of the Federal Reserve

★ 1953 - Bill Castro, Dominican baseball player

★ 1953 - Bob Gainey, Canadian ice hockey player

★ 1954 - John Anderson, American country musician

★ 1954 - Tamora Pierce, author

★ 1956 - Dale Berra, American baseball player

★ 1957 - Steve Buscemi, American actor

★ 1957 - Morris Day, American singer (The Time)

★ 1957 - Jean-Marie Messier, French businessman

★ 1958 - Lynn-Holly Johnson, American figure skater and actress

★ 1959 - Jim Barrell, American professional wrestler

★ 1959 - Johnny Whitaker, American actor

★ 1960 - Daggubati Venkatesh, Indian actor

★ 1961 - Harry Gregson-Williams, English composer

★ 1961 - Irene Saez, Miss Universe 1981 and Venezuelan Politician

★ 1963 - Jake White, South African rugby union coach

★ 1964 - Hideto Matsumoto, Japanese musician (X Japan) (d. 1998)

★ 1965 - Marko Mäetamm, Estonian artist

★ 1966 - Ross Burden, New Zealand celebrity chef

★ 1966 - Don Roff, American writer and filmmaker

★ 1967 - Jamie Foxx, American actor

★ 1969 - Murat Nasyrov, Russian singer (d. 2007)

★ 1969 - Sergei Fedorov, Russian ice hockey player

★ 1972 - Mauricio Solís, Costa Rican footballer

★ 1973 - Christie Clark, American actress

★ 1974 - Nicholas McCarthy, British guitarist (Franz Ferdinand)

★ 1974 - Sara Cox, TV and radio presenter

★ 1975 - Tom DeLonge, American guitarist (blink-182, Angels and Airwaves)

★ 1975 - Matthew LeCroy, American baseball player

★ 1976 - Josh Fogg, American baseball player

★ 1976 - Radosław Sobolewski, Polish footballer

★ 1977 - Peter Stringer, Irish Rugby International

★ 1978 - Ryo Kawakita, Japanese guitarist (Maximum the Hormone)

★ 1979 - Jon Elliott, American radio talkshow host

★ 1981 - Amy Lee, American singer/songwriter (Evanescence)

★ 1982 - Ricky Nolasco, American baseball player

★ 1982 - Freddie Weinke, American football player

★ 1982 - Tuka Rocha, Brazilian racing driver

★ 1982 - Dominik Werling, German footballer

★ 1983 - Matt Deis, American bassist

★ 1983 - Otylia Jędrzejczak, Polish Olympic swimmer

★ 1984 - Alex Agnew, English Bassist

★ 1989 - Taylor Swift, American singer/songwriter

★ 1991 - Jay Greenberg, American composer

★ 2005 - Prince Nicolas of Belgium

★ 2005 - Prince Aymeric of Belgium

Deaths

★ 1048 - Al-Biruni, Persian mathematician (b. 973)

★ 1124 - Pope Callixtus II

★ 1126 - Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria

★ 1204 - Maimonides, Spanish rabbi and philosopher (b. 1135)

★ 1250 - Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1194)

★ 1404 - Albert, Count of Holland (b. 1336)

★ 1466 - Donatello, Florentine artist and sculptor (b. 1386)

★ 1516 - Johannes Trithemius, German cryptographer (b. 1462)

★ 1521 - Manuel I of Portugal (b. 1469)

★ 1557 - Niccolo Fontana Tartaglia, Italian mathematician

★ 1565 - Conrad Gessner, Swiss naturalist (b. 1516)

★ 1603 - François Viète, French mathematician (b. 1540)

★ 1621 - Katarina Stenbock, Queen of Gustav I of Sweden (b. 1535)

★ 1716 - Charles de La Fosse, French painter (b. 1640)

★ 1721 - Alexander Selkirk, Scottish sailor and castaway (b. 1676)

★ 1729 - Anthony Collins, English philosopher (b. 1676)

★ 1754 - Mahmud I, Ottoman Sultan (b. 1696)

★ 1769 - Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, German poet (b. 1715)

★ 1783 - Pehr Wilhelm Wargentin, Swedish astronomer (b. 1717)

★ 1784 - Samuel Johnson, British writer and lexicographer (b. 1709)

★ 1814 - Charles Joseph, Prince de Ligne, Belgian-born Austrian field marshal (b. 1735)

★ 1835 - John Storm, American Revolutionary soldier (b. 1760)

★ 1837 - Herman of Alaska, Russian Orthodox hermit (b. 1756)

★ 1863 - Christian Friedrich Hebbel, German writer (b. 1813)

★ 1868 - Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, German botanist (b. 1794)

★ 1881 - August Senoa, Croatian writer (b. 1838)

★ 1883 - Victor de Laprade, French poet and critic (b. 1812)

★ 1895 - Anyos Jedlik, Hungarian physicist (b. 1800)

★ 1919 - Woldemar Voigt, German physicist (b. 1850)

★ 1922 - Hannes Hafstein, Icelandic politician and poet (b. 1861)

★ 1924 - Samuel Gompers, American labor and political leader, founder of American Federation of Labor (b. 1850)

★ 1930 - Fritz Pregl, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1869)

★ 1931 - Gustave le Bon, French psychologist (b. 1840)

★ 1932 - Georgios Jakobides, Greek painter (b. 1853)

★ 1935 - Victor Grignard, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1871)

★ 1940 - Jacques-Arsène d'Arsonval, French physicist (b. 1851)

★ 1942 - Wlodimir Ledochowski, Polish-Austrian director of the Society of Jesus (b. 1866)

★ 1944 - Wassily Kandinsky, Russian-born French artist (b. 1866)

★ 1944 - Lupe Vélez, Mexican actress (b. 1908)

★ 1945 - Irma Grese, Nazi war criminal (b. 1923)

★ 1945 - Elisabeth Volkenrath, supervisor at concentration camps (b. 1919)

★ 1945 - Josef Kramer, commandant of Bergen Belsen concentration camp (b. 1906)

★ 1947 - Nicholas Roerich, Russian-born painter (b. 1874)

★ 1950 - Abraham Wald, Hungarian mathematician (b. 1902)

★ 1954 - John Raymond Hubbell, American writer (b. 1879)

★ 1955 - Egas Moniz, Portuguese psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, and Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1874)

★ 1958 - Tim Moore, American actor (b. 1887)

★ 1961 - Grandma Moses, American painter (b. 1860)

★ 1969 - Raymond A. Spruance, American admiral (b. 1886)

★ 1969 - Spencer Williams, Jr., American actor (b. 1893)

★ 1973 - Henry Green, English author (b. 1905)

★ 1979 - Jon Hall, American actor (b. 1915)

★ 1981 - Pigmeat Markham, American entertainer (b. 1904)

★ 1983 - Alexander Schmemann, Orthodox Christian priest and theologian (b. 1921)

★ 1983 - Nichita Stanescu, Romanian poet (b. 1933)

★ 1992 - Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, American businessman and heir (b. 1899)

★ 1992 - K.C. Irving, Canadian industrialist (b. 1899)

★ 1993 - Vanessa Duriès, French novelist (b. 1972)

★ 2001 - Chuck Schuldiner, American musician (Death) (b. 1967)

★ 2002 - Zal Yanovsky, American musician (The Lovin' Spoonful) (b. 1945)

★ 2003 - William V. Roth, Jr., U.S. Senator (b. 1921)

★ 2004 - Andre Rodgers, Bahamian baseball player (b. 1934)

★ 2004 - David Wheeler, British computer scientist (b. 1927)

★ 2005 - Stanley Tookie Williams, co-founder of the Crips (b. 1953)

★ 2005 - Timothy Jordan II, American musician (The All American Rejects, Jonezetta) (b. 1981)

★ 2006 - Lamar Hunt, American sports executive (b. 1932)

Holidays and observances

★ Roman festivals - Tellus was worshipped in the district ''Carinae'' at the Esquiline Hill, and a ''lectisternium'' or table was spread for Ceres.

★ R.C. Saints - memorial of Saint Lucy

★ In the Julian calendar before the Gregorian reform, this was the shortest day and longest night, and widely celebrated as such.

★ Malta - Republic Day (since 1974)

★ St. Lucia's Day in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and some regions of Italy, mainly Sicily, Veneto and Trentino.

External links

★ BBC: On This Day

★

★ On This Day in Canada
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