On This Day in History – December

Major Events

• 1492 – Christopher Columbus reaches Hispaniola On his first voyage across the Atlantic, Columbus lands on the island now shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. His arrival marks the beginning of European colonisation in the Caribbean.
• 1766 – Christie’s Auction House holds its first sale James Christie conducts the first recorded auction in London. The company grows into one of the world’s most prestigious art auction houses.
• 1848 – U.S. President James K. Polk confirms the California Gold Rush Polk formally announces the discovery of gold in California during a speech to Congress. This triggers one of the largest migrations in U.S. history.
• 1933 – Prohibition ends in the United States The 21st Amendment is ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and ending 13 years of alcohol prohibition. Celebrations erupt as this becomes the only amendment to overturn a previous one.
• 1955 – The Montgomery Bus Boycott begins Four days after Rosa Parks’ arrest, African American citizens in Montgomery launch a city-wide bus boycott. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., it becomes a defining movement in the U.S. civil rights struggle.
• 1969 – The ARPANET delivers its first successful message between nodes Just weeks after the network’s first test, the U.S. Department of Defense ARPANET—the precursor to the internet—successfully exchanges data between UCLA and Stanford Research Institute.
• 1989 – The peaceful Velvet Revolution concludes The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announces it will relinquish power after weeks of public protests. Václav Havel later becomes president as democracy is restored.
• 1991 – The UK and Argentina restore diplomatic relations Nine years after the Falklands War, the two nations formally normalize relations. Talks later lead to cooperation on fisheries and oil exploration.
• 2017 – Russia is banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics The International Olympic Committee bans Russia from competing due to systematic doping scandals. Some athletes compete under a neutral flag, marking one of the largest sanctions in Olympic history.

Famous Birthdays

• Martin Van Buren (1782–1862) – Eighth President of the United States and founder of the Democratic Party.
• Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) – English poet known for Goblin Market and religious verse.
• Walt Disney (1901–1966) – American animator, filmmaker, and founder of The Walt Disney Company.
• Josef Lada (1887–1957) – Czech painter and illustrator, famed for his work on The Good Soldier Švejk.
• Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927–2016) – King Rama IX of Thailand, the world’s longest-reigning monarch at the time of his death.
• Little Richard (1932–2020) – Pioneering American rock and roll singer known for hits like “Tutti Frutti.”
• Jeroen Krabbé (1944) – Dutch actor known for The Fugitive and The Living Daylights.
• Paula Patton (1975) – American actress known for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.
• Frankie Muniz (1985) – American actor and racing driver known for Malcolm in the Middle.

Notable Deaths

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) – Austrian composer and prodigy whose work shaped the classical canon.
• Claude Monet (1840–1926) – French founder of Impressionism, famous for Water Lilies.
• Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898–1995) – German-American photographer best known for the iconic “V-J Day Times Square” photo.
• Nelson Mandela’s peer and activist Adelaide Tambo (1929–2007) – South African anti-apartheid figure.
• Robert Sherman (1925–2012) – American songwriter behind Disney classics like “It’s a Small World.”
• Nelson Shanks (1937–2015) – American realist painter known for portraits of Diana, Princess of Wales.
• Johnny Hallyday (1943–2017) – French rock star and national icon with a career spanning six decades.
• George H. W. Bush’s advisor Clayton Yeutter (1930–2017) – U.S. politician and agriculture secretary.
• Ken Berry (1933–2018) – American actor known for F Troop and Mama’s Family.

Holidays

• King Bhumibol Memorial Day (Thailand) – National day of remembrance for King Rama IX.
• International Volunteer Day – Recognized by the United Nations to encourage service and community contribution.
• Repeal Day (United States) – Celebrates the end of Prohibition in 1933.

Fun Facts

• Prohibition lasted 13 years, 10 months, and 19 days before its repeal today.
• Mozart died at only 35, leaving over 600 musical works, many still considered masterpieces.
• The first major internet message in history was sent only five weeks before today’s ARPANET milestone.