Major Events

• 1282 – Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, is killed Llywelyn’s death during conflict with English forces marks the effective end of independent Welsh rule. His fall allows Edward I to consolidate English control over Wales.
• 1792 – France begins the trial of King Louis XVI The National Convention formally indicts Louis XVI for treason during the French Revolution. The trial becomes a political turning point, ultimately leading to his execution the following month.
• 1905 – The “Great Separation” between Church and State begins in France France enacts the Law on the Separation of Church and State, establishing secularism as a core principle of the Republic. The law remains a cornerstone of French civil identity.
• 1931 – Statute of Westminster is enacted The British Parliament grants legislative independence to Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the Irish Free State. The statute begins the modern evolution of the Commonwealth.
• 1941 – Germany and Italy declare war on the United States Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hitler and Mussolini declare war on the United States, bringing the U.S. fully into the European theatre of WWII. The same day, the U.S. Congress reciprocates.
• 1946 – UNICEF is established The United Nations creates the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to aid children affected by WWII. UNICEF later shifts to global development and health work.
• 1962 – Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin become the last people executed in Canada Their hangings at the Don Jail in Toronto are the final executions before the nation gradually phases out capital punishment.
• 1972 – Apollo 17 astronauts make the last human Moon walk Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt become the last humans to walk on the lunar surface. No crewed mission has returned since.
• 2001 – China joins the World Trade Organization (WTO) China’s accession marks one of the most economically significant decisions in modern history, radically reshaping global trade.
• 2008 – Bernard Madoff is arrested The financier is charged with running the largest Ponzi scheme in history, defrauding investors of an estimated $65 billion.

Famous Birthdays

• Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) – French Romantic composer known for Symphonie fantastique.
• Fiorello La Guardia (1882–1947) – Influential mayor of New York City.
• Subramania Bharati (1882–1921) – Indian poet, independence activist, and social reformer.
• Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006) – Egyptian novelist and Nobel laureate.
• Rita Moreno (1931) – Puerto Rican actress and one of the few EGOT winners.
• Brenda Lee (1944) – American singer known for “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
• Teri Garr (1944) – American actress known for Young Frankenstein and Tootsie.
• Jermaine Jackson (1954) – American singer, member of The Jackson 5.
• Hailee Steinfeld (1996) – American actress and singer known for True Grit and Hawkeye.

Notable Deaths

• Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (1223–1282) – Last native Prince of Wales.
• Benjamin Disraeli’s political ally John Bright (1811–1889) – British statesman known for promoting free trade.
• Sam Cooke (1931–1964) – American soul singer known for “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
• Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973) – Romanian-American actor famous for gangster roles.
• Anne Sexton (1928–1974) – American poet and Pulitzer Prize winner.
• Heydar Aliyev (1923–2003) – President of Azerbaijan and influential post-Soviet leader.
• Ravi Shankar (1920–2012) – Indian sitar maestro who brought classical Indian music to global audiences.
• Stuart Hall (1932–2014) – Jamaican-born cultural theorist foundational to cultural studies.
• Shinzo Abe’s predecessor Keizō Obuchi (1937–2000) – Former Prime Minister of Japan.

Holidays

• International Mountain Day (UN) – Celebrates mountain ecosystems and promotes sustainable development.
• Republic Day (Burkina Faso) – Marks autonomy from France in 1958.
• National Tango Day (Argentina) – In honor of composer Carlos Gardel and musician Julio de Caro.
• Indiana Statehood Day (United States) – Commemorates Indiana’s admission to the Union in 1816.

Fun Facts

• Brenda Lee, born today, recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” at age 13, and it remains one of the most played holiday songs worldwide.
• Eugene Cernan, the last man on the Moon, wrote his daughter’s initials “TDC” in the lunar dust before leaving.
• China’s entry into the WTO is considered one of the most significant economic turning points of the 21st century.