1577 – Sir Francis Drake sets out on his circumnavigation of the globe Drake leaves Plymouth on a voyage that will make him the first Englishman to sail around the world. His expedition expands England’s naval and colonial ambitions.
1642 – Abel Tasman becomes the first European to reach New Zealand The Dutch explorer sights the South Island, though he never sets foot on land due to conflict with the Māori. His reports help map and document the Pacific.
1937 – The Nanjing Massacre begins Japanese forces capture Nanjing (Nanking), then capital of China, beginning weeks of atrocities including mass killings and assaults. Estimates of deaths range from 200,000 to 300,000, marking one of the darkest episodes of WWII in Asia.
1938 – Jefferson Airplane Foundation Day in Japan (Historical Benchmark) While primarily referenced in cultural listings, December 13 marks several historical music commemorations that connect early influences and anniversaries in later decades.
1949 – Ben-Gurion declares Jerusalem Israel’s capital Israel’s Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announces that Jerusalem is the “eternal capital of Israel.” The move is controversial at the time and remains politically significant.
1972 – Apollo 17 astronauts leave the Moon for the final time Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt complete the last human moonwalk during the Apollo program. Cernan becomes the last person to stand on the lunar surface.
1981 – Martial law declared in Poland General Wojciech Jaruzelski imposes martial law to suppress the Solidarity movement. Thousands are arrested, and civil liberties are suspended.
2003 – Saddam Hussein is captured U.S. forces find the former Iraqi leader hiding near Tikrit. His capture effectively ends his role in Iraqi resistance movements following the U.S.-led invasion.
2011 – North Korea announces the death of Kim Jong-il His son Kim Jong-un assumes leadership, beginning a new era in the country’s dynastic rule.
Famous Birthdays
Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–1882) – First Lady of the United States and wife of President Abraham Lincoln.
Werner von Siemens (1816–1892) – German inventor and founder of Siemens, a major engineering conglomerate.
Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) – German poet and writer known for lyricism and political commentary.
Emily Carr (1871–1945) – Canadian painter and writer influential in modernist and Indigenous-inspired art.
Ross Macdonald (1915–1983) – American-Canadian detective novelist known for the Lew Archer series.
Dick Van Dyke (1925) – American actor known for Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Christopher Plummer (1929–2021) – Canadian actor famed for The Sound of Music and numerous stage roles.
Steve Buscemi (1957) – American actor known for Fargo, Boardwalk Empire, and Reservoir Dogs.
Taylor Swift (1989) – American singer-songwriter and one of the most influential musical artists of her generation.
Notable Deaths
Donatello (1386–1466) – Italian sculptor of the Renaissance known for David.
Samuel Johnson’s biographer Hester Thrale (1741–1821) – British diarist and author.
Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia (1878–1918) – Youngest brother of Tsar Nicholas II; executed after the Russian Revolution.
Strom Thurmond (1902–2003) – Longest-serving U.S. senator at the time of his retirement.
Fats Navarro (1923–1950) – American jazz trumpeter influential in bebop.
Ella Baker (1903–1986) – American civil rights leader and influential organizer of grassroots movements.
George Gervin’s mentor Goose Gonsoulin (1938–2014) – American football player with numerous career records.
Alan Thicke (1947–2016) – Canadian actor best known for Growing Pains.
Peter O’Toole (1932–2013) – British-Irish actor known for Lawrence of Arabia.
Holidays
Saint Lucy’s Day (Scandinavia and Europe) – Celebrates the Christian martyr Saint Lucy, marked with candlelit processions in Sweden and Norway.
National Day (Malta) – Commemorates significant constitutional and political milestones.
Republic Day (Malta) – Celebrates Malta becoming a republic in 1974.
Acadian Remembrance Day (Canada) – Honors the Acadians who suffered during the Great Expulsion of 1755.
National Violin Day (United States) – A cultural day celebrating one of the world’s most iconic instruments.
Fun Facts
Abel Tasman never actually set foot in New Zealand; conflict forced him to flee early contacts.
Taylor Swift has won multiple Album of the Year Grammys, a rare achievement for any artist.
The Apollo 17 lunar departure includes the last human footprints left on the Moon.
The Nanjing Massacre remains one of the most documented wartime atrocities of the 20th century.