Major Events

1776 – Battle of Trenton Following his daring Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River, George Washington leads the Continental Army to a decisive victory against Hessian forces, boosting American morale during the Revolutionary War.

1791 – The first performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute in the U.S. This early American staging helps popularise Mozart’s work across the young nation.

1862 – Largest mass execution in U.S. history Thirty-eight Dakota men are executed in Mankato, Minnesota, following the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862, marking one of the most controversial episodes in American frontier history.

1898 – Marie and Pierre Curie announce discovery of radium Their groundbreaking discovery becomes central to radiation research, medicine, and nuclear science.

1919 – Babe Ruth traded to the New York Yankees The Boston Red Sox sell Ruth to the Yankees, setting in motion the rise of a baseball dynasty and the long-standing “Curse of the Bambino.”

1941 – Winston Churchill addresses the U.S. Congress Days after America enters World War II, Churchill delivers a powerful speech emphasising unity between the Allies.

1972 – Harry S. Truman dies in Independence, Missouri The 33rd U.S. President, known for the Marshall Plan and NATO formation, passes away at age 88.

1991 – Soviet Union formally dissolves The Supreme Soviet meets for the final session, declaring the end of the USSR and officially closing a major chapter of 20th-century global politics.

2004 – Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami A massive undersea megathrust earthquake triggers devastating tsunamis affecting numerous countries, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.

Famous Birthdays

1716 – Thomas Gray, English poet (d. 1771) Known for “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” and influence on Romantic poetry.

1891 – Henry Miller, American writer (d. 1980) Author of provocative and influential modernist novels.

1893 – Mao Zedong, Chinese revolutionary leader (d. 1976) Founder of the People’s Republic of China and major figure in 20th-century world politics.

1904 – Aleister Crowley, English occultist (traditional birthday recording discrepancies) (d. 1947) Controversial mystic and writer influential in esoteric thought.

1921 – Steve Allen, American entertainer (d. 2000) Comedian, writer, and original host of The Tonight Show.

1935 – Abdul “Duke” Fakir, American singer Member of the Four Tops and prominent Motown figure.

1960 – Temuera Morrison, New Zealand actor Recognised for roles across film and television, including major franchise work.

1963 – Lars Ulrich, Danish drummer Founding member of Metallica and key contributor to modern heavy metal.

1971 – Jared Leto, American actor and musician Academy Award–winning performer and lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Notable Deaths

1624 – Simon Marius, German astronomer (b. 1573) Known for his work on the moons of Jupiter and early telescopic observations.

1731 – Brook Taylor, English mathematician (b. 1685) Founder of Taylor series and significant contributor to calculus.

1862 – The 38 Dakota men executed following the U.S.–Dakota War A defining and tragic moment in U.S. frontier history.

1972 – Harry S. Truman, U.S. President (b. 1884) Led postwar American policy and reconstruction.

1974 – Jack Benny, American comedian (b. 1894) A pioneer of radio and television comedy.

1985 – Dian Fossey, American primatologist (b. 1932) Conservationist known for groundbreaking work with mountain gorillas.

2006 – Gerald Ford, U.S. President (b. 1913) 38th President, known for efforts toward national healing after the Watergate scandal.

2013 – Marta Eggerth, Hungarian-American singer (b. 1912) Star of operetta and European cinema.

Holidays

• Boxing Day (UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth realms)
• St. Stephen’s Day (Christian tradition)
• Day of Goodwill (South Africa)
• National Candy Cane Day (United States)
• Thirteen Days of Christmas (Orthodox traditions begin)

Fun Facts

• Boxing Day historically involved giving gifts to tradespeople and the poor; today it is also a major shopping holiday.
• Marie Curie’s discovery of radium led to both scientific breakthroughs and significant public fascination with radioactivity.
• The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 is one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
• Babe Ruth’s transfer transformed American baseball and financial strategies in sports.