On this day in History - Dec. 30

• 0039 - Tito Flavio Vespasiano was born (d. 0081). Roman emperor.
• 0274 - St Felix I ends his reign as Catholic Pope.
• 1218 - Richard de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford dies (b. 1162). English politician.
• 1460 - Wars of the Roses: The Duke of York is defeated at the Battle of Wakefield.
• 1460 - Richard, Duke of York dies killed in battle (b. 1411). Claimant to the English throne
• 1525 - Jacob Fugger dies at 66. German banker and merchant.
• 1552 - Simon Forman was born (d. 1611). English occultist and astrologer.
• 1572 - Galeazzo Alessi dies (b. 1512). Italian architect.
• 1573 - Giovanni Battista Giraldi dies (b. 1504). Italian writer.
• 1591 - Pope Innocent IX dies (b. 1519).
• 1642 - Vicenzo da Filicaja was born (d. 1707). Italian poet.
• 1644 - Jan Baptista van Helmont dies [ b. 1580]; Belgian chemist, physiologist, and physician who recognized the existence of discrete gases and identified carbon dioxide. He was part medieval alchemist and part scientist.
• 1673 - Ahmed III was born (d. 1736). Ottoman Sultan
• 1678 - William Croft was born (d. 1727). English composer.
• 1691 - Robert Boyle dies [b. 1627], Irish chemist and natural philosopher noted for his pioneering experiments on the properties of gases and his espousal of a corpuscular view of matter that was a forerunner of the modern theory of chemical elements ( See Boyle's law ).
• 1703 -Tokyo hit by Earthquake; about 37,000 die.
• 1722 - Charles Yorke was born (d. 1770). Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.
• 1724 - Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée was born (d. 1805). French painter.
• 1741 - Bartolomeo Giacometti was born. Composer.
• 1781 - John Needham dies [b. 1713]; English naturalist and Roman Catholic priest.
• 1788 - Francesco Zuccarelli dies at 86. Italian rococo painter/etcher.
• 1803 - The Maratha chief Daulat Rao Sindhia and the British signed the Treaty of Surji-Arjungaon.
• 1819 - Theodor Fontane was born (d. 1898). German novelist and poet.
• 1847 - John Peter Altgeld was born in Niederselters, Prussia. Reformist Illinois governor known principally for his pardon of German American anarchists involved in the Haymarket Riot.
• 1838 - Émile Loubet was born (d. 1929). 7th President of France.
• 1850 - John Milne was born [d. 1913]; English seismologist and geologist who invented the horizontal pendulum seismograph and promoted the establishment of seismological stations.
• 1851 - Asa Griggs Candler was born [d. 1929]; U.S. soft-drink manufacturer who developed Coca-Cola®.This soft drink began in 1886 when a druggist named John "Doc" Pemberton started selling the syrup that he used in his drugstore fountain drinks. When he died, the formula (still a very well kept secret) was sold to Asa Candler, a marketing genius.
• 1852 - Future U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes married Lucy Ware Webb in Cincinnati.
• 1853 - The United States bought some 45,000 sq mi of land from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase, to facilitate railroad building in the Southwest.
• 1853 - 20-strong dinner party held inside life-size model of Iguanodon created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Sir Richard Owen in south London.
• 1853 - André Messager was born. French composer.
• 1861 - US banks stops payments in gold.
• 1861 - Henrique de Paiva Couceiro was born in Lisbon. Portuguese militar and Governor of Angola.
• 1862 - USS Monitor sinks off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
• 1865 - Rudyard Kipling, was born in Bombay, India (d. 1936). British writer ("Jungle Book" and "Soldiers Three") and recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1907.
• 1868 - Capitulación de las tropas paraguayas ante el duque de Caxias. Francisco Solano López no se rinde y acompañado por un puñado de combatientes, emprende al retirada hacia el norte de Paraguay .
• 1869 - Stephen Butler Leacock was born. British-Canadian writer and economist.
• 1873 - the American Metrological Society was formed in New York City.
• 1873 - Alfred E. Smith was born (d. 1944). U. S. politician.
• 1879 - The Pirates of Penzance is first performed (Paignton, Devon, England).
• 1879 - Manuel de Araújo Porto Alegre dies in Lisbon, Portugal (b. 29 Nov 1806). Brazilian painter and writer.
• 1880 - The Transvaal becomes a republic and Paul Kruger, its first president.
• 1882 - Ángel Roffo was born. Argentine physician and investigator.
• 1883 - John Henry Dallmeyer dies [b. 1830]. German-born British inventor and manufacturer of lenses and telescopes.
• 1883 - Leonardo Coimbra was born in Lixa, Amarante (d. 1936). Portuguese philosopher.
• 1884 - Hideki Tojo was born (d. 1948). Prime Minister of Japan
• 1888 - U.S. troops intervene in Haiti
• 1890 - The Dressel Missions fight happens today.
• 1890 - Adolfo Ruiz Cortines was born (d. 1973). President of Mexico(1952 - 1958).
• 1896 - José Rizal, Philippine nationalist, was executed by firing squad in Manila.
• 1897 - Natal annexes Zululand.
• 1897 - Alfredo Bracchi, was born. Italian author.
• 1898 - Luís da Câmara Cascudo was born in Natal. Brazilian writer, journalist and folclorist.
• 1899 - Helge Ingstad was born (d. 2001). Norwegian explorer, discoverer of the only confirmed Viking settlement in America.
• 1899 - James Paget, dies [b. 1914] English surgeon and physiologist who is considered (with Rudolf Virchow) to be a founder of the science of pathology. Paget discovered (1834) in human muscle the parasitic worm that causes trichinosis. In 1877, he described Paget's disease of bone (osteitis deformans), a chronic disease of bones.
• 1900 - Battleships are sent to Tangiers by the Spanish government as the first part of its intended invasion of Morocco.
• 1902 - A new southing record was set by Robert Falcon Scott, in company with Ernest Henry Shackleton and E.A. Wilson, as they reached the Ross Ice Shelf at the head of the Ross Sea in Antarctica.
• 1903 - A fire at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago kills 600.
• 1904 - Dmitri Kabalevsky was born (d. 1987). Russian composer.
• 1906 - Carol Reed was born (d. 1976). English film director
• 1906 - Iran becomes a constitutional monarchy.
• 1910 - Paul Bowles was born (d. 1999). American composer and author
• 1911 - Jeanette Nolan was born. American actress
• 1911 - Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president of the Republic of China.
• 1913 - Tungsten filaments: Dr William David Coolidge patented a method for making ductile tungsten for the purpose of making filaments for electric lamps .
• 1916 - Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin was poisoned by Russian conservatives in an effort to halt his influence over Empress Alexandra and the royal family.
• 1917 - Un cataclismo de grandes dimensiones asola Guatemala, cuya ciudad capital quedó convertida en ruinas.
• 1917 - Seymour Melman was born (d. 2004). American industrial engineer.
• 1918 - The Spartacus League lead by Rosa Luxemburgo was transformed into the Communist Party of Germany at a party congress.
• 1919 - Lincoln's Inn in London admits its first female bar student.
• 1920 -Albania was admitted to the League of Nations as sovereign and independent state.
• 1920 - Jack Lord was born (d. 1998). American actor.
• 1922 - Vladimir Lenin proclaims the establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) with its capital in Moscow, eventually incorporated 15 republics and constituted (in area) the largest country in the world until its dissolution in 1991.
• 1923 - Sara Lidman was born (d. 2004). Swedish writer.
• 1923 - Inauguración del primer servicio público aéreo en Argentina (de Buenos Aires a Montevideo).
• 1924 - Edwin Hubble announces the existence of other galaxies.
• 1927 - The Ginza Line, the oldest subway line in Asia, opened in Tokyo.
• 1928 - Bo Diddley was born. American singer and musician.
• 1931 - Skeeter Davis was born (d. 2004). American singer.
• 1931 - Tyrone Power Sr dies at 62. Actor (Big Trial, Test of Donald Norton).
• 1933 - O primeiro-ministro da Roménia, Íon Duca, é assassinado por um membro da Guarda de Ferro.
• 1933 - El ministro Javier Burgos establece la división de España en 49 provincias.
• 1934 - Del Shannon was born (d. 1990). American singer.
• 1934 - John Norris Bahcall was born (d. 2005). American physicist.
• 1934 - Joseph Bologna was born. American actor
• 1934 - Joseph P. Hoar was born. U.S. general
• 1934 - Russ Tamblyn was born. American actor, dancer, and singer
• 1935 - Omar Bongo was born. President of Gabon
• 1935 - Sandy Koufax was born. Baseball player
• 1936 - Beginning of successful 44 day sit-down strike by the United Auto Workers union at GM plant in Flint, MI.
• 1937 - Gordon Banks was born in Sheffield. British footballer (goal-keeper).
• 1937 - John Hartford was born (d. 2001). American musician.
• 1937 - Jim Marshall was born. American football player
• 1937 - Paul Stookey was born. American singer
• 1938 - An electronic television system was patented by V.K. Zworykin.
• 1940 - California opens its first freeway: the Arroyo Seco Parkway.
• 1941 - Mel Renfro was born. American football player
• 1942 - Vladimir Bukovsky was born. Russian author and dissident
• 1942 - Michael Nesmith was born. American singer and musician (The Monkees)
• 1942 - Fred Ward was born. American actor
• 1943 - Chandra Bose raises the flag of Indian independence at Port Blair.
• 1944 - King George II of Greece declares a regency, leaving his throne vacant.
• 1944 - Romain Roland dies. French writer/pacifist (Nobel 1915).
• 1945 - Davy Jones was born. American singer (The Monkees)
• 1945 - Arnaldo Faria de Sá was born in São Paulo. Brazilian radio personality and politician.
• 1946 - Patti Smith was born. American singer
• 1947 - Michael Burns, Ph.D. was born. American actor and history professor
• 1947 - Jeff Lynne was born. English singer and musician (ELO)
• 1947 - Alfred North Whitehead dies [b.1961]; English mathematician and philosopher, who collaborated with Bertrand Russell on Principia Mathematica (1910-13).
• 1947 - King Michael of Romania is obliged to abdicate and the Romanian republic is proclaimed.
• 1948 - The play Kiss Me, Kate opens for the first of 1,077 performances.
• 1949 - India recognizes People's Republic of China.
• 1950 - Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia become Independent states in France Union.
• 1952 - June Anderson was born. American soprano
• 1953 - The first color television sets go on sale for about USD $1,175.
• 1954 - 1.st use of 24-sec shot clock in pro basketball (Rochester vs Boston).
• 1956 - Suzy Bogguss was born. American singer
• 1957 - Matt Lauer was born. American newscaster
• 1957 - Israeli government of Ben-Gurion, resigns.
• 1959 - Tracey Ullman was born. English actress and singer
• 1961 - Ben Johnson, was born. Canadian athlete.
• 1961 - Douglas Coupland was born. Canadian author
• 1961 - Sean Hannity was born. American talk radio host and conservative political commentator.
• 1963 - Chandler Burr was born. American author.
• 1963 - Michelle Douglas was born. Canadian human rights activist.
• 1963 - Alessandra Mussolini was born in Naples, Italy. Actress (Ferragosto OK)
• 1965 - Ferdinand Marcos becomes President of the Philippines.
• 1965 - Zoe Kelli Simon was born. American actress.
• 1969 - Jack Yablonski was murdered. Reform mine leader.
• 1969 - Dave England was born. American television personality.
• 1969 - Jay Kay was born. English musician and singer (Jamiroquai)
• 1972 - Kerry Collins was born. American football player.
• 1972 - Vietnam War : President Nixon halted the heavy bombing on North Vietnam.
• 1972 - Selton Mello was born in Passos, Minas Gerais. Brazilian actor.
• 1973 - Jason Behr was born. American actor.
• 1973 - Ato Boldon was born. West Indian athlete.
• 1974 - Beatles are legally disbanded (4 years after suit was brought).
• 1975 - Tiger Woods was born in Orlando, Florida. American golfer.
• 1975 - Constitution of Democratic Republic of Madagascar comes into force.
• 1976 - Meredith Monroe was born. Actress.
• 1976 - The Smothers Brothers play their last show (Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas).
• 1978 - Tyrese was born. Singer.
• 1979 - Rock group, Emerson, Lake & Palmer break up.
• 1979 - Togo adopts constitution.
• 1980 - Eliza Dushku was born. Actress.
• 1980 - After 25 years, the longest-running prime-time TV series The Wonderful World of Disney is cancelled by NBC.
• 1981 - Wayne Gretzky scores his 50th goal in 39 games, an NHL record to this day.
• 1982 - Kristin Kreuk was born. Canadian actress.
• 1983 - A 7.2 earthquake killed 26 people in Afghanistan (14) and Pakistan (12).
• 1984 - LeBron James was born. American basketball player
• 1985 - Alexa Ray Joel was born. Daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley
• 1985 - Pakistan restores constitution.
• 1987 - The Transkei government is overthrown in a bloodless coup led by General Bantubonke Holomisa, commander of the Transkei Defence Force.
• 1987 - Premier Mugabe elected President of Zimbabwe.
• 1989 - Dmitri Volkov swims world record 50m freestyle (27.15 sec).
• 1989 - Alex Germany-Wald was born. American activist
• 1989 - Ryan Sheckler was born. Professional skateboarder
• 1993 - Israel and the Vatican signed an agreement of mutual recognition to put an end to Jewish-Christian hostilities.
• 1993 - Giuseppe Occhialini dies (b. 1997). Italian physicist.
• 1994 - Dmitri Ivanenko dies (b. 1904). Russian physicist.
• 1995 - The lowest ever UK temperature of -27.2°C was recorded at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands. This equalled the record set at Braemar, Aberdeenshire on February 11, 1895 and January 10, 1982.
• 1996 - In the Indian state of Assam, a passenger train is bombed by Bodo separatists, killing 26.
• 1996 - Proposed budget cuts by Benjamin Netanyahu spark protests from 250,000 workers who shut down services across Israel.
• 1997 - In the worst incident in Algeria's insurgency, 400 people are killed from four villages.
• 1997 - In Spain a judge accused 36 Argentine military and police officers of involvement in torture and the disappearance of 600 Spaniards during the dirty war from 1976-1983. Most of those named served in the ESMA, a torture center used by the military regime.
• 1997 - In Italy Danilo Dolci, advocate of nonviolent social reform, died at age 73. His writings and poetry chronicled Sicily’s beauty and despair. His books include: “Report From Palermo,” “Waste,” and "Sicilian Lives".
• 1998 - Joaquim Pacífico da Silva dies in Guararema, São Paulo (b. 1909). Brazilian musician, singer and composer.
• 1999 - O ex-beatle George Harrison foi esfaqueado no tórax dentro de sua mansão em Londres por Michael Abram, de 33 anos. Foi hospitalizado recebendo alta dias depois.
• 2000 - Rizal Day Bombings: A series of bombs explode in various places in Metro Manila, Philippines within a span of a few hours, killing 22 and injuring about a hundred.
• 2001 - Pakistan arrested Hafiz Saeed, leader of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (Army of the Pure) as India moved more troops to the border.
• 2002 - Eleanor Jack Gibson dies [b. 1910]; American psychologist who studied learning processes in children. She is remembered for her “visual cliff” experiment which showed how an infant's depth perception helps prevent injuries and falls.
• 2003 - The Bush administration announced it was banning the sale of ephedra, and urged consumers to immediately stop using the herbal stimulant linked to 155 deaths and dozens of heart attacks and strokes.
• 2003 - John Gregory Dunne dies. American novelist and screenwriter.
• 2004 - A fire in the República Cromagnon nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, kills 194.