today.nukz.net: December 17

John Greenleaf Whittier 1807-1892

Events

920 – Romanos I is crowned co-emperor of the underage Emperor Constantine VII.
942 – Assassination of William I of Normandy.
1398 – Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's armies in Delhi are defeated by Timur.
1538 – Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England.
1577 – Francis Drake sails from Plymouth, England, on a secret mission to explore the Pacific Coast of the Americas for English Queen Elizabeth I.
1583 – Cologne War: Forces under Ernest of Bavaria defeats the troops under Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg at the Siege of Godesberg.
1586 – Emperor Go-Yozei becomes Emperor of Japan.
1600 – Marriage of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici.
1718 – Great Britain declares war on Spain.
1777 – France formally recognizes the United States of America.
1790 – Discovery of the Aztec calendar stone.
1807 – France issues the Milan Decree, which confirms the Continental System.
1812 – War of 1812: U.S. forces attack a friendly Lenape village in the Battle of the Mississinewa.
1819 – Simón Bolívar declares the independence of the Republic of Gran Colombia in Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela).
1837 – Fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg occurred.
1862 – American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
1865 – First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.
1903 – The Wright Brothers make their first powered and heavier-than-air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
1907 – Ugyen Wangchuck is crowned first King of Bhutan
1918 – Culmination of the Darwin Rebellion as some 1000 demonstrators march on Government House in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
1919 – Uruguay becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty.
1926 – Antanas Smetona assumes power in Lithuania as the 1926 coup d'état is successful.
1927 – Indian revolutionary Rajendranath Lahiri was hanged to death in Gonda jail of U.P. in India 2 days before the scheduled date.
1928 – Indian revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru assassinate British police officer James Saunders in Lahore, Punjab to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai at the hands of the police. The three were executed in 1931.
1935 – First flight of the Douglas DC-3 airplane.
1939 – World War II: Battle of the River Plate – The Admiral Graf Spee is scuttled by Captain Hans Langsdorff outside Montevideo.
1941 – World War II: Japanese forces land in Northern Borneo.
1944 – World War II: Battle of the Bulge – Malmedy massacre – American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion POWs are shot by Waffen-SS Kampfgruppe Peiper.
1947 – First flight of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber.
1950 – The F-86 Sabre's first mission over Korea.
1957 – The United States successfully launches the first Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
1960 – Troops loyal to Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia crush the coup that began December 13, returning power to their leader upon his return from Brazil. Haile Selassie absolves his son of any guilt.
1960 – 1960 Munich Convair 340 crash: 20 passengers and crew on board as well as 32 people on the ground are killed.
1967 – Prime Minister of Australia Harold Holt disappears while swimming near Portsea, Victoria and is presumed drowned.
1969 – The SALT I talks begin.
1969 – Project Blue Book: The United States Air Force closes its study of UFOs, stating that sightings are generated as a result of "A mild form of mass hysteria, Individuals who fabricate such reports to perpetrate a hoax or seek publicity, psychopathological persons, and misidentification of various conventional objects."
1970 – Polish 1970 protests: In Gdynia soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens.
1973 – Terrorism: 30 passengers are killed in an attack by Palestinian terrorists on Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport.
1981 – Brigadier General James L. Dozier is abducted by the Red Brigade in Verona, Italy.
1983 – The IRA bombs Harrods Department Store in London, killing six people.
1989 – The first episode of television series The Simpsons, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", airs in the United States.
1989 – Romanian Revolution: Protests continue in Timisoara with rioters breaking into the Romanian Communist Party's District Committee building and attempting to set it on fire.
1989 – Fernando Collor de Mello defeats Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round of the Brazilian presidential election, becoming the first democratically elected President in almost 30 years.
1997 – The United Kingdom commences its Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, which extends the state's gun ban to include all handguns—with the exception of antique and show weapons.
2002 – Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years.
2003 – The Soham murder trial ends at the Old Bailey in London, with Ian Huntley found guilty of two counts of murder. His girlfriend Maxine Carr is found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
2003 – SpaceShipOne flight 11P, piloted by Brian Binnie, makes its first supersonic flight.
2005 – Anti-WTO protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong
2005 – Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicate the throne as King of Bhutan.
2007 – John and Hank Green of the vlogbrothers launch the Project for Awesome. An annual event taking place on YouTube, the Project for Awesome is a day devoted to videos about charities and non-profit organizations.
2009 – MV Danny F II sinks off the coast of Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 44 people and over 28,000 animals.
2010 – Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire.This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution. The success of the Tunisian protests sparked protests in several other Arab countries.

Births

1239 – Kujo Yoritsugu, Japanese Shogun (d. 1256)
1267 – Emperor Go-Uda of Japan (d. 1324)
1619 – Prince Rupert of the Rhine, English Civil War figure (d. 1682)
1632 – Anthony Wood, English antiquarian (d. 1695)
1685 – Thomas Tickell, English writer (d. 1740)
1706 – Émilie du Châtelet, French mathematician and physicist (d. 1749)
1734 – Maria I of Portugal, Portuguese queen (d. 1816)
1749 – Domenico Cimarosa, Italian composer (d. 1801)
1778 – Humphry Davy, English chemist and physicist (d. 1829)
1796 – Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Canadian novelist (d. 1865)
1797 – Joseph Henry, American physicist (d. 1878).
1807 – John Greenleaf Whittier, American poet and abolitionist (d. 1892)
1830 – Jules de Goncourt, French publisher (d. 1870)
1835 – Alexander Emanuel Agassiz, American scientist; son of Louis Agassiz (d. 1910)
1842 – Sophus Lie, Norwegian mathematician; (d. 1899)
1847 – Émile Faguet, French writer and critic (d. 1916)
1853 – Émile Roux, French physician (d. 1933)
1859 – Paul César Helleu, French artist (d. 1927)
1873 – Ford Madox Ford, English writer (d. 1939)
1874 – William Lyon Mackenzie King, 10th Prime Minister of Canada (d. 1950)
1881 – Aubrey Faulkner, South African cricketer (d. 1930)
1883 – Raimu, French actor (d. 1946)
1887 – Josef Lada, Czech painter (d. 1957)
1887 – Empress Hermine Reuss of Germany (d. 1947)
1892 – Sam Barry, American basketball coach (d. 1950)
1893 – Erwin Piscator, German film director (d. 1966)
1894 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (d. 1979)
1895 – Nils Asheim, Norwegian politician (d. 1966)
1900 – Mary Cartwright, English mathematician (d. 1998)
1900 – Katina Paxinou, Greek actress (d. 1973)
1903 – Erskine Caldwell, American author (d. 1987)
1903 – Ray Noble, English bandleader and actor (d. 1978)
1904 – Paul Cadmus, American artist (d. 1999)
1905 – Simo Häyhä, Finnish sniper (d. 2002)
1905 – Érico Lopes Veríssimo, Brazilian writer (d. 1975)
1906 – Fernando Lopes-Graça, Portuguese composer and musicologist (d. 1994)
1906 – Russell C. Newhouse, American inventor (d. 1998)
1908 – Willard Frank Libby, American chemist, Nobel laureate (d. 1980)
1910 – Sy Oliver, American jazz arranger and bandleader (d. 1988)
1912 – Edward Short, British politician
1913 – Burt Baskin, American entrepreneur (Baskin and Robbins) (d. 1967)
1914 – Raymond Fernandez, American convicted murderer (d. 1951)
1914 – Fernando Alonso, Cuban ballet dancer and instructor
1915 – André Claveau, French singer (d. 2003)
1916 – Penelope Fitzgerald, English writer (d. 2000)
1917 – Kenneth Dike, Nigerian historian (d. 1983)
1920 – Kenneth E. Iverson, Canadian computer scientist (d. 2004)
1921 – Lore Berger, Swiss writer (d. 1943)
1922 – Alan Voorhees, American engineer and urban planner (d. 2005)
1923 – Jaroslav Pelikan, American historian (d. 2006)
1926 – Ray Jablonski, American baseball player (d. 1985)
1927 – Richard Long, American actor (d. 1974)
1929 – Jacqueline Hill, English actress (d. 1993)
1929 – William Safire, American columnist (d. 2009)
1930 – Bob Guccione, American magazine publisher (d. 2010)
1930 – Armin Mueller-Stahl, German actor
1931 – Dave Madden, Canadian-born American actor
1931 – James McGaugh, American professor and neurobiologist
1934 – Ray Wilson, English footballer
1935 – George Lindsey, American actor
1935 – Cal Ripken, Sr., American baseball coach (d. 1999)
1936 – Tommy Steele, English singer and actor
1936 – Jorge Bergoglio, Argentine cardinal
1937 – Kerry Packer, Australian businessman (d. 2005)
1937 – John Kennedy Toole, American novelist (d. 1969)
1937 – Calvin Waller, American Army general (d. 1996)
1937 – Art Neville, American musician (The Neville Brothers)
1938 – Carlo Little, English drummer (d. 2005)
1938 – Peter Snell, New Zealand runner
1939 – Eddie Kendricks, American singer (The Temptations) (d. 1992)
1940 – Kåre Valebrokk, Norwegian journalist
1942 – Paul Butterfield, American musician (d. 1987)
1943 – Mary Brunner, American "Manson Family" member
1943 – Ron Geesin, Scottish musician and composer
1944 – Jack L. Chalker, American novelist (d. 2005)
1944 – Bernard Hill, English actor
1945 – Ernie Hudson, American actor
1945 – Chris Matthews, American journalist
1945 – Jacqueline Wilson, English author
1945 – Cees de Wolf, Dutch footballer (d. 2011)
1946 – Eugene Levy, Canadian actor
1947 – Wes Studi, American actor
1949 – Sotiris Kaiafas, Cypriot footballer
1949 – Paul Rodgers, English singer (Free; Bad Company)
1950 – Laurence F. Johnson, American educator
1951 – Ken Hitchcock, Canadian ice hockey coach
1951 – Tatyana Kazankina, Soviet athlete
1953 – Samuel Hadida, Morrocan film producer
1953 – Barry Livingston, American actor
1953 – Bill Pullman, American actor
1953 – Sally Menke, American film editor (d. 2010)
1955 – Brad Davis, American basketball player
1956 – Peter Farrelly, American film director
1957 – Earl Hudson, American drummer (Bad Brains)
1957 – Bob Ojeda, American baseball player
1958 – Mike Mills, American musician (R.E.M.)
1959 – Albert King, American basketball player
1960 – Moreno Argentin, Italian cyclist
1961 – Sara Dallin, English singer (Bananarama)
1962 – Paul Dobson, English footballer
1962 – Richard Jewell, American security guard and accused bomber (d. 2007)
1962 – Rocco Mediate, American golfer
1964 – Ginger, English singer and guitarist (The Wildhearts)
1964 – Frank Musil, Czech ice hockey player
1964 – Michele Tafoya, American sportcaster
1964 – Joe Wolf, American basketball player
1965 – Craig Berube, Canadian ice hockey player
1966 – Tracy Byrd, American musician
1966 – Valeri Liukin, Soviet gymnast
1966 – Kristiina Ojuland, Estonian politician
1967 – Gigi D'Agostino, Italian DJ and musician
1967 – Vincent Damphousse, Canadian ice hockey player
1968 – Andrey Golovatiuk, Russian politician
1968 – Paul Tracy, Canadian race car driver
1969 – Chuck Liddell, American mixed martial artist
1969 – Chris Mason, English darts player
1969 – Mick Quinn, English musician (Supergrass)
1969 – Michael V., Filipino comedian and actor
1970 – Sean Patrick Thomas, American actor
1971 – Sinan Akkus, Turkish-German actor
1971 – Alan Khan, South African radio & TV presenter
1971 – Antoine Rigaudeau, French basketball player
1972 – John Abraham, Indian actor
1972 – Laurie Holden, American actress
1973 – Konstadinos Gatsioudis, Greek javelin thrower
1973 – Rian Johnson, American writer and director
1973 – Paula Radcliffe, English runner
1974 – Duff Goldman, American chef
1974 – Sarah Paulson, American actress
1974 – Ian Petrella, American actor
1974 – Giovanni Ribisi, American actor
1974 – Marissa Ribisi, American actress
1975 – Nick Dinsmore (Eugene), American professional wrestler
1975 – Milla Jovovich, Ukrainian-born actress
1975 – Bree Sharp, American singer/songwriter
1975 – Mayuko Aoki, Japanese voice actress
1976 – Éric Bédard, Canadian speed skater
1976 – Zsanett Égerházi, Hungarian-born porn actress
1976 – Nir Davidovich, Israeli footballer
1976 – Patrick Müller, Swiss footballer
1976 – Takeo Spikes, American football player
1977 – Arnaud Clément, French tennis player
1977 – Samuel Pahlsson, Swedish hockey player
1977 – Oxana Fedorova, Russian beauty pageant contestant (Miss Universe 2002)
1978 – Alex Cintrón, Puerto Rican baseball player
1978 – Riteish Deshmukh, Indian actor
1978 – Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxer and politician
1978 – Neil Sanderson, Canadian drummer (Three Days Grace)
1978 – Chase Utley, American baseball player
1979 – Jaimee Foxworth, American porn actress
1979 – Ryan Key, American musician and songwriter (Yellowcard)
1979 – Matt Murley, American ice hockey player
1980 – Ryan Hunter-Reay, American race car driver
1980 – Alexandra Papageorgiou, Greek hammer thrower
1980 – Eli Pariser, American political blogger and activist
1980 – Stella Ng, Singaporean singer & actress
1981 – Jerry Hsu, American pro skater
1981 – Tim Wiese, German footballer
1981 – Rena Takeshita, Japanese fashion model
1982 – Josh Barfield, American baseball player
1982 – Lorenzo Cittadini, Italian rugby player
1982 – Craig Kielburger, Canadian anti-child-labor activist
1982 – Stephane Lasme, Gabonese basketball player
1982 – Ryan Moats, American football player
1983 – Erik Christensen, Canadian hockey player
1983 – Bryan Jurynec, American ice hockey player
1983 – Kosuke Saito, Japanese DJ
1984 – Luis Maria Alfageme, Argentine footballer
1984 – Andrew Davies, English footballer
1985 – Ryuichi Ogata, Japanese singer (w-inds.)
1986 – Vanessa Zima, American actress
1987 – Bradley Manning, American soldier, leaked information to WikiLeaks
1989 – Ashley Edner, American actress
1989 – Taylor York, American rock guitarist
2007 – James, Viscount Severn, British royal

Deaths

535 – Emperor Ankan of Japan (b. 466)
942 – William Longsword, 2nd Duke of Normandy (b. 893)
1187 – Pope Gregory VIII
1195 – Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut (b. 1150)
1273 – Rumi (b. 1207)
1663 – Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba (b. 1583)
1721 – Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough, English statesman (b. 1640)
1830 – Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan military leader (b. 1783)
1833 – Kaspar Hauser, German foundling (b. 1812)
1847 – Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, second wife of Napoleon (b. 1791)
1860 – Désirée Clary, Queen of Sweden and Norway (b. 1777)
1907 – William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, Irish-born physicist (b. 1824)
1909 – Leopold II of Belgium (b. 1835)
1917 – Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, English physician (b. 1836)
1917 – Frank Gotch, American professional wrestler (b. 1878)
1927 – Rajendra Lahiri, Indian British anti-occupation activist (b. 1892)
1929 – Manuel Gomes da Costa, Portuguese politician (b. 1863)
1930 – Peter Warlock, Anglo-Welsh composer (b. 1894)
1933 – Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama (b. 1876)
1940 – Alicia Boole Stott, Irish mathematician (b. 1860)
1947 – Christos Tsigiridis, Greek electrical engineer and technological pioneer (b. 1877)
1957 – Dorothy L. Sayers, English writer (b. 1893)
1962 – Thomas Mitchell, American actor (b. 1892)
1964 – Victor Franz Hess, Austrian-born American physicist, Nobel laureate (b. 1883)
1967 – Harold Holt, Australian politician (b. 1908)
1967 – Jack Perrin, American actor (b. 1896)
1978 – Don Ellis, American jazz band leader (b. 1934)
1981 – Antiochos Evangelatos, Greek composer and conductor (b. 1903)
1981 – Ada Kramm, Norwegian actress (b. 1899)
1982 – Homer S. Ferguson, American politician (b. 1889)
1987 – Linda Wong, American porn star (b. 1951)
1987 – Marguerite Yourcenar, Belgian novelist (b. 1903)
1992 – Dana Andrews, American actor (b. 1909)
1992 – Günther Anders, Polish philosopher (b. 1902)
1998 – Allan D'Arcangelo, American artist (b. 1930)
1999 – Rex Allen, American actor, singer, and songwriter (b. 1920)
1999 – Grover Washington, Jr., American saxophonist (b. 1943)
2002 – James Hazeldine, English actor (b. 1947)
2003 – Ed Devereaux, Australian actor (b. 1925)
2003 – Otto Graham, American football player (b. 1921)
2004 – Tom Wesselmann, American collage artist (b. 1931)
2005 – Jack Anderson, American journalist (b. 1922)
2005 – Marc Favreau, French-Canadian humourist (b. 1929)
2006 – Larry Sherry, American baseball player (b. 1935)
2008 – Dave Smith, American baseball player (b. 1955)
2008 – Sammy Baugh, American football player (b. 1914)
2008 – Freddy Breck, German schlager singer and news anchor (b. 1942)
2009 – Chris Henry, American football player (b. 1983)
2009 – Jennifer Jones, American actress (b. 1919)
2009 – Dan O'Bannon, American screenwriter and actor (b. 1943)
2010 – Captain Beefheart, American musician (b. 1941)
2010 – Walt Dropo, American baseball player (b. 1923)