This Day in History
31 Dec 1229
James I of Aragon the Conqueror enters Medina Mayurqa (Palma) consummating Christian conquest of the island of Majorca
31 Dec 1502
Cesare Borgia (son of pope Alexander VI) occupies Urbino
31 Dec 1564
Willem van Orange demands freedom of consciencereligion
31 Dec 1604
Admiral Steven van der Haghens fleet reaches Bantam
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Soviets test supersonic airliner
The Soviet Unions TU-144 supersonic airliner makes its first flight several months ahead of the Anglo-French Concorde. The TU-144 so closely resembled ...
Patriots defeated at Quebec
During the American Revolution Patriot forces under generals Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery are defeated by the British defenders of the city of Quebec...
Edison demonstrates incandescent light
In the first public demonstration of his incandescent lightbulb American inventor Thomas Alva Edison lights up a street in Menlo Park New Jersey. The Pennsylv...
Panama Canal turned over to Panama
On this day in 1999 the United States in accordance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties officially hands over control of the Panama Canal putting the strategi...
Hungary declares war on Germany
On this day the provisional government of Hungary officially declares war on Germany bringing an end to Hungarys cooperationsometimes free so...
U.S. annual casualty figures down
The gradual U.S. withdrawal from the conflict in Southeast Asia is reflected in reduced annual casualty figures. The number of Americans killed in action droppe...
U.S. and communist negotiators prepare to return to the Paris talks
With the end of Linebacker II the most intense U.S. bombing operation of the Vietnam War U.S. and communist negotiators prepare to return to the secret Paris ...
Bloodiest year of the war ends
The bloodiest year of the war comes to an end. At years end 536040 American servicemen were stationed in Vietnam an increase of over 50000 from 1967...
Plane carrying Roberto Clemente crashes
On December 31 1972 an airplane chartered by the professional baseball player Roberto Clemente to bring food and other relief supplies to survivors of a recen...
Kennedy and Khrushchev exchange holiday greetings
On this day in 1961 President John F. Kennedy issued a statement extending his sincere wishes and those of the American people to Soviet Premier ...
John Denver born in New Mexico
John Denver musician and actor is born on this day in Roswell New Mexico. Denver is remembered for the music he created and for helping people begin thinkin...
Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash
Former teen idol Rick Nelson dies in plane crash in De Kalb Texas on December 31 1985.When the teenage Ricky Nelson launched his pop career in 1957 by pickin...
Pete Hamill quits drinking
On this day 37-year-old journalist Pete Hamill quits drinking. Hamills bestselling memoir A Drinking Life details the influence of alcohol throughout...
Anthony Hopkins born
On this day in 1937 Anthony Hopkins who will become known for playing one of the greatest villains in movie history the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal ...
Baseball star dies in plane crash
Roberto Clemente future Hall of Fame baseball player is killed along with four others when the cargo plane in which he is traveling crashes off the coast of P...
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