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660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.

731 - Gregory II ends his reign as Pope.

824 - Paschal I ends his reign as Pope.

1531 - Henry VIII of England recognized as supreme head of the Church of England.

1752 - Pennsylvania Hospital, 1st hospital in the United States, opens.

1790 - Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, petitions U.S. Congress for abolition of slavery. It failed.

1794 - First session of United States Senate open to the public.

1808 - Anthracite coal first burned as fuel, experimentally.

1809 - Robert Fulton patents the steamboat

1812 - Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry gerrymanders for the first time.

1814 - Norway's independence is proclaimed, marking the ultimate end of the Kalmar Union.

1826 - University College London is founded under the name University of London.

1837 - American Physiological Society organizes in Boston, Massachusetts.

1840 - Gaetano Donizetti's opera La Fille du Régiment receives its first performance in Paris.

1843 - Giuseppe Verdi's opera I Lombardi receives its first performance in Milan.

1855 - Kassa Hailu is crowned Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopia, by Abuna Salama III in a ceremony at the church of Derasge Maryam.

1858 - The Blessed Virgin Mary reputedly appears to Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes.

1861 - American Civil War: United States House of Representatives unanimously passes a resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state.

1873 - King Amadeus I of Spain abdicates.

1889 - Meiji constitution of Japan adopted; 1st Diet of Japan convenes in 1890.

1895 - The lowest ever UK temperature of -27.2°C was recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire. This record was equalled on 10 January, 1982 and again on 30 December, 1995.

1902 - Police assault universal suffrage demonstrators in Brussels.

1903 - Anton Bruckner's 9th Symphony receives its first performance in Vienna.

1905 - Pope Pius X publishes the encyclical Vehementer nos.

1916 - Emma Goldman arrested for lecturing on birth control.

1919 - Friedrich Ebert (SPD), elected President of Germany.

1929 - Italy and the Vatican sign the Lateran Treaty.

1937 - A sit-down strike ends when General Motors recognizes the United Auto Workers Union.

1938 - BBC Television produces the world's first ever science fiction television programme, an adaptation of a section of the Karel Capek play R.U.R. (The play which coined the term "robot").

1941 - First Gold record presented to Glenn Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo".

1943 - General Dwight Eisenhower selected to command the allied armies in Europe.

1948 - John Costello succeeds Éamon de Valera as Taoiseach of Ireland.

1953 - President Dwight Eisenhower refuses clemency appeal for Ethel and Julius Rosenberg.

1953 - The Soviet Union breaks off diplomatic relations with Israel.

1961 - Trial of Adolf Eichmann begins in Jerusalem.

1963 - The Beatles tape 10 tracks for their first album, including "Please, Please Me".

1964 - At the Washington, DC Coliseum, The Beatles have their 1st live appearance in the United States.

1964 - Greeks and Turks begin fighting in Limassol, Cyprus.

1964 - The Republic of China (Taiwan) breaks off diplomatic relations with France.

1968 - Israeli-Jordanian border clashes.

1971 - Eighty-seven countries, including the US, UK, and USSR, sign the Seabed Treaty outlawing nuclear weapons in international waters.

1973 - Vietnam War: First release of American prisoners of war from Vietnam takes place.

1978 - Censorship: the People's Republic of China lifts a ban on works by Aristotle, Shakespeare and Dickens.

1979 - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seizes power in Iran.

1981 - 100,000 gallons (380 m³) of radioactive coolant leak into the containment building of TVA Sequoyah 1 nuclear plant in Tennessee, contaminating 8 workers.

1987 - Philippines constitution goes into effect.

1990 - Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is freed from Victor Verster prison outside Cape Town, South Africa.

1990 - Mike Tyson lost the heavyweight crown by being knocked out by Buster Douglas

1991 - UNPO, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, forms in The Hague, Netherlands.

2006 - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shoots Harry Whittington while hunting.

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1377 - King Ladislas of Naples (d. 1414)

1380 - Gianfrancesco Poggio Bracciolini, Italian humanist (d. 1459)

1466 - Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII of England (d. 1503)

1535 - Pope Gregory XIV (d. 1591)

1568 - Honoré d'Urfé, French writer (d. 1625)

1649 - William Carstares, Scottish minister (d. 1715)

1657 - Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, French scientist and man of letters (d. 1757)

1755 - Albert Christoph Dies, German composer (d. 1822)

1764 - Marie-Joseph de Chenier, French poet (d. 1811)

1774 - Hans Jarta, Swedish political activist (d. 1847)

1776 - Joannis Capodistrias, Greek governor of Troezen (d. 1836)

1799 - The Venerable Father Basil Anthony Marie Moreau, Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross (d. 1873)

1800 - William Henry Fox Talbot, English photographer (d. 1877)

1802 - Lydia Child, American novelist and abolitionist (d. 1880)

1812 - Alexander Hamilton Stephens, American politician, Vice President of the Confederate States of America (d. 1883)

1813 - Otto Ludwig, German writer and critic (d. 1865)

1819 - Samuel Parkman Tuckerman, American composer (d. 1890)

1821 - Auguste-Édouard Mariette, French Egyptologist (d. 1881)

1830 - Hans Bronsart von Schellendorf, musician (d. 1913)

1833 - Melville Weston Fuller, 8th Chief Justice of the United States (d. 1910)

1839 - Josiah Willard Gibbs, American physicist and chemist (d. 1903)

1847 - Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor and businessman (d. 1931)

1860 - Rachilde, French author (d. 1953)

1869 - Helene Kroller-Muller, Dutch museum founder and patron of the arts (d. 1939)

1869 - Else Lasker-Schüler, German writer (d. 1945)

1873 - Feodor Chaliapin, Russian singer (d. 1938)

1874 - Fritz Bennicke Hart, English-born composer (d. 1949)

1874 - Elsa Beskow, Swedish author (d. 1953)

1887 - John van Melle, South African writer (d. 1953)

1891 - J.W. Hearne English cricketer (d. 1965)

1894 - Alfonso Leng, Chilean composer (d. 1974)

1898 - Leó Szilárd, Hungarian-born physicist and peace activist (d. 1964)

1900 - Josei Toda, japanese, Soka Gakkai founder and 2º President (d. 1958)

1900 - Hans-Georg Gadamer, German philosopher (d. 2002)

1902 - Arne Jacobsen, Danish architect and designer (d. 1971)

1903 - Hans Redlich, Austrian composer (d. 1968)

1904 - Sir Keith Holyoake, Prime Minister of New Zealand (d. 1983)

1908 - Vivian Ernest Fuchs, English geologist and explorer (d. 1999)

1909 - Max Baer, American boxer and actor (d. 1959)

1909 - Joseph Mankiewicz, American director (d. 1993)

1912 - Roy Fuller, English writer (d. 1991)

1914 - Matt Dennis, American singer

1915 - Patrick Leigh Fermor, English author

1917 - Sidney Sheldon, American author

1919 - Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born actress (d. 1995)

1919 - Eddie Robinson, American football coach

1920 - King Farouk I of Egypt (d. 1965)

1920 - Billy Halop, American actor (d. 1976)

1920 - Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., American general

1920 - Paul Peter Piech, American artist (d. 1996)

1921 - Lloyd Bentsen, American politician, United States Senator from Texas & 69th United States Secretary of the Treasury (d. 2006)

1925 - Peter Berger, British admiral

1925 - Kim Stanley, American actress (d. 2001)

1926 - Paul Bocuse, French chef

1926 - Alexander Gibson, British conductor

1926 - Leslie Nielsen, Canadian actor

1931 - Larry Merchant, author and boxing commentator

1932 - Jerome Lowenthal, American pianist

1934 - Mel Carnahan, American politician, 51st Governors of Missouri (d. 2000)

1934 - Tina Louise, American actress

1934 - Mary Quant, English fashion designer

1934 - John Surtees, British race car driver

1935 - Gene Vincent, American Rock'n'Roll pioneer (d. 1971)

1935 - Bent Lorentzen, Danish composer

1936 - Burt Reynolds, American actor

1937 - Bill Lawry, Australian cricketer

1938 - Bevan Congdon, New Zealand cricketer

1938 - Simone de Oliveira, portuguese actress and singer.

1938 - Manuel Noriega, Panamanian general and dictator

1939 - Gerry Goffin, American lyricist

1939 - Jane Yolen, American author

1941 - Sergio Mendes, Brazilian musician and songwriter

1953 - Philip Anglim, American actor

1953 - Jeb Bush, American politician

1956 - Catherine Hickland, American actress

1956 - Didier Lockwood, French jazz violinist

1959 - Roberto Moreno, Brazilian racing driver

1961 - Mary Docter, American speed skater

1961 - Carey Lowell, American actress

1962 - Sheryl Crow, American singer/songwriter, musician

1962 - Eric Vanderaerden, Belgian cyclist

1963 - Diane Franklin, American actress

1964 - Ken Shamrock, American martial artist, professional wrestler and American actor

1967 - Hank Gathers, American basketball player (d. 1990)

1969 - Jennifer Aniston, American actress

1970 - Fredrik Thordendal, Swedish musician (Meshuggah)

1971 - Damian Lewis, British actor

1972 - Brian Daubach, American baseball player

1972 - Craig Jones, American Sampler (Slipknot)

1972 - Steve Mcmanaman, English footballer

1972 - Kelly Slater, American surfer

1973 - Varg Vikernes, Norwegian musician (Burzum)

1974 - D'Angelo, American singer

1976 - Brice Beckham, American actor

1977 - Mike Shinoda, American singer (Linkin Park)

1979 - Brandy Norwood, American singer

1980 - Natasha Bobo, American actress

1980 - Matthew Lawrence, American actor

1980 - André "Titi" Buengo, Angolan footballer

1980 - Marco Bresciano, Australian footballer

1981 - Kelly Rowland, American singer (Destiny's Child)

1983 - Nicki Clyne, Canadian actress

1983 - Rafael Van der Vaart, Dutch soccer player

1985 - William Beckett, American Musician (The Academy Is...)

1990 - Q'Orianka Kilcher, American singer and actress

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641 - Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium

731 - Pope Gregory II

821 - Saint Benedict of Aniane

824 - Pope Paschal I

1141 - Hugo of St. Victor, German philosopher and theologian

1160 - Minamoto no Yoshitomo, Japanese general (b. 1123)

1503 - Elizabeth of York, queen consort of Henry VII of England (b. 1466)

1626 - Pietro Cataldi, Italian mathematician (b. 1552)

1650 - René Descartes, French philosopher (b. 1596)

1685 - David Teniers III, Flemish painter (b. 1638)

1713 - Jahandar Shah, Mughal emperor of Indai (b. 1664)

1755 - Francesco Scipione, marchese di Maffei, Italian archaeologist (b. 1675)

1762 - Johann Tobias Krebs, German composer (b. 1690)

1763 - William Shenstone, English poet (b. 1714)

1797 - Antoine Dauvergne, French composer (b. 1713)

1829 - Alexandr Griboyedov, Russian playwright (b. 1795)

1862 - Elizabeth Siddal, British poet and artist (b. 1829)

1868 - Léon Foucault, French astronomer (b. 1819)

1879 - Honoré Daumier, French caricaturist and painter (b. 1808)

1917 - Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian physician (b. 1872)

1923 - Wilhelm Killing, German mathematician (b. 1847)

1931 - Charles Algernon Parsons, British inventor (b. 1854)

1939 - Franz Schmidt, Austrian composer (b. 1874)

1940 - John Buchan, Governor-General of Canada (b. 1875)

1945 - Al Dubin, Swiss songwriter (b. 1891)

1948 - Sergei Eisenstein, Latvian film director (b. 1898)

1959 - Marshall Teague, American race car driver (b. 1922)

1960 - Ernst von Dohnányi, Hungarian conductor (b. 1877)

1963 - Sylvia Plath, American writer (b. 1932)

1968 - Howard Lindsay, American playwright (b. 1888)

1972 - Jan Wils, Dutch architect (b. 1891)

1973 - Hans D Jensen, German physicist, Nobel Prize Laureate (b. 1907)

1975 - Richard Ratsimandrava, Malagasy soldier and statesman, assassinated (b. 1931)

1976 - Lee J Cobb, American actor (b. 1911)

1976 - Alexander Lippisch, German scientist (b. 1894)

1976 - Frank Arnau, German writer (b. 1894)

1977 - Louis Beel, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (b. 1902)

1978 - James B Conant, American chemist and university president (b. 1893)

1978 - Harry Martinson, Swedish writer, Nobel Prize Laureate (b. 1904)

1982 - Eleanor Powell, American actress and dancer (b. 1912)

1982 - Takashi Shimura, Japanese actor (b. 1905)

1985 - Ben Abruzzo, American businessman and balloonist (b. 1930)

1985 - Henry Hathaway, American actor and director (b. 1898)

1985 - Heinz Eric Roemheld, American composer (b. 1901)

1986 - Frank Herbert, American author (b. 1920)

1987 - Sadequain, famous Pakistani painter and artist. (b. 1930)

1989 - George O'Hanlon, American actor and director (b. 1912)

1991 - Robert W. Holley, American biochemist, Nobel Prize Laureate (b. 1922)

1994 - Neil Bonnett, American race car driver (b. 1946)

1994 - Sorrell Booke, American actor (b. 1930)

1994 - William Conrad, American actor (b. 1920)

1996 - Kebby Musokotwane, Prime Minister of Zambia (b. 1946)

1996 - Cyril Poole, English cricketer (b. 1921)

1996 - Amelia Rosselli, Italian poet (b. 1930)

1997 - Barry Evans, English actor (b. 1943)

1997 - Don Porter, American actor (b. 1912)

2000 - Roger Vadim, French director (b. 1928)

2002 - Frank Crosetti, Baseball player (b. 1910)

2002 - Barry Foster, British actor (b. 1931)

2004 - Shirley Strickland, Australian athlete (b. 1925)

2005 - Jack L. Chalker, American author (b. 1944)

2006 - Jockey Shabalala, South African singer (b. 1943)

2006 - Peter Benchley, American author (b. 1940)

2006 - Jackie Pallo, Wrestler (b. 1926)

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Catholicism - Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.

National Foundation Day in Japan (See Holidays of Japan.)

National Youth Day in Cameroon.

National Inventors' Day in the United States.