On This Day In History
This day 187 years ago – 17 December 1834 – the first dedicated commuter railway line in the world began operations, from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire.
For more, pick up a copy of This Day in Irish History. Perfect for those with an interest in Ireland's pasthttps://t.co/Y4VENuK4Fb pic.twitter.com/4HhBTsf6qZ
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) December 17, 2021
Raise a glass to Veuve (widow) Clicquot, born #otd in 1777. The French businesswoman took on her husband's wine house when widowed at 27, made great innovations in champagne production and established it as the high-status drink of celebration. https://t.co/Ox8xSnuXi2 pic.twitter.com/3VHrP8Ikg7
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) December 16, 2019
On this day in 1862, Union General Ulysses S. Grant expelled all Jewish people from the Tennessee District based on anti-Semitic stereotypes and rumors. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/3bhjYKwpnm
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) December 17, 2021
December 18th
218 BC Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal's Carthaginian army heavily defeat Roman forces on Italian soil
1271 Kublai Khan renames his empire "Yuan" (元 yuán), marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty of China
1603 First fleet of the Dutch East India Company under Admiral Steven van der Haghen departs for the East-Indies
1642 Abel Tasman's expedition sails around Farewell Spit and into Golden Bay, first sighting local Māori in New Zealand
1917 The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, authorizing prohibition of alcohol, is approved by the US congress and sent to the states for ratification
1957 World's 1st full scale nuclear power plant, for peacetime use only, begins to generate electricity at the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania
2019 US House of Representatives votes to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power (230-197) and obstruction of Congress (229-198)
Did You Know?
Thomas Fleet publishes “Mother Goose’s Melodies For Children” in Boston, Massachusetts
Today in History in 1719
Would You Believe?
Project SCORE, world’s 1st communications satellite launched from Cape Canaveral
Today in History in 1958
#otd in 1919, Anne-Marcelle Schrameck became the first woman to graduate from a major French engineering school, the National School of Mines of Saint-Étienne. After her graduation, the school banned female students for the next 50 years. #WomenInSTEM https://t.co/3JljtWNge3 pic.twitter.com/8lXyXdmWoq
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) December 18, 2021
On this day in 1952, Gov. Herman Talmadge announced that rather than integrate, he would abolish Georgia public schools and create a segregated private school system. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/RWP0DsSras
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) December 18, 2021
December 19th
1776 Thomas Paine publishes his 1st "American Crisis" essay beginning "These are the times that try men's souls" (date disputed)
1783 William Pitt the Younger becomes the youngest ever British Prime Minister at age 24
1932 British Broadcasting Corp begins transmitting overseas
1950 Chinese invasion of Tibet forces the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to flee
1958 1st radio broadcast from space, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower Christmas message "to all mankind, America's wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere"
1984 Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration to transfer Hong Kong back to China in 1997
Did You Know?
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is published, 6,000 copies sold
Today in history in 1843
Would You Believe?
Theresa Vaughn, 24, confesses in court in Sheffield, England, to being married 61 times over 5 years in 50 cities in three countries
Today in History in 1922
This day 48 years ago – 19 December 1973 – Ireland's contraception ban was ruled unconstitutional, after a case brought by Mary McGee (27).
For more info, pick up a copy of This Day in Irish History. Perfect for those with an interest in Ireland's past.https://t.co/Y4VENuK4Fb pic.twitter.com/ONoTIIqqxU
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) December 19, 2021
At 100, Betty Reid Soskin is the US' oldest park ranger. She works at Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front Natl Historical Park to ensure that war work done by women of colour isn't forgotten. "What gets remembered is a function of who's in the room doing the remembering." pic.twitter.com/UouHX8RR1S
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) December 19, 2021
On this day in 1865, following the emancipation of Black people, South Carolina passed a law requiring labor contracts to refer to white people as "masters" and Black people as "servants." To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/AQfQs2xY0V
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) December 19, 2021
December 20th
1522 Suleiman the Magnificent accepts surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually settle in Malta and become known as the Knights of Malta.
1803 French flag lowered in New Orleans to mark the formal transfer of the Louisiana Purchase from France to USA for $27M
1812 "Grimm's Fairy Tales" or "Children's and Household Tales" by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm is first published
1917 Cheka formed - Soviet state security force and forerunner to the KGB, under Felix Dzerzhinsky after decree by Lenin
1960 The National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong, is officially formed in South Vietnam
Did You Know?
Elvis Presley receives his draft notice to join the US Army for National Service
Today in history in 1957
Would You Believe?
Missouri imposes a $1 bachelor tax on unmarried men aged between 21 & 50
Today in History in 1820
This day 112 years ago – 20 December 1909 – James Joyce established the first regular cinema in Ireland, the Volta Theatre, in Dublin.
To read more, pick up a copy of This Day in Irish History. Perfect for those with an interest in Ireland's past!https://t.co/Y4VENustgB pic.twitter.com/0bkoGg0Bas
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) December 20, 2021
In December 1848, Ellen Craft escaped slavery in Georgia, US. Light-skinned Ellen posed as a white male planter, and husband William as her servant. They fled to the UK and published 'Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom', returning after the Civil War abolished slavery. pic.twitter.com/G8co2XZMDO
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) December 20, 2021
On this day in 1986, white teens brutally beat two young Black men looking for assistance in Queens, New York. One of the Black men was struck and killed by a car while attempting to flee. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/wKapkP3a2B
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) December 20, 2021
December 21st
1620 Mayflower Pilgrims come ashore at in Plymouth Bay, traditionally thought to be at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts [OS=Dec 11]
1898 Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discover radium
1968 Apollo 8: 1st manned Moon voyage launched with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders
1988 Lockerbie disaster: A terrorist bomb destroys Pan Am Flight 103 mid-air, over Scotland; kills all 259 passengers and crew on board, and 11 people on the ground [1]
1991 Soviet Union formally dissolves as 11 of 12 republics sign treaty forming Commonwealth of Independent States
This day 54 years ago – 21 December 1967 – Michael J. O'Kelly discovered that Newgrange, Co Meath, flooded with light during winter solstice.
To read more, pick up a copy of This Day in Irish History. Perfect for those with an interest in Ireland's past!https://t.co/Y4VENustgB pic.twitter.com/3AuDkOvNR0
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) December 21, 2021