1803

The United States takes possession of the Louisiana Territory from France. AI analysis

The transfer of the Louisiana Territory from France to the United States under the Treaty of Paris (1803) effectively doubled the size of the U.S. It was a pivotal moment in American history, enabling westward expansion and contributing to the country's rise as a continental power. --AI Explanation

1809

The Battle of the Wabash takes place during the Tecumseh's War. AI analysis

The Battle of the Wabash was one of the worst defeats for the U.S. military in the early 19th century. Native American forces led by Tecumseh’s confederacy inflicted heavy losses on American troops, highlighting the strength of Indigenous resistance to American expansion in the Midwest. --AI Explanation

1849

The first recorded use of ether as an anesthetic during surgery in the United States. AI analysis

The use of ether as an anesthetic in surgery revolutionized medical practices, greatly reducing pain during operations. It marked a major advancement in surgical procedures, improving patient outcomes and laying the foundation for modern anesthesiology. --AI Explanation

1860

South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the United States. AI analysis

South Carolina’s secession from the Union marked the beginning of the Civil War. This move was fueled by disagreements over slavery and states' rights, setting the stage for the formation of the Confederacy and a bloody conflict that would shape U.S. history. --AI Explanation

1910

The first airship flight across the English Channel is completed. AI analysis

The successful flight of an airship across the English Channel demonstrated the feasibility of air travel and marked an important milestone in the history of aviation. It paved the way for further innovations in lighter-than-air flight. --AI Explanation

1923

The first issue of the Time magazine is published. AI analysis

Time magazine's first issue marked the beginning of what would become one of the most influential publications in the world. Known for its thorough reporting on global news and human-interest stories, Time has shaped public understanding of current events for over a century. --AI Explanation

1941

The United States begins shipping military supplies to the United Kingdom through the Lend-Lease program. AI analysis

The Lend-Lease program was a crucial initiative that allowed the U.S. to support its allies during World War II by providing military aid without direct involvement. This program significantly bolstered the United Kingdom and other Allied nations' ability to fight against Axis powers. --AI Explanation

1945

The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly is held in London. AI analysis

The first meeting of the UN General Assembly was a key step in the formation of a global organization dedicated to maintaining peace and security. The UN became a central institution for diplomacy, human rights, and international cooperation in the post-World War II era. --AI Explanation

1963

Alfred Hitchcock's film "The Birds" premieres in New York City. AI analysis

"The Birds," directed by Alfred Hitchcock, became one of the most famous thriller-horror films of all time. Its groundbreaking special effects and psychological terror influenced the horror genre and cemented Hitchcock’s reputation as a master of suspense. --AI Explanation

1973

The Paris Peace Accords are signed, officially ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. AI analysis

The Paris Peace Accords marked the formal end of U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War, but the agreement did not bring lasting peace to the region. It set the stage for the eventual fall of Saigon and the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. --AI Explanation

1989

The United States invades Panama in Operation Just Cause. AI analysis

The U.S. invasion of Panama was aimed at deposeing Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega and safeguarding American interests in the region. It sparked international controversy but ultimately succeeded in removing Noriega from power and restoring a pro-U.S. government. --AI Explanation

1991

The Soviet Union is officially recognized as dissolved, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is formed. AI analysis

The dissolution of the Soviet Union marked the end of the Cold War and the emergence of 15 independent republics. The formation of the CIS signaled an attempt at maintaining economic and political cooperation between the newly independent states. --AI Explanation

1995

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is established, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). AI analysis

The establishment of the WTO marked a significant shift in global trade relations. The WTO provided a framework for resolving disputes and regulating international trade, further promoting globalization and economic cooperation between nations. --AI Explanation

2000

The United States votes in the controversial presidential election of 2000, which ultimately results in George W. Bush's victory. AI analysis

The 2000 U.S. presidential election was one of the closest and most contentious in American history, with the outcome decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore. It highlighted flaws in the electoral process and led to reforms in election law and voting technology. --AI Explanation

2007

The global financial crisis begins to hit economies around the world. AI analysis

The financial crisis of 2007–2008 had far-reaching effects on the global economy, causing widespread economic instability, high unemployment rates, and recessions across many countries. It was triggered by the collapse of the housing bubble and risky financial practices, leading to major financial bailouts. --AI Explanation

2010

WikiLeaks begins releasing classified U.S. diplomatic cables, sparking global controversy. AI analysis

WikiLeaks’ release of U.S. diplomatic cables caused an international uproar by exposing confidential communications between U.S. diplomats. It ignited debates over national security, transparency, and the balance between government secrecy and the public's right to know. --AI Explanation

2016

The United States formally accuses Russia of interfering in the 2016 presidential election. AI analysis

The U.S. government's formal accusation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election marked a significant moment in U.S.-Russia relations. It led to investigations and increased scrutiny of foreign interference in democratic processes, raising concerns about election integrity. --AI Explanation

2017

The United Nations votes overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution condemning the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. AI analysis

The UN resolution condemning the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital highlighted the deep divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It underscored the contentious nature of Jerusalem's status in the ongoing peace process. --AI Explanation

2019

A new strain of coronavirus (later named COVID-19) is identified in China. AI analysis

The identification of COVID-19 marked the beginning of a global pandemic that would shape the world for years to come. It led to widespread health and economic crises, global lockdowns, and an unprecedented race for vaccines and treatments. --AI Explanation

2020

The United States begins distributing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. AI analysis

The start of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the U.S. marked a critical step in the fight against the pandemic. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine became one of the first widely distributed vaccines, offering hope for controlling the spread of the virus. --AI Explanation

December 20 Birthdays

1494

Oronce Finé

French mathematician and cartographer

(d. 1555)

1496

Joseph ha-Kohen

historian and physician

(d. 1575)

1537

John III

king of Sweden

(d. 1592)

1576

John Sarkander

Moravian priest and saint

(d. 1620)

1626

Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff

German scholar and politician

(d. 1692)

1629

Pieter de Hooch

Dutch painter

(d. 1684)

1641

Urban Hjärne

Swedish chemist, geologist, and physician

(d. 1724)

1740

Arthur Lee

American physician and diplomat

(d. 1792)

1786

Pietro Raimondi

Italian composer

(d. 1853)

1792

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet

French painter and educator

(d. 1845)

1806

Martín Carrera

Mexican general and president

(1855) (d. 1871)

1812

Laura M. Hawley Thurston

American poet and educator

(d. 1842)

1838

Edwin Abbott Abbott

English theologian, author, and educator

(d. 1926)

1841

Ferdinand Buisson

French academic and politician, Nobel Prize laureate

(d. 1932)

1851

Knut Wicksell

Swedish economist

(d. 1926)

1861

Ferdinand Bonn

German actor

(d. 1933)

1861

Ivana Kobilca

Slovenian painter

(d. 1926)

1865

Elsie de Wolfe

American actress and interior decorator

(d. 1950)

1868

Harvey Samuel Firestone

American businessman, founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company

(d. 1938)

1869

Charley Grapewin

American actor

(d. 1956)

1871

Henry Kimball Hadley

American composer and conductor

(d. 1937)

1873

Kan'ichi Asakawa

Japanese historian, author, and academic

(d. 1948)

1873

Mehmet Akif Ersoy

Turkish poet, academic, and politician

(d. 1936)

1881

Branch Rickey

American baseball player and manager

(d. 1965)

1884

Ruhana Kuddus

Indonesian activist and journalist

(d. 1972)

1886

Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman

American tennis player and businessman

(d. 1974)

1888

Yitzhak Baer

German-Israeli historian and academic

(d. 1980)

1888

Fred Merkle

American baseball player and manager

(d. 1956)

1890

Yvonne Arnaud

French pianist, actress and singer

(d. 1958)

1890

Jaroslav Heyrovský

Czech chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

(d. 1967)

1891

Erik Almlöf

Swedish triple jumper

(d. 1971)

1894

Robert Menzies

Australian lawyer and politician, 12th Prime Minister of Australia

(d. 1978)

1898

Konstantinos Dovas

Greek general and politician, 156th Prime Minister of Greece

(d. 1973)

1898

Irene Dunne

American actress and singer

(d. 1990)

1899

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Welsh preacher and physician

(d. 1981)

1900

Lissy Arna

German actress

(d. 1964)

1900

Gabby Hartnett

American baseball player and manager

(d. 1972)

1901

Robert J. Van de Graaff

American physicist and academic, invented the Van de Graaff generator

(d. 1967)

1902

Prince George

Duke of Kent

(d. 1942)

1902

Sidney Hook

American philosopher and author

(d. 1989)

1904

Spud Davis

American baseball player, coach, and manager

(d. 1984)

1904

Yevgenia Ginzburg

Russian author

(d. 1977)

1905

Bill O'Reilly

Australian cricketer and sportscaster

(d. 1992)

1907

Paul Francis Webster

American soldier and songwriter

(d. 1984)

1908

Dennis Morgan

American actor and singer

(d. 1994)

1909

Vakkom Majeed

Indian journalist and politician

(d. 2000)

1911

Hortense Calisher

American author

(d. 2009)

1914

Harry F. Byrd Jr.

American lieutenant, publisher, and politician

(d. 2013)

1915

Aziz Nesin

Turkish author and poet

(d. 1995)

1916

Michel Chartrand

Canadian trade union leader and activist

(d. 2010)

1917

David Bohm

American-English physicist, neuropsychologist, and philosopher

(d. 1992)

1917

Cahit Külebi

Turkish poet and author

(d. 1997)

1917

Audrey Totter

American actress

(d. 2013)

1918

Jean Marchand

Canadian trade union leader and politician, 43rd Secretary of State for Canada

(d. 1988)

1920

Väinö Linna

Finnish author

(d. 1992)

1921

George Roy Hill

American director, producer, and screenwriter

(d. 2002)

1922

Beverly Pepper

American sculptor and painter

(d. 2020)

1922

William Soeryadjaya

Chinese-Indonesian businessman and co-founder of Astra International

(d. 2010)

1924

Charlie Callas

American actor and comedian

(d. 2011)

1924

Judy LaMarsh

Canadian soldier, lawyer, and politician, 42nd Secretary of State for Canada

(d. 1980)

1925

Benito Lorenzi

Italian footballer

(d. 2007)

1926

Geoffrey Howe

Welsh lawyer and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

(d. 2015)

1926

Otto Graf Lambsdorff

German lawyer and politician, German Federal Minister of Economics

(d. 2009)

1927

Michael Beaumont

22nd Seigneur of Sark, English engineer and politician

(d. 2016)

1927

Jim Simpson

American sportscaster

(d. 2016)

1927

Kim Young-sam

South Korean soldier and politician, 7th President of South Korea

(d. 2015)

1928

John Menkes

Austrian-American pediatric and writer

(d. 2008)

1929

Don Sunderlage

American basketball player

(d. 1961)

1931

Mala Powers

American actress

(d. 2007)

1932

John Hillerman

American actor

(d. 2017)

1933

Olavi Salonen

Finnish runne

r

1933

Rik Van Looy

Belgian cyclis

t

1935

Khalid Ibadulla

Pakistani cricketer and sportscaster

(d. 2024)

1939

Kathryn Joosten

American actress

(d. 2012)

1939

Kim Weston

American soul singe

r

1942

Rana Bhagwandas

Pakistani lawyer and judge, Chief Justice of Pakistan

(d. 2015)

1942

Bob Hayes

American sprinter and football player

(d. 2002)

1942

Jean-Claude Trichet

French banker and economis

t

1944

Ray Martin

Australian television host and journalis

t

1945

Peter Criss

American singer-songwriter, drummer, and produce

r

1945

Sivakant Tiwari

Indian-Singaporean lawyer and author

(d. 2010)

1946

Uri Geller

Israeli-English magician and psychi

c

1946

Bill Hosket Jr.

American basketball playe

r

1946

Sonny Perdue

American politician, 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture, 81st Governor of Georgi

a

1946

Dick Wolf

American director, producer, and screenwrite

r

1947

Gigliola Cinquetti

Italian singer-songwrite

r

1948

Alan Parsons

English keyboard player and produce

r

1948

Mitsuko Uchida

Japanese pianis

t

1949

Soumaïla Cissé

Malian engineer and politician

(d. 2020)

1949

Cecil Cooper

American baseball player and manage

r

1950

Arturo Márquez

Mexican-American compose

r

1951

Nuala O'Loan

Baroness O'Loan, Northern Irish academic and police ombudsma

n

1951

Marta Russell

American author and activist

(d. 2013)

1952

Jenny Agutter

English actres

s

1954

Michael Badalucco

American acto

r

1954

Sandra Cisneros

American author and poe

t

1955

Martin Schulz

German politicia

n

1955

Binali Yıldırım

Turkish lawyer and politician, Turkish Minister of Transpor

t

1956

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz

Mauritanian general and politician, President of Mauritani

a

1956

Guy Babylon

American keyboard player and songwriter

(d. 2009)

1956

Blanche Baker

American actress and screenwrite

r

1956

Junji Hirata

Japanese wrestle

r

1956

Andrew Mackenzie

Scottish geologist and businessma

n

1956

Anita Ward

American disco/R&B singe

r

1957

Billy Bragg

English singer-songwriter and guitaris

t

1957

Anna Vissi

Cypriot singer-songwriter and actres

s

1957

Mike Watt

American singer-songwriter and bass playe

r

1958

Doug Nordquist

American high jumpe

r

1958

James Thomson

American biologist and academi

c

1959

George Coupland

Scottish scientis

t

1959

Hildegard Körner

German runne

r

1959

Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz

Polish physicist and politician, 12th Prime Minister of Polan

d

1960

Nalo Hopkinson

Jamaican-Canadian author and educato

r

1960

Kim Ki-duk

South Korean director, producer, and screenwriter

(d. 2020)

1961

Mohammad Fouad

Egyptian singer-songwriter and acto

r

1963

Joel Gretsch

American acto

r

1966

Veronica Pershina

Russian-American figure skater and coac

h

1966

Chris Robinson

American singer-songwriter and guitaris

t

1968

Karl Wendlinger

Austrian racing drive

r

1969

Alain de Botton

Swiss-English philosopher and autho

r

1969

Zahra Ouaziz

Moroccan runne

r

1970

Nicole de Boer

Canadian actres

s

1970

Grant Flower

Zimbabwean cricketer and coac

h

1970

Jörg Schmidt

German footballe

r

1972

Jan Čaloun

Czech ice hockey playe

r

1972

Anders Odden

Norwegian guitarist, songwriter, and produce

r

1974

Die

Japanese guitarist, songwriter, and produce

r

1975

Bartosz Bosacki

Polish footballe

r

1976

Nenad Vučković

Croatian footballe

r

1978

Yoon Kye-sang

South Korean singe

r

1978

Andrei Markov

Russian-Canadian ice hockey playe

r

1978

Geremi Njitap

Cameroon footballe

r

1978

Bouabdellah Tahri

French runne

r

1979

Michael Rogers

Australian cyclis

t

1980

Israel Castro

Mexican footballe

r

1980

Ashley Cole

English footballe

r

1980

Anthony da Silva

French-Portuguese footballe

r

1980

Martín Demichelis

Argentine footballe

r

1981

Royal Ivey

American basketball player and coac

h

1981

James Shields

American baseball playe

r

1982

Mohammad Asif

Pakistani crickete

r

1982

David Cook

American singer-songwrite

r

1982

Kasper Klausen

Danish footballe

r

1982

David Wright

American baseball playe

r

1983

Jonah Hill

American actor, producer, and screenwrite

r

1984

Bob Morley

Australian acto

r

1984

David Tavaré

Spanish singer and D

J

1986

Chay Genoway

Canadian ice hockey playe

r

1987

Malcolm Jenkins

American football playe

r

1990

JoJo

American singer and actres

s

1990

Marta Xargay

Spanish basketball playe

r

1991

Rachael Boyle

Scottish footballe

r

1991

Jorginho

Brazilian footballe

r

1991

Jillian Rose Reed

American actres

s

1991

Fabian Schär

Swiss footballer

1992

Ksenia Makarova

Russian-American figure skate

r

1993

Robeisy Ramírez

Cuban boxe

r

1994

Calvin Ridley

American football playe

r

1995

Anžejs Pasečņiks

Latvian basketball playe

r

1995

Christian Wilkins

American football playe

r

1996

Jarrod Bowen

English football playe

r

1997

De'Aaron Fox

American basketball playe

r

1997

Suzuka Nakamoto

Japanese singe

r

1998

Kylian Mbappé

French footballe

r

2001

Facundo Pellistri

Uruguayan footballe

r

2002

Marcelo Pitaluga

Brazilian footballe

r

December 20 Deaths

69

Titus Flavius Sabinus

a Roman politician and soldie

r

217

Zephyrinus

pope of the Catholic Churc

h

910

Alfonso III

king of Asturia

s

977

Fujiwara no Kanemichi

Japanese statesman

(b. 925)

1295

Margaret of Provence

French queen

(b. 1221)

1326

Peter of Moscow

Russian metropolitan bisho

p

1340

John I

duke of Bavaria

(b. 1329)

1355

Stefan Dušan

emperor of Serbia

(b. 1308)

1539

Johannes Lupi

Flemish composer

(b. 1506)

1552

Katharina von Bora

wife of Martin Luther

(b. 1499)

1590

Ambroise Paré

French physician and surgeon

(b. 1510)

1658

Jean Jannon

French designer and typefounder

(b. 1580)

1722

Kangxi

emperor of the Qing Dynasty

(b. 1654)

1723

Augustus Quirinus Rivinus

German physician and botanist

(b. 1652)

1740

Richard Boyle

2nd Viscount Shannon, English field marshal and politician, Governor of Portsmouth

(b. 1675)

1765

Louis

dauphin of France

(b. 1729)

1768

Carlo Innocenzo Frugoni

Italian poet and academic

(b. 1692)

1783

Antonio Soler

Spanish priest and composer

(b. 1729)

1812

Sacagawea

American explorer

(b. 1788)

1820

John Bell

American farmer

(b. 1750)

1856

Francesco Bentivegna

Italian activist

(b. 1820)

1862

Robert Knox

Scottish surgeon and zoologist

(b. 1791)

1880

Gaspar Tochman

Polish-American colonel and lawyer

(b. 1797)

1893

George C. Magoun

American businessman

(b. 1840)

1915

Upendrakishore Ray

Indian painter and composer

(b. 1863)

1916

Arthur Morgan

Australian politician, 16th Premier of Queensland

(b. 1856)

1917

Lucien Petit-Breton

French-Argentinian cyclist

(b. 1882)

1919

Philip Fysh

English-Australian politician, 12th Premier of Tasmania

(b. 1835)

1920

Linton Hope

English sailor and architect

(b. 1863)

1921

Julius Richard Petri

German microbiologist

(b. 1852)

1925

João Ferreira Sardo

the founder of Gafanha da Nazaré, also known as Prior Sardo

(b. 1873).

1927

Frederick Semple

American golfer and tennis player

(b. 1872)

1929

Émile Loubet

French lawyer and politician, 8th President of France

(b. 1838)

1935

Martin O'Meara

Irish-Australian sergeant, Victoria Cross recipient

(b. 1882)

1937

Erich Ludendorff

German general

(b. 1865)

1938

Annie Armstrong

American missionary

(b. 1850)

1938

Lida Howell

American archer

(b. 1859)

1939

Hans Langsdorff

German captain

(b. 1894)

1941

Igor Severyanin

Russian-Estonian poet and author

(b. 1887)

1950

Enrico Mizzi

Maltese lawyer and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Malta

(b. 1885)

1954

James Hilton

English-American author and screenwriter

(b. 1900)

1956

Ramón Carrillo

Argentinian neurologist and physician

(b. 1906)

1959

Juhan Simm

Estonian composer and conductor

(b. 1885)

1961

Moss Hart

American director and playwright

(b. 1904)

1961

Earle Page

Australian soldier and politician, 11th Prime Minister of Australia

(b. 1880)

1968

John Steinbeck

American novelist and short story writer, Nobel Prize laureate

(b. 1902)

1971

Roy O. Disney

American banker and businessman, co-founded The Walt Disney Company

(b. 1893)

1972

Adolfo Orsi

Italian businessman

(b. 1888)

1973

Luis Carrero Blanco

Spanish admiral and politician, 69th President of the Government of Spain

(b. 1904; assassinated)

1973

Bobby Darin

American singer-songwriter and actor

(b. 1936)

1974

Rajani Palme Dutt

English journalist and politician

(b. 1896)

1974

André Jolivet

French composer and conductor

(b. 1905)

1976

Richard J. Daley

American lawyer and politician, 48th Mayor of Chicago

(b. 1902)

1976

Soetardjo Kartohadikusumo

Indonesian politician, 1st Governor of West Java

(b. 1890)

1981

Dimitris Rontiris

Greek actor and director

(b. 1899)

1982

Arthur Rubinstein

Polish-American pianist and composer

(b. 1887)

1984

Stanley Milgram

American psychologist and academic

(b. 1933)

1984

Dmitry Ustinov

Minister of Defence of the Soviet Union

(1976–84) (b. 1908)

1986

Joe DeSa

American baseball player

(b. 1959)

1991

Simone Beck

French chef and author

(b. 1904)

1991

Sam Rabin

English wrestler, singer, and sculptor

(b. 1903)

1991

Albert Van Vlierberghe

Belgian cyclist

(b. 1942)

1993

W. Edwards Deming

American statistician, author, and academic

(b. 1900)

1993

Nazife Güran

Turkish composer and educator

(b. 1921)

1994

Dean Rusk

American lawyer, and politician, 54th United States Secretary of State

(b. 1909)

1995

Madge Sinclair

Jamaican-American actress

(b. 1938)

1996

Carl Sagan

American astronomer, astrophysicist, and cosmologist

(b. 1934)

1997

Denise Levertov

English-American poet and translator

(b. 1923)

1997

Dick Spooner

English cricketer

(b. 1919)

1997

Dawn Steel

American film producer

(b. 1946)

1998

Alan Lloyd Hodgkin

English physiologist and biophysicist, Nobel Prize laureate

(b. 1916)

1999

Riccardo Freda

Egyptian-Italian director and screenwriter

(b. 1909)

1999

Hank Snow

Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist

(b. 1914)

2001

Léopold Sédar Senghor

Senegalese poet and politician, 1st President of Senegal

(b. 1906)

2005

Raoul Bott

Hungarian-American mathematician and academic

(b. 1923)

2006

Anne Rogers Clark

American dog breeder and trainer

(b. 1929)

2008

Adrian Mitchell

English author, poet, and playwright

(b. 1932)

2008

Robert Mulligan

American director and producer

(b. 1925)

2008

Igor Troubetzkoy

Russian aristocrat and racing driver

(b. 1912)

2009

Brittany Murphy

American actress and singer

(b. 1977)

2009

Arnold Stang

American actor

(b. 1918)

2010

K. P. Ratnam

Sri Lankan academic and politician

(b. 1914)

2011

Barry Reckord

Jamaican playwright and screenwriter

(b. 1926)

2012

Stan Charlton

English footballer and manager

(b. 1929)

2012

Robert Juniper

Australian painter and sculptor

(b. 1929)

2012

Victor Merzhanov

Russian pianist and educator

(b. 1919)

2013

Pyotr Bolotnikov

Russian runner

(b. 1930)

2014

Per-Ingvar Brånemark

Swedish surgeon and academic

(b. 1929)

2014

John Freeman

English lawyer, politician, and diplomat, British Ambassador to the United States

(b. 1915)

2020

Fanny Waterman

British pianist

(b. 1920)

2020

Ezra Vogel

American sociologist

(b. 1930)

2022

Franco Harris

American football player

(b. 1950)