December 26, 1776 - The British suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War.
December 26, 1865 - The coffee percolator was patented by James H. Mason.
December 26, 1917 - During World War I, the U.S. government took over operation of the nation's railroads.
December 26, 1921 - The Catholic Irish Free State became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain.
December 26, 1944 - Tennessee Williams' play "The Glass Menagerie" was first performed publicly, at the Civic Theatre in Chicago, IL.
December 26, 1947 - Heavy snow blanketed the Northeast United States, burying New York City under 25.8 inches of snow in 16 hours. The severe weather was blamed for about 80 deaths.
December 26, 1982 - The Man of the Year in TIME magazine was a computer. It was the first time a non-human received the honors.
December 27, 1831 - Charles Darwin set out on a voyage to the Pacific aboard the HMS Beagle. Darwin's discoveries during the voyage helped him form the basis of his theories on evolution.
December 27, 1932 - Radio City Music Hall opened its doors to the public for the first time.
December 27, 1945 - The World Bank was created with an agreement signed by 28 nations.
December 27, 1947 - The children's television program "Howdy Doody," hosted by Bob Smith, made its debut on NBC.
December 27, 1971 - Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Woodstock of Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" comic strip were on the cover of "Newsweek" magazine.
December 27, 1978 - Spain adopted a new constitution and became a democracy after 40 years of dictatorship.
December 27, 2000 - Mario Lemeiux (Pittsburgh Penguins) returned to the National Hockey League (NHL) as a player after over 3 years of retirement. He was the first owner-player in the modern era of pro sports. Lemieux had purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins during his retirement from playing.
December 27, 2001 - U.S. President George W. Bush granted China permanent normal trade status with the United States.
December 28, 1836 - Mexico's independence was recognized by Spain.
December 28, 1902 - The first professional indoor football game was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Syracuse defeated the Philadelphia Nationals 6-0.
December 28, 1945 - The U.S. Congress officially recognized the "Pledge of Allegiance."
December 28, 1964 - Initial filming of the movie "Dr. Zhivago" began on location near Madrid, Spain. The movies total running time is 197 minutes.
December 28, 1981 - Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American test-tube baby, was born in Norfolk, VA.
December 29, 1848 - U.S. President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House.
December 29, 1851 - The first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Boston, MA.
December 29, 1888 - The first performance of Macbeth took place at the Lyceum Theatre.
December 29, 1940 - During World War II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London.
December 29, 1952 - Sonotone Corporation offered the first transistorized hearing aid for sale.
December 30, 1879 - Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" was first performed, at Paignton, Devon, England.
December 30, 1887 - A petition to Queen Victoria with over one million names of women appealing for public houses to be closed on Sundays was handed to the home secretary.
December 30, 1940 - California's first freeway was officially opened. It was the Arroyo Seco Parkway connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena.
December 30, 1948 - "Kiss Me Kate" opened at the New Century Theatre in New York City. Cole Porter composed the music for the classic play that ran for 1,077 performances.
December 30, 1953 - The first color TV sets went on sale for about $1,175.
December 31, 1897 - Brooklyn, NY, spent its last day as a separate entity before becoming part of New York City.
December 31, 1929 - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" as a New Year's Eve song for the first time.
December 31, 1940 - As a result of a dispute between the radio networks and ASCAP (the American Society of Composers and Publishers), the radio industry was prevented from playing any ASCAP-licensed music. The ban lasted for ten months.
December 31, 1946 - U.S. President Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II.
December 31, 1967 - The Green Bay Packers won the National Football League championship game by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. The game is known as the Ice Bowl since it was played in a wind chill of 40 degrees below zero.
January 1, 1772 - The first traveler's checks were issued in London.
January 1, 1801 - Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi became the first person to discover an asteroid. He named it Ceres.
January 1, 1863 - U.S. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the rebel states were free.
January 1, 1898 - Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island were consolidated into New York City.
January 1, 1937 - The First Cotton Bowl football game was played in Dallas, TX. Texas Christian (T.C.U.) beat Marquette, 16-6.
January 1, 1985 - VH-1 premiered as an adult contemporary music video channel with Marvin Gaye's "Star Spangled Banner" video.
January 1, 2002 - The euro coin and banknotes were put into circulation in 12 European countries.
December 26, 1865 - The coffee percolator was patented by James H. Mason.
December 26, 1917 - During World War I, the U.S. government took over operation of the nation's railroads.
December 26, 1921 - The Catholic Irish Free State became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain.
December 26, 1944 - Tennessee Williams' play "The Glass Menagerie" was first performed publicly, at the Civic Theatre in Chicago, IL.
December 26, 1947 - Heavy snow blanketed the Northeast United States, burying New York City under 25.8 inches of snow in 16 hours. The severe weather was blamed for about 80 deaths.
December 26, 1982 - The Man of the Year in TIME magazine was a computer. It was the first time a non-human received the honors.
December 27, 1831 - Charles Darwin set out on a voyage to the Pacific aboard the HMS Beagle. Darwin's discoveries during the voyage helped him form the basis of his theories on evolution.
December 27, 1932 - Radio City Music Hall opened its doors to the public for the first time.
December 27, 1945 - The World Bank was created with an agreement signed by 28 nations.
December 27, 1947 - The children's television program "Howdy Doody," hosted by Bob Smith, made its debut on NBC.
December 27, 1971 - Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Woodstock of Charles Schulz' "Peanuts" comic strip were on the cover of "Newsweek" magazine.
December 27, 1978 - Spain adopted a new constitution and became a democracy after 40 years of dictatorship.
December 27, 2000 - Mario Lemeiux (Pittsburgh Penguins) returned to the National Hockey League (NHL) as a player after over 3 years of retirement. He was the first owner-player in the modern era of pro sports. Lemieux had purchased the Pittsburgh Penguins during his retirement from playing.
December 27, 2001 - U.S. President George W. Bush granted China permanent normal trade status with the United States.
December 28, 1836 - Mexico's independence was recognized by Spain.
December 28, 1902 - The first professional indoor football game was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Syracuse defeated the Philadelphia Nationals 6-0.
December 28, 1945 - The U.S. Congress officially recognized the "Pledge of Allegiance."
December 28, 1964 - Initial filming of the movie "Dr. Zhivago" began on location near Madrid, Spain. The movies total running time is 197 minutes.
December 28, 1981 - Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American test-tube baby, was born in Norfolk, VA.
December 29, 1848 - U.S. President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House.
December 29, 1851 - The first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Boston, MA.
December 29, 1888 - The first performance of Macbeth took place at the Lyceum Theatre.
December 29, 1940 - During World War II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London.
December 29, 1952 - Sonotone Corporation offered the first transistorized hearing aid for sale.
December 30, 1879 - Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" was first performed, at Paignton, Devon, England.
December 30, 1887 - A petition to Queen Victoria with over one million names of women appealing for public houses to be closed on Sundays was handed to the home secretary.
December 30, 1940 - California's first freeway was officially opened. It was the Arroyo Seco Parkway connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena.
December 30, 1948 - "Kiss Me Kate" opened at the New Century Theatre in New York City. Cole Porter composed the music for the classic play that ran for 1,077 performances.
December 30, 1953 - The first color TV sets went on sale for about $1,175.
December 31, 1897 - Brooklyn, NY, spent its last day as a separate entity before becoming part of New York City.
December 31, 1929 - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" as a New Year's Eve song for the first time.
December 31, 1940 - As a result of a dispute between the radio networks and ASCAP (the American Society of Composers and Publishers), the radio industry was prevented from playing any ASCAP-licensed music. The ban lasted for ten months.
December 31, 1946 - U.S. President Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II.
December 31, 1967 - The Green Bay Packers won the National Football League championship game by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. The game is known as the Ice Bowl since it was played in a wind chill of 40 degrees below zero.
January 1, 1772 - The first traveler's checks were issued in London.
January 1, 1801 - Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi became the first person to discover an asteroid. He named it Ceres.
January 1, 1863 - U.S. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the rebel states were free.
January 1, 1898 - Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island were consolidated into New York City.
January 1, 1937 - The First Cotton Bowl football game was played in Dallas, TX. Texas Christian (T.C.U.) beat Marquette, 16-6.
January 1, 1985 - VH-1 premiered as an adult contemporary music video channel with Marvin Gaye's "Star Spangled Banner" video.
January 1, 2002 - The euro coin and banknotes were put into circulation in 12 European countries.
Thanks to On-This-Day
