A hostage crisis in a Lindt chocolate café in Sydney, Australia, ended with police storming the building, killing the perpetrator and one of the hostages.
A woman was gang-raped and fatally assaulted on a bus in Delhi, generating protests across India against inadequate security for women.
"Dennō Senshi Porygon", an episode of the Japanese television series Pokémon, induced epileptic seizures in 685 children.
Amid an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the British government banned the sale of beef on the bone for human consumption.
The surrender of Pakistani forces in Dacca, East Pakistan, concluded the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Indo-Pakistani War.
World War II: Americans engaged Imperial Japanese forces at the Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse in the hills near the Matanikau River area on Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal campaign.
Adolf Hitler instituted the Cross of Honour of the German Mother, an order of merit for German mothers with at least four children.
German-American gangster Herman Lamm killed himself during a botched robbery attempt in Clinton, Indiana, to avoid being captured by police.
Gabriel Narutowicz, the first president of Poland, was assassinated only five days after having taken office.
Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas declared the formation of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, a puppet state created by Soviet Russia to justify the Lithuanian–Soviet War.
First World War: The Imperial German Navy attacked ports in northern England, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties.
English writer Beatrix Potter privately published 250 copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit (illustration shown) after several publishers' rejections.
Czech composer Antonín Dvořák's New World Symphony (audio featured) premiered at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Settlers of the Canterbury Association (poster pictured) aboard Randolph and Charlotte Jane arrived to establish a colony at Christchurch, New Zealand.
The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward.
American Revolution: A group of colonists threw chests of tea into Boston Harbor (pictured) to protest British taxation without representation.
Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, Russian forces captured Kolberg, the last major Prussian port on the Baltic Sea.
The last recorded eruption of Japan's Mount Fuji released some 800 million m3 (28 billion cu ft) of volcanic ash.
The Parliament of England enacted the Bill of Rights, setting out basic civil rights and later influencing other documents such as the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England.
Led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the Korean navy were victorious at Battle of Noryang, ending the Japanese invasions of Korea.
A Abundant Life Christian School shooting: A mass shooting occurs at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, killing 3 people (including the shooter) and injuring several others.
A landslide occurs at a camp at an organic farm near the town of Batang Kali in Selangor, Malaysia, trapping 92 people and killing 31.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attack an Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 150 people, 132 of them schoolchildren.
A bus falls from an elevated highway in the Philippines capital Manila killing at least 18 people with 20 injured.
Zhanaozen massacre: Violent protests by oil workers take place in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, leading to 16 people dead and 100 injured by the security forces.
1992 deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Palestinians suspected to be members of Hamas across the Lebanese border.
Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés.
Jeltoqsan: Riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR.
Aeroflot Flight 2022 crashes in the Soviet Union's (now Russia) Volokolamsky District, killing all 51 aboard, including four Lithuanian doctors.
The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was enacted.
Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The surrender of the Pakistan Army brings an end to both conflicts. This is commemorated annually as Victory Day in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India respectively.
The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day.
Second Vatican Council: Official revocation of the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain.
A United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground.
A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey, killing all 58 aboard including dancer Doris Ruby.
World War II: The Battle of the Bulge begins with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest.
The Holocaust: Schutzstaffel chief Heinrich Himmler orders that Roma candidates for extermination be deported to Auschwitz.
The Haiyuan earthquake of 8.5Mw , rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000.
World War I: Admiral Franz von Hipper commands a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby.
First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli.
In Rugby Union, The "Match of the Century" is played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park.
Tonkin Campaign: French forces capture the Sơn Tây citadel.
Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match.
Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire.
American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville ends as the Union Army of the Cumberland under General George H. Thomas routs and destroys the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood, ending its effectiveness as a combat unit.
American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints General Joseph E. Johnston to replace General Braxton Bragg as commander of the Army of Tennessee.
The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand.
Great Trek: Battle of Blood River: Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius and Sarel Cilliers defeat Zulu impis, led by Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Benjamin W. Edwards rides into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and declares himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia.
The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri.
British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah.
Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act.
Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, the Russians under Pyotr Rumyantsev take the Prussian fortress of Kołobrzeg.
Most Recent Eruption of Mount Fuji.
Convention Parliament: The Declaration of Right is embodied in the Bill of Rights.
English Interregnum: The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Seven-Year War: Battle of Noryang: The final battle of the Seven-Year War is fought between the China and the Korean allied forces and Japanese navies, resulting in a decisive allied forces victory.
An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5Mw strikes Valdivia, Chile.
Vasco da Gama passes the Great Fish River at the southern tip of Africa, where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal.
Hundred Years' War: Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris.
An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Yanjing, initiating the An Lushan Rebellion during the Tang dynasty of China.
Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). He is succeeded by his infant grandson Theudoald, while his widow Plectrude holds actual power in the Frankish Kingdom.
Kai Cenat, American streamer
Mira Antonitsch, Austrian tennis player
Zhou Jieqiong, Chinese singer and actress
Wilfred Ndidi, Nigerian footballer
Sergio Reguilón, Spanish footballer
Henry Thornton, Australian cricketer
Nigel Hayes, American basketball player
Elliot Lee, English footballer
Nicola Murru, Italian footballer
José Rodríguez, Spanish footballer
Jyoti Amge, Indian actress
Stephan James, Canadian actor
Ulrikke Eikeri, Norwegian tennis player
Anamul Haque, Bangladeshi cricketer
Pietro Perdichizzi, Belgian footballer
Tom Rogic, Australian footballer
Craig Goodwin, Australian footballer
David Johnson, American football player
Rebecca Marino, Canadian tennis player
Mikkel Bødker, Danish ice hockey player
Mats Hummels, German footballer
Anna Popplewell, English actress
Alexey Shved, Russian basketball player
Mame Biram Diouf, Senegalese footballer
Beau Dowler, Australian footballer
Hallee Hirsh, American actress
Alcides Escobar, Venezuelan baseball player
Zoltán Kovács, Hungarian footballer (died 2013)
Pärt Uusberg, Estonian actor, composer, and conductor.
Stanislav Manolev, Bulgarian footballer
James Nash, English race car driver
Amanda Setton, American actress
Theo James, English actor
Kelenna Azubuike, Nigerian-American basketball player
Frankie Ballard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Joey Dorsey, American basketball player
Antrel Rolle, American football player
Anna Sedokova, Ukrainian singer, actress and television presenter
Stanislav Šesták, Slovak footballer
Krysten Ritter, American actress, musician, and model
Reanna Solomon, Nauruan weightlifter (died 2022)
Gareth Williams, Scottish footballer
Danish Kaneria, Pakistani cricketer
Trevor Immelman, South African golfer
Brodie Lee, American wrestler (died 2020)
Daniel Narcisse, French handball player
Mihai Trăistariu, Romanian singer-songwriter
Jessie Ward, American wrestler and producer
John Morris, Canadian curler and firefighter
Gunter Van Handenhoven, Belgian footballer and manager
Éric Bélanger, Canadian ice hockey player
Sylvain Distin, French footballer
Jen Golbeck, American computer scientist and academic
Valentin Bădoi, Romanian footballer and manager
Kaba Diawara, French-Guinean footballer
Benjamin Kowalewicz, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist
Paul Maynard, English politician
Themba Mnguni, South African footballer
Scott Storch, American songwriter and producer, founded Storch Music Company
Charles Gipson, American baseball player
Zeljko Kalac, Australian soccer player and manager
Paul Leyden, Australian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
Travis Morrison, American singer-songwriter
Seyhan Kurt, French-Turkish poet and sociologist
Paul van Dyk, German musician, producer and DJ
Michael McCary, American R&B singer
Valerie Chow, Canadian-Hong Kong actress and publicist
Daniel Cosgrove, American actor
Simon Grayson, English footballer and manager
Kent Hehr, Canadian politician
Adam Riess, American astrophysicist, astronomer, and academic Nobel Prize laureate
Michelle Smith, Irish swimmer
Dmitri Tymoczko, American composer and theorist
Craig White, English cricketer and coach
Wendy Doolan, Australian golfer
Lalah Hathaway, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer
Greg Kovacs, Canadian bodybuilder (died 2013)
Donovan Bailey, Canadian sprinter and sportscaster
Indrek Kaseorg, Estonian decathlete
Miranda Otto, Australian actress
Fatima Lamarti, Belgian politician
Paul McGinley, Irish golfer
Clifford Robinson, American basketball player (died 2020)
Dennis Wise, English footballer and manager
Melanie Sloan, American lawyer and activist
J. B. Smoove, American comedian, writer, and actor
Heike Drechsler, German sprinter and long jumper
Todd Glass, American comedian
John Kirwan, New Zealand rugby player and coach
Georgie Parker, Australian actress
Billy Ripken, American baseball player and sportscaster
Benjamin Bratt, American actor and producer
Cathy Johnston-Forbes, American golfer
James Mangold, American director, producer, and screenwriter
Nadia Moscufo, Belgian politician
Maruschka Detmers, Dutch-French actress
William Perry, American football player and wrestler
André Andersen, Russian-Danish keyboard player, songwriter, and producer
Shane Black, American actor, director, and screenwriter
Bill Hicks, American comedian and musician (died 1994)
LaChanze, American actress, singer, and dancer
Sam Robards, American actor
Jon Tenney, American actor and director
Pat Van Den Hauwe, Belgian footballer and manager
H. D. Kumaraswamy, Indian social worker and politician, 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka
Alison La Placa, American actress
Alexander Lebedev, Russian businessman and politician
Steve Mattsson, American author and illustrator
Bart Oates, American football player and lawyer
Jeff Ruland, American basketball player
Antonio Vega, Spanish singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2009)
Lizzy Mercier Descloux, French musician, singer-songwriter, composer, actress, writer and painter (died 2004)
Xander Berkeley, American actor and producer
Carol Browner, American lawyer and environmentalist, 8th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este
Chiharu Matsuyama, Japanese singer-songwriter
Rebecca Forstadt, American voice actress and screenwriter
Joel Garner, Barbadian cricketer and manager
Francesco Graziani, Italian footballer and manager
Aykut Barka, Turkish scientist (died 2002)
Sally Emerson, English author and poet
Mike Flanagan, American baseball player, coach, and sportscaster (died 2011)
Robben Ford, American guitarist and songwriter
Mark Heard, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (died 1992)
Claudia Cohen, American journalist (died 2007)
Roy Schuiten, Dutch cyclist and manager (died 2006)
Billy Gibbons, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Heather Hallett, English lawyer and judge
Ben Cross, English actor (died 2020)
Vincent Matthews, American sprinter
Martyn Poliakoff, English chemist and academic
Trevor Żahra, Maltese novelist, poet and illustrator
Benny Andersson, Swedish singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer
Charles Dennis, Canadian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
Trevor Pinnock, English harpsichord player and conductor
Tom Stern, American cinematographer
Tony Hicks, English singer and guitarist
Jeff Kanew, American director and screenwriter
Don Meyer, American basketball player and coach (died 2014)
Steven Bochco, American television writer and producer (died 2018)
Patti Deutsch, American actress and comedian (died 2017)
Donald Carcieri, American educator and politician, 73rd Governor of Rhode Island
Lesley Stahl, American journalist and actress
Roger Neil Wheeler, English general
Philip Langridge, English tenor (died 2010)
Gordon Miller, English high jumper
Frank Deford, American journalist and author (died 2017)
Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress, director, and screenwriter
Joyce Bulifant, American actress
Edward Ruscha, American painter and photographer
Morris Dees, American lawyer and activist, co-founded the Southern Poverty Law Center
Grace Alele-Williams, Nigerian mathematician and academic (died 2022)
Quentin Blake, English author and illustrator
Lin Zhao, Chinese dissident and Christian executed during the Cultural Revolution (died 1968)
Bill Brittain, American author (died 2011)
Sam Most, American flute player and saxophonist (died 2013)
Bill Young, American sergeant and politician (died 2013)
Nicholas Courtney, Egyptian-English actor (died 2011)
Terry Carter, American actor, director, and producer (died 2024)
Philip K. Dick, American philosopher and author (died 1982)
Peter Dickinson, Rhodesian-English author and poet (died 2015)
Randall Garrett, American author and poet (died 1987)
James McCracken, American tenor and actor (died 1988)
A. N. R. Robinson, Tobagonian lawyer and politician, 3rd President of Trinidad and Tobago (died 2014)
Jeffrey Stone, American actor and screenwriter (died 2012)
Nicolas Sidjakov, Latvian-American illustrator (died 1993)
Menahem Pressler, German-American pianist (died 2023)
Ernst Florian Winter, Austrian-American historian and political scientist (died 2014)
Cy Leslie, American record producer, founded Pickwick Records (died 2008)
Eulalio González, Mexican singer-songwriter, director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2003)
Frederick Rotimi Williams, Nigerian lawyer and politician (died 2005)
Nabi Bux Khan Baloch, Pakistani author and scholar (died 2011)
Pete T. Cenarrusa, American soldier, pilot, and politician, Secretary of State of Idaho (died 2013)
Arthur C. Clarke, English science fiction writer (died 2008)
Ruth Johnson Colvin, American author and educator, founded ProLiteracy Worldwide (died 2024)
O. Winston Link, American photographer (died 2001)
George Ignatieff, Russian-Canadian scholar and diplomat, 8th Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations (died 1989)
Freddie Brown, Peruvian-English cricketer and sportscaster (died 1991)
Remedios Varo, Spanish-Mexican surrealist painter & anarchist (died 1963)
Barbara Kent, Canadian-born American film actress (died 2011)
Piet Hein, Danish mathematician, author, and poet (died 1996)
Ruben Nirvi, Finnish linguist and professor (died 1986)
Hardie Albright, American actor (died 1975)
Harold Whitlock, English race walker and coach (died 1985)
Rafael Alberti, Spanish poet and playwright (died 1999)
Margaret Mead, American anthropologist and author (died 1978)
Lucille Lortel, American actress and producer (died 1999)
V. S. Pritchett, British writer and literary critic (died 1997)
Noël Coward, English actor, playwright, and composer (died 1973)
Anna Anderson, an imposter who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia (died 1984)
Marie Hall Ets, American author and illustrator (died 1984)
Kim Chwa-chin, South Korean guerrilla leader (died 1930)
Alexander I of Yugoslavia (died 1934)
Alphonse Juin, Algerian-French general (died 1967)
John Gunn, Australian politician, 29th Premier of South Australia (died 1959)
Seibo Kitamura, Japanese sculptor (died 1987)
Károly Kós, Hungarian-Romanian architect, ethnologist, and politician (died 1977)
Max Linder, French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (died 1925)
Jack Hobbs, English cricketer and journalist (died 1963)
Zoltán Kodály, Hungarian composer, conductor, and musicologist (died 1967)
Walther Meissner, German physicist and engineer (died 1974)
Anton Denikin, Russian general (died 1947)
Hristo Tatarchev, Bulgarian physician and activist, co-founded the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (died 1952)
Bertha Lamme Feicht, American electrical engineer (died 1943)
Amy Carmichael, Irish missionary and humanitarian (died 1951)
Wassily Kandinsky, Russian-French painter and theorist (died 1944)
Olavo Bilac, Brazilian journalist and poet (died 1918)
George Santayana, Spanish philosopher, novelist, and poet (died 1952)
Antonio de La Gándara, French painter and illustrator (died 1917)
Mary Hartwell Catherwood, American author and poet (died 1902)
Ernst von Bergmann, Latvian-German surgeon and academic (died 1907)
Léon Walras, French-Swiss economist and theorist (died 1910)
Stuart Donaldson, English-Australian politician, 1st Premier of New South Wales (died 1867)
Viktor Bunyakovsky, Russian mathematician and academic (died 1889)
Leopold I of Belgium (died 1865)
Mary Russell Mitford, English author and playwright (died 1855)
John Ordronaux, French-American soldier (died 1841)
Johann Wilhelm Ritter, German chemist, physicist, and philosopher (died 1810)
Jane Austen, English novelist (died 1817)
François-Adrien Boieldieu, French pianist and composer (died 1834)
Ludwig van Beethoven, composer (died 1827)
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, German field marshal (died 1819)
Diego Silang, Filipino revolutionary leader (died 1763)
Elizabeth Carter, English poet and scholar (died 1806)
Louis Jules Mancini Mazarini, French poet and diplomat (died 1798)
George Whitefield, English Anglican priest (died 1770)
Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort, British botanist (died 1715)
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg (died 1674)
Jerome Weston, 2nd Earl of Portland, English diplomat (died 1663)
Livia della Rovere, Italian noble (died 1641)
John Selden, English jurist and scholar (died 1654)
Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey (died 1642)
Hans Bol, Flemish artist (died 1593)
Catherine of Aragon, Spanish princess, later queen consort of England (died 1536)
Emperor Manuel III of Trebizond (died 1417)
Dick Van Arsdale, American basketball player (born 1943)
Keely Smith, American singer and actress (born 1928)
Peter Dickinson, Rhodesian-English author and poet (born 1927)
Lizmark, Mexican wrestler (born 1950)
George Earl Ortman, American painter and sculptor (born 1926)
Martin Brasier, English paleontologist, biologist, and academic (born 1947)
Tim Cochran, American mathematician and academic (born 1955)
James Flint, English commander (born 1913)
Ray Price, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1926)
Marta Russell, American journalist, author, and activist (born 1951)
Elwood V. Jensen, American biologist and academic (born 1920)
Jake Adam York, American poet and academic (born 1972)
Robert Easton, American actor and screenwriter (born 1930)
Nicol Williamson, Scottish actor (born 1938)
Melvin E. Biddle, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1923)
Ayinde Barrister, Nigerian fuji musician (born 1948)
Roy E. Disney, American businessman (born 1930)
Yegor Gaidar, Russian economist and politician, Prime Minister of Russia (born 1956)
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, South African physician and politician, 22nd South African Minister of Health (born 1940)
Dan Fogelberg, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1951)
Don Jardine, Canadian wrestler and trainer (born 1940)
Taliep Petersen, South African singer-songwriter and director (born 1950)
Pnina Salzman, Israeli pianist and educator (born 1922)
Stanford J. Shaw, American historian and academic (born 1930)
Kenneth Bulmer, English author (born 1921)
Ed Hansen, American director and screenwriter (born 1937)
John Spencer, American actor (born 1946)
Ted Abernathy, American baseball player (born 1933)
Deyda Hydara, Gambian journalist, co-founded The Point (born 1946)
Agnes Martin, American painter and educator (born 1912)
Robert Stanfield, Canadian economist, lawyer, and politician, 17th Premier of Nova Scotia (born 1914)
Gary Stewart, American singer-songwriter (born 1945)
Stuart Adamson, English-Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1958)
Stefan Heym, German-American soldier and author (born 1913)
William Gaddis, American author and academic (born 1922)
Lillian Disney, American illustrator and philanthropist (born 1899)
Quentin Bell, English historian and author (born 1910)
Moses Gunn, American actor (born 1929)
Kakuei Tanaka, Japanese soldier and politician, 64th Prime Minister of Japan (born 1918)
Eszter Tamási, Hungarian actress and journalist (born 1938)
Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Argentinian race car driver (born 1913)
Silvana Mangano, Italian actress (born 1930)
Aileen Pringle, American actress (born 1895)
Lee Van Cleef, American actor (born 1925)
Thomas Bilotti, American mobster (born 1940)
Paul Castellano, American mobster (born 1915)
Karl Deichgräber, German philologist and academic (born 1903)
Debs Garms, American baseball player (born 1907)
Mitchell WerBell III, American mercenary (born 1918)
Colin Chapman, English engineer and businessman, founded Lotus Cars (born 1928)
Colonel Sanders, American businessman, founded KFC (born 1890)
Hellmuth Walter, German-American engineer (born 1900)
Risto Jarva, Finnish director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1934)
Réal Caouette, Canadian journalist and politician (born 1917)
Kostas Varnalis, Greek poet and playwright (born 1884)
Oscar Lewis, American anthropologist of Latin America (born 1914)
Alphonse Castex, French rugby union player (born 1899)
Soe Hok Gie, Indonesian activist and academic (born 1942)
Futabayama Sadaji, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 35th Yokozuna (born 1912)
Muhammad Suheimat, Jordanian general and politician (born 1916)
W. Somerset Maugham, British playwright, novelist, and short story writer (born 1874)
Hans Rebane, Estonian journalist and politician, 8th Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1882)
Nina Hamnett, Welsh painter and author (born 1890)
Robert Henry Best, American journalist (born 1896)
Sidney Olcott, Canadian-American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1873)
Giovanni Agnelli, Italian businessman, founded Fiat (born 1866)
Fumimaro Konoe, Japanese lawyer and politician, 23rd Prime Minister of Japan (born 1891)
Betsie ten Boom, Dutch Holocaust victim (born 1885)
George Bambridge, English diplomat (born 1892)
Eugène Dubois, Dutch paleoanthropologist (born 1858)
Billy Hamilton, American baseball player and manager (born 1866)
Frank Eugene, American-German photographer and educator (born 1865)
Thelma Todd, American actress and comedian (born 1905)
Elinor Wylie, American poet and author (born 1885)
Gabriel Narutowicz, Lithuanian–Polish engineer and politician, 1st President of the Republic of Poland (born 1865)
Camille Saint-Saëns, French pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1835)
Frank Gotch, American wrestler (born 1878)
American Horse, American tribal leader and educator (born 1840)
Pavel Tretyakov, Russian businessman and art collector (born 1832)
Alphonse Daudet, French author, poet, and playwright (born 1840)
Henry Yesler, American businessman and politician, 7th Mayor of Seattle (born 1810)
Wilhelm Grimm, German anthropologist and author (born 1786)
Antoine François, comte de Fourcroy, French chemist and entomologist (born 1755)
Saverio Cassar, Gozitan priest and rebel leader (born 1746)
Johann Adolph Hasse, German composer and educator (born 1699)
Sir William James, 1st Baronet, Welsh-English commander and politician (born 1720)
François Quesnay, French economist, physician, and philosopher (born 1694)
Leopold II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (born 1700)
William Petty, English economist and philosopher (born 1623)
Nathaniel Fiennes, English soldier and politician (born 1608)
Yi Sun-sin, Korean general (born 1545)
Allison Balfour, Scottish witch
Ivan Fyodorov, Russian printer
Thomas Cheney, English diplomat and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
Afonso de Albuquerque, Portuguese admiral and politician, 3rd Viceroy of Portuguese India (born 1453)
Ali Qushji, Uzbek astronomer, mathematician, and physicist (born 1403)
John II, duke of Lorraine (born 1424)
John FitzAlan, 1st Baron Arundel, English general and politician, Lord Marshall of England (born 1348)
Secondotto, marquess of Montferrat (born 1360)
Charles, French nobleman (born 1270)
Öljaitü, Mongolian ruler (born 1280)
Haakon IV, king of Norway (born 1204)
Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester, Norman nobleman
Adelaide of Italy, Holy Roman Empress (born 931)
Wei Yifan, chancellor of the Tang dynasty
John VIII, pope of the Catholic Church
Ado, archbishop of Vienne
Eberhard of Friuli, Frankish duke (born 815)
Pepin of Herstal, Frankish statesman (born 635)
Wu Zetian, Empress of the Zhou dynasty (born 624)
Houzhu, emperor of the Chen dynasty (born 553)
Christian feast day: Adelaide of Italy
Christian feast day: Haggai
Christian feast day: Ralph Adams Cram, Richard Upjohn and John La Farge (Episcopal Church (USA))
Christian feast day: December 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Day of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the Afrikaners (South Africa)
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.
National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971.
National Sports Day (Thailand)
The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of Las Posadas (Mexico, Latin America)
The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of the Simbang Gabi novena of masses (Philippines)
![Victory Day observances, celebration of the Indo-Bangla allied victory over Pakistan armed forces and the Liberation of Bangladesh. (Bangladesh and India[a])](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Jatiyo_Sritisoudho.jpg/330px-Jatiyo_Sritisoudho.jpg)
Victory Day observances, celebration of the Indo-Bangla allied victory over Pakistan armed forces and the Liberation of Bangladesh. (Bangladesh and India[a])