Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 1, Sunday December 1844, Alexandra of Denmark, queen of Edward VII of England, born (d. 1925)
On 1, Monday December 1919, American-born Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor, becomes the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, having become the second to be elected on November 28.
On 1, Monday December 1919, XWA (now CINW), in Montreal, becomes the first public radio station in North America to go on the air.
On 1, Monday December 1919, Charles Steen, American geologist and businessman, born (d. 2006)
On 1, Friday December 1944, Edward Stettinius, Jr., becomes the last United States Secretary of State of the Roosevelt administration, filling the seat left by Cordell Hull.
On 1, Friday December 1944, John Densmore, drummer, member of The Doors., born
On 1, Friday December 1944, Franciszek Pius Radziwiłł, Polish nobleman and activist, died (b. 1878)
On 1, Tuesday December 1959, Wally Lewis, rugby league footballer and coach, born
On 1, Tuesday December 1959, Cold War — Antarctic Treaty: 12 countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union, sign a landmark treaty that sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on the continent (the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War).
On 1, Tuesday December 1959, Billy Childish, English painter, writer and musician, born
On 1, Tuesday December 1959, Wally Lewis, Australian sport identity, born
On 1, Monday December 1969, Vietnam War: The first draft lottery in the United States is held since World War II (on January 4, 1970, The New York Times will run a long article, “Statisticians Charge Draft Lottery Was Not Random”).
On 1, Monday December 1969, Richard Carrier, American historian, born
On 1, Monday December 1969, Rino Romano, Canadian voice actor, born
On 1, Monday December 1969, Magic Sam, American musician, died (b. 1937)
On 1, Saturday December 1979, Noel Estrada, Puerto Rican composer, died (b. 1918)
On 1, Saturday December 1979, Prince Muhammad Abdel Moneim of Egypt, died (b. 1899)
On 1, Friday December 1989, In a meeting with Pope John Paul II, General Secretary of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev pledges greater religious freedom for citizens of the Soviet Union.
On 1, Friday December 1989, Cold War: East Germany’s parliament abolishes the constitutional provision granting the Communist-dominated SED its monopoly on power. Egon Krenz, the Politburo and the Central Committee resign two days later.
On 1, Friday December 1989, A military coup attempt begins in the Philippines against the government of Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino. It is crushed by United States intervention ending by December 9.
On 1, Friday December 1989, Alvin Ailey, American dancer and choreographer, died (b. 1931)
On 1, Thursday December 1994, Ivy Latimer, actress, born
On 1, Thursday December 1994, Ernesto Zedillo takes office as President of Mexico.
On 1, Tuesday December 2009, Tony Abbott becomes Leader of the Opposition after defeating Malcolm Turnbull in a ballot for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia.
On 1, Tuesday December 2009, The Treaty of Lisbon comes into force.
On 1, Monday December 2014, Rocky Wood, 55, writer, died
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch
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