Monday, December 24, 2012

December 24th in History


1294 - Pope Boniface VIII is elected Pope, replacing St. Celestine V, who had resigned.

1814 - The Treaty of Ghent is signed ending the War of 1812.

1851 - Library of Congress burns


1914 - World War I: The "Christmas truce" begins.

1924 - Albania becomes a republic.

1939 - World War II: Pope Pius XII makes a Christmas Eve appeal for peace.


1942 - World War II: French monarchist, Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle, assassinates Vichy French Admiral François Darlan in Algiers.

1943 - World War II: U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the Supreme Allied Commander.

1951 - Libya becomes independent from Italy. Idris I is proclaimed King of Libya.


1968 - Apollo Program: The crew of Apollo 8 enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed 10 lunar orbits and broadcast live TV pictures that became the famous Christmas Eve Broadcast, one of the most watched programs in history.

1973 - District of Columbia Home Rule Act is passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government.

2005 - Chad–Sudan relations: Chad declares a state of war against Sudan following a December 18 attack on Adré, which left about 100 people dead.

Famous Birthdays:

3 BC - Servius Sulpicius Galba, Roman Emperor

1166 - King John of England

1389 - John VI, Duke of Brittany

1784 - Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia

1845 - King George I of Greece 

1879 - Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, Queen Consort to Christian X 

1943 - Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland

1973 - Stephenie Meyer, author

1974 - Ryan Seacrest, television host




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