Some notable facts about this date, for more, visit http://www.onthisday.com
Facts
1492 1st Spanish settlement La Navidad (modern Môle-Saint-Nicolas) in the New World is founded by Christopher Columbus
1792 Trial of French King Louis XVI, court hears the kings defense brought by Raymond Desèze
1825 Decembrist uprising in Russia against Tsar Nicholas I begins [O.S. 14 December]
1860 First ever inter-club football match between Hallam F.C. and Sheffield F.C. at Sandygate Road ground in Sheffield, England
2004 9.3 magnitude earthquake creates a tsunami causing devastation in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives and edges of the Indian Ocean, killing 230,000 people
Deaths
1458 Arthur III, Duke of Brittany, dies at 65
1893 Victor Schoelcher, French writer (abolitionism), dies at 89
1972 Harry Truman, 33rd US President (1945-53), dies in KC Mo at 88
1974 Jack Benny, comedian (Jack Benny Show), dies at 80
1989 Doug Harvey, Canadian ice hockey player, dies of cirrhosis of the liver at 65
1993 Jeff Morrow [Leslie Irving Morrow], American actor (Robe, Union Pacific, Temperatures Rising), dies at 86
2004 Reggie White, American football player, dies at 43
2005 Kerry Packer, Australian businessman (b. 1937)
2006 Gerald Ford [Leslie King], 38th US President (R: 1974-77) and 41st US Vice President (R: 1973-74), dies at 93
Sport
1908 Jack Johnson TKOs Tommy Burns in 14 for heavyweight boxing title, becomes 1st black heavyweight champion
1919 Yankees & Red Sox reach agreement on transfer of Babe Ruth the Yankees
1928 Johnny Weissmuller announces his retirement from amateur swimming
Films and TV
1924 Judy Garland, 2½, billed as Baby Frances, makes her show business debut
1940 "The Philadelphia Story" film directed by George Cukor, based on the Broadway play of the same name and starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, is released (Academy Awards Best Actor 1941)
1951 "The African Queen", directed by John Huston and based on the 1935 novel of the same name, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, is released in LA, California (Academy Awards Best Actor 1952)
Born on this day
1957 Dermot Murnaghan, British broadcaster
1983 Alexander Wang, American fashion designer (Balenciaga), born in San Francisco, California
A Couple of Pics from those no longer with us
Jack Benny
Reggie White