1641 – Massachusetts becomes the first colony to give statutory recognition to slavery
1864 – Raid at Stoneman: Knoxville, TN to Saltville, VA
1959 – 12 nations sign treaty for scientific peaceful use of Antarctica
1967 – Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 52 points in 76ers’ 133-109 win over Seattle SuperSonics; sets NBA record for 22 free throw misses
1971 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono release “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” in US
1971 – Cambodian Civil War: Khmer Rouge rebels intensify assaults on Cambodian government positions, forcing their retreat from Kompong Thmar and nearby Ba Ray.
1973 – 38th Iron Bowl: Alabama beats Auburn 35-0 in Birmingham
1991 – Nursultan Nazarbayev sworn in as president of Kazakhstan
1996 – Flamboyant Australian rugby union winger David Campese ends his 15-year, 101 Test career at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales; Wallabies beat Wales, 28-19; Campese scores record 64 career tries
2007 – 3rd ACC Championship Game: #6 Virginia Tech beats #12 Boston College, 30-16