1651 – Jan van Riebeeck departs for Cape of Good Hope to found 1st permanent European settlement
1814 – Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States, the United Kingdom and their allies
1818 – Christmas carol “Silent Night” composed by Franz Xaver Gruber is first sung at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria
1849 – First great fire of early San Francisco starts east side of the Plaza, first of great seven fires in 2 years
1927 – Test Cricket debut of Walter Hammond, who scored 51 and took 5-36 v S Af
1943 – Terence Rattigan’s “While the Sun Shines” premieres in London
1951 – 1st televised opera (Amahl and Night Visitor)
1984 – Palace coup in Mauritania
1989 – Charles Taylor enters Liberia to unseat President Samuel K Doe
1999 – Opening of St Peter’s Holy Door by Pope John Paul II in approach of 3rd millennium