Historical Anniversaries this Week

December 3

 Events (250 years ago today): 1775 – American Revolution: USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Continental Union Flag (precursor to the "Stars and Stripes"); the flag is hoisted by John Paul Jones.^[2]

 Events (100 years ago today): 1925 – Final agreement is signed between the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom formalizing the Partition of Ireland.^[7]

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Max Meldrum, Scottish-Australian painter and educator (died 1955)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Ferlin Husky, American country music singer (died 2011)

Commemorations:
International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 4

 Events (150 years ago today): 1875 – Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison; he is later recaptured in Spain.

 Births (450 years ago today): 1575 – Sister Virginia Maria, Italian nun (died 1650)

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Agnes Forbes Blackadder, Scottish medical doctor (died 1964)^[24]

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Joe Corbett, American baseball player and coach (died 1945)

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Rainer Maria Rilke, Austrian-Swiss poet and author (died 1926)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Albert Bandura, Canadian-American psychologist and academic (died 2021)

 Deaths (950 years ago today): 1075 – Anno II, German archbishop and saint (born 1010)

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1975 – Hannah Arendt, German-American historian, theorist, and academic (born 1906)

December 5

 Events (250 years ago today): 1775 – At Fort Ticonderoga, Henry Knox begins his historic transport of artillery to Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Arthur Currie, Canadian general (died 1933)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Nicaraguan politician, 73rd President of Nicaragua (died 1980)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1975 – Ronnie O'Sullivan, English snooker player and radio host

 Births (50 years ago today): 1975 – Paula Patton, American actress^[31]

 Deaths (100 years ago today): 1925 – W?adys?aw Reymont, Polish novelist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1867)

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1975 – Constance McLaughlin Green, American historian and author (born 1897)

Commemorations:
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

December 6

 Events (50 years ago today): 1975 – The Troubles: Fleeing from the police, a Provisional IRA unit takes a British couple hostage in their flat on Balcombe Street, London, beginning a six-day siege.

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Albert Bond Lambert, American golfer and pilot (died 1946)

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Evelyn Underhill, English mystic and author (died 1941)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1975 – Noel Clarke, English actor, director, and screenwriter

 Births (50 years ago today): 1975 – Adrian García Arias, Mexican footballer

 Deaths (350 years ago today): 1675 – John Lightfoot, English priest, scholar, and academic (born 1602)

December 7

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Hermano da Silva Ramos, French-Brazilian race car driver

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Max Zaslofsky, American basketball player and coach (died 1985)^[23]

 Births (50 years ago today): 1975 – Jamie Clapham, English footballer and coach

 Births (50 years ago today): 1975 – Mia Love, American politician (died 2025)^[34]

 Deaths (300 years ago today): 1725 – Florent Carton Dancourt, French actor and playwright (born 1661)

 Deaths (250 years ago today): 1775 – Charles Saunders, English admiral and politician (born 1715)

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1975 – Thornton Wilder, American novelist and playwright (born 1897)

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1975 – Hardie Albright, American actor (born 1903)

December 8

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Frederik Buch, Danish actor and screenwriter (died 1925)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Sammy Davis Jr., American actor, singer, and dancer (died 1990)^[32]

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Nasir Kazmi, Pakistani Urdu poet (died 1972)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Carmen Martín Gaite, Spanish author and poet (died 2000)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Jimmy Smith, American organist (died 2005)

 Births (50 years ago today): 1975 – Kevin Harvick, American race car driver

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1975 – Gary Thain, New Zealand bass player (born 1948)

December 9

 Events (250 years ago today): 1775 – American Revolutionary War: British troops and Loyalists, misinformed about Patriot militia strength, lose the Battle of Great Bridge, ending British rule in Virginia.^[7]

 Births (150 years ago today): 1875 – Harry Miller, American engineer (died 1943)

 Births (100 years ago today): 1925 – Roy Rubin, American basketball player and coach (died 2013)

 Deaths (400 years ago today): 1625 – Ubbo Emmius, Dutch historian and geographer (born 1547)

 Deaths (50 years ago today): 1975 – William A. Wellman, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1896)

Commemorations:
International Anti-Corruption Day