On December 25, 1758, Halley’s Comet became the first comet to be seen after the accurate predicting of its passage. The comet was named after Royal Astronomer Sir Edmond Halley, who correctly predicted the comet’s return.
On December 24, 1914, soldiers from both sides engaged in a truce for the Christmas holiday. For a short time, German and British troops laid down their arms and became friends instead of enemies.
On December 23, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act, establishing America’s current central banking system. Commonly known as the “Fed,” this independent governmental agency manages the country’s supply of money and credit.
On December 22, 1696, James Oglethorpe was born in Surrey, England. He settled the Georgia Colony in 1733 and served as its leader for a decade.
On December 21, 1945, General George S. Patton died from injuries he received in a car crash 12 days earlier. His death came mere months after the end of World War II, in which he’d commanded troops in some of the war’s major battles.
December 20, 1812, is generally believed to be the day that Sacagawea died in Kenel, South Dakota. She’s best known as one of the guides on Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery.
Singer, songwriter, and actress Édith Giovanna Gassion, better known as Édith Piaf was born on December 19, 1915, in Belleville, Paris, France. She was France’s most popular singer in the 1940s, earning worldwide acclaim for her signature song “La Vie en Rose.”
On December 18, 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the Constitution and join the Union.
Military and political leader Simón Bolívar died on December 17, 1830, in Santa Marta, Gran Colombia. Freeing Venezuela from Spanish control, he became known as The Liberator and has also been called the “George Washington of South America.”