Events on Dec 1
- 0772Pope Adrian I elected
- 1167Northern Italian towns form Lombardi League
- 1566Spanish King Philip II names Fernando Alvarez, Duke of Alva
- 1626Pasha Muhammad ibn Farukh tyrannical gov of Jerusalem, driven out
- 1640Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule
- 1641Mass becomes 1st colony to give statutory recognition to slavery
- 1653An athlete from Croydon is reported to have run 20 miles from St. Albans to London in less than 90 minutes
- 1656Germany promises Poland aid against Sweden
- 1708Great Alliance occupies Brussels
- 1742Empress Elisabeth orders expulsion of all Jews from Russia
- 17501st American school to offer manual training courses opens - Maryland
- 1783J van North launches unmanned balloon
- 1821Santo Domingo (Dominican Rep) proclaims independence from Spain
- 1822Dom Pedro crowned Emperor of Brazil
- 1822Franz Liszts (11) debut as pianist Isabella Colbran
- 1824House of Reps begins to end election deadlock between JQ Adams
- 1824Jackson, WH Crawford and H Clay Adams eventually declared President
- 1831Erie Canal closes for entire month due to cold weather
- 1835Hans Christian Andersen published his 1st book of fairy tales
- 18431st chartered mutual life insurance company opens
- 1852Telegraph company opens throughout Netherlands
- 1864Raid at Stoneman: Knoxville, TN to Saltville, Virginia
- 1864Skirmish at Millen Brutal, Georgia
- 1868John D Rockefeller begins anti oil war
- 18781st White House telephone installed
- 1887Sherlock Holmes 1st appears in print: "Study in Scarlet"
- 1891James Naismith creates the game of basketball
- 18961st certified public accountants receive certificates (NY)
- 1900South African President Paul Kruger visits Flanders
- 1903"The Great Train Robbery, " the 1st Western film, released
Born on Dec 1
- 1549Johan van der Veeken: Merchant / co-founder (VOC)
- 1566Philip: Earl of Nassau-Dillenburg, Governor of Ft Gorinchem / Nijmegen
- 1573Philippus Rovenius [Rouveen]: Apostile vicar
- 1605Juan de Padilla: Composer
- 1634John-Erasmus Quellinus [Quellien]: Flemish painter
- 1671Francesco Stradivari: Italian violin maker / Son of Antonius
- 1709Franz Xaver Richter: Composer
- 1712Bernhard Christian Weber: Composer
- 1722A L Karschin: Writer
- 1724Charles Theodoor: Elector (Palts & Bayern)
- 1724Dismas Hatas: Composer
- 1726Eggert Olafsson: Icelandic writer
- 1726Oliver Wolcott: US judge / signer (Declaration of Independence)
- 1729Giuseppe Sarti: Composer
- 1779Pyotr Ivanovich Turchaninov: Composer
- 1781Charles Philippe Lafont: Composer
- 1784Francois Henri Joseph Castil-Blaze: Composer
- 1787Pavel Ivanovich Dulgorukov: Composer
- 1792Lobachevsky: Mathematician
- 1810Joseph Gungl: Composer
- 1814August Rockel: Composer
- 1823Ernest Reyer: Composer
- 1826William Mahone: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1895
- 1832Archibald Gracie, Jr.: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
- 1835Micah Jenkins: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
- 1844Alexandra: Danish Princess / Queen of Great Britain / Ireland
- 1844Alfred Cellier: Composer
- 1847Agathe Grondahl: Composer
- 1850Peter Erasmus Lange-Muller: Composer
- 1873Charles JM Ruys de Beerenbrouck: Premier of the Netherlands (1918-25, 29-33)
Died on Dec 1
- 0660Eligius / Eloy: French Bishop of Tournay-Noyon / saint
- 1135Henry I Beauclerc: King of England (1st King that could read)
- 1374Magnus Eriksson: King of Norway / Sweden
- 1417Walraven I van Brederode: Viceroy of Holland
- 1455Lorenzo Ghiberti: Italian sculptor, dies at 77
- 1530Margaretha of Austria: Governess of the Netherlands, dies at 51
- 1580Edmund Campion: English Jesuit, hanged at 42
- 1580Giovanni Morone: Italian Theologian / diplomat / cardinal, dies at 71
- 1623Thomas Weelkes: Composer, dies at 47
- 1633Isabella of Austria: Infante of Spain / Governess in Holland, dies at 67
- 1635Melchior Teschner: Composer, dies at 51
- 1651Cristobal de Isla Diego: Composer, dies at 65
- 1700Willem ten Rhijne: Dutch Physician in Batavia, dies at about 53
- 1707Jeremiah Clarke: Composer
- 1709A Sancta Clara: Writer
- 1709Abraham a Santa Clara [Johann Megerle]: German court vicar, dies at 65
- 1727Johann Heinrich Buttstett: Composer, dies at 61
- 1729Christian Ludwig Boxberg: Composer, dies at 59
- 1736Simon van Slingelandt: Dutch grand pensionary (1727-36), dies at 72
- 1750Doppelmayr: Mathematician
- 1755Maurice Greene: Composer, dies at 59
- 1797Oliver Wolcott: US judge / signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 71
- 1808Anton Fischer: Composer, dies at 30
- 1813Ferdinando Bertoni: Composer, dies at 88
- 1817Justin Heinrich Knechtl: Composer, dies at 65
- 1825Aleksandr I P Romanov: Czar of Russia (1801-25), dies at 47
- 1842Philip Spencer: 1st US naval officer condemned for mutiny, hanged
- 1865Constant van Crombrugghe: Flemish monastery founder, dies at 76
- 1887Albertus J Duymaer van Twist: Governor-General of Dutch-Indies, dies at 78
- 1892Joseph Lippens: Belgian lieutenant in Congo, murdered
Historical events on December 2
- 1620English language newspaper "Namloos" begins publishing in Amsterdam
- 1682English Earl of Shaftesbury flight to Amsterdam
- 1763Touro shul of Newport RI dedicated (oldest existing US synagogue)
- 1790Austrian army occupies Brussels
- 1802English sell Suriname to Dutch
- 1804Napoleon Bonaparte crowned Emperor of France in Paris by Pope Pius VII
- 1805Napoleon defeats Russians and Austrians at Austerlitz
- 1812James Madison re-elected President of US, E Gerry vice-pres
- 1813Prince Willem Frederik accepts constitutional monarchy
- 18161st savings bank in US opens (Philadelphia Savings Fund Society)
- 1822In San Salvador, a Congress proposes incorporation into US
- 1823President James Monroe declares his "Monroe Doctrine"
- 1840Opera "Die Favoritin" is produced (Paris)
- 1840William H Harrison elected President of US
- 1848Franz Josef I becomes Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary
- 18522nd French empire established; Louis Napoleon becomes Emperor
- 1864Skirmish at Rocky Creek Church, Georgia
- 18681st British government of Disraeli resigns
- 1882Amsterdam Artis Zoo opens aquarium
- 1885Opera "Regina di Saba, " premieres in Vienna
- 189152nd Congress (1891-93) convenes
- 189554th Congress (1895-97) convenes
- 1899US and Germany agree to divide Samoa between them
- 1900South African President Paul Kruger arrives in Germany
- 1901Gillette patents 1st disposable razor
- 1901King Camp Gillette begins selling safety razor blades
- 1902Soccer team Go Ahead forms in Deventer
- 1907Tommy Burns KOs Gunner Moir in 10 for heavyweight boxing title
- 1913Archdiocese of Managua created
- 1914Austria army occupies Belgrade Serbia
Born on December 2
- 1578Agostino Agazzari: Composer
- 1678Nicolaas S Cruquius: Dutch hydraulic engineer (drained Haarlemmermeer)
- 1728Ferdinando Galiani: Italian economist / philosopher / diplomat
- 1760Joseph Graetz: Composer
- 1777Henry Doeff: Colonialist (wrote Dutch-Japanese dictionary)
- 1802Melancthon Smith Wade: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1868
- 1813Jacob Rosenhaim: Composer
- 1821Rufus Barringer: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1895
- 1825JKLSBFXvPSMGRG Pedro II van Alcantara: Emperor of Brazil (1831-89)
- 1837Charles Garrison Harker: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1864
- 1846Pierre M Waldeck-Rousseau: French Minister of Foreign Affairs / Premier
- 1856Robert Kajanus: Composer
- 1859Georges Seurat: France -- Painter / pointillist (Grande Jatte)
- 1863Gustav Wohlgemuth: Composer
- 1866Henry Thacker Burleigh: Erie, Pennsylvania -- Black composer (Springarn Medal)
- 1868Francis Jammes: French poet / writer (Jammisme)
- 1869Jonas Cohn: German / English philosopher (Theory of the Dialects)
- 1870Francis Louis Casadesus: French violinist / composer / conductor
- 1875Frank Reicher: Munich, Germany -- Actor (King Kong, Son of Kong)
- 1885George Minot: United States -- Physician, worked on anemia (Nobel 1934)
- 1893Julius Bissier: German painter
- 1893Louis Freeman: Band leader
- 1893William Gaxton: San Francisco, California -- Actor (Destry, Convoy)
- 1895Klaas Voskuil: Journalist
- 1896Georgi K Zjukov: Marshal of Moskow / Stalingrad
- 1897Rewi Alley: New Zealand -- Writer (Americans in China)
- 1899John Barbirolli: English conductor (NY Philharmonic Orchestra)
- 1901Staf Gustaf Frans Nees: Belgian composer
- 1901Staff Nees: Flemish Organist / composer (Simon Peter)
- 1902Horace A Hildreth: (Gov-Maine, 1945-49)
Died on December 2
- 0537Sylvester: Italian Pope (536-37)
- 1463Albrecht VI: Archduke of Habsburg
- 1592Alexander Farnese: Land guardian of the Netherlands (1579-92), dies at 46
- 1719Pasquier Quesnel: French Theologist (La Foi), dies at 85
- 1763Carl August Thielo: Composer, dies at 56
- 1774Johann Friedrich Agricola: German (court)composer / organist, dies at 54
- 1814Marquis de Sade: Writer, dies at 74
- 1828Simon Paap: Dutch 56 cm long dwarf / cabaret artist, dies at 39
- 1831Traugott Maximilian Eberwein: Composer, dies at 56
- 1845Johannes Simon Mayr: Composer, dies at 82
- 1859John Brown: US abolitionist (Harpers Ferry), hanged at 59
- 1864Archibald Gracie, Jr.: Confederate Brigadier General, dies in battle at 31
- 1880Josephine Lang: Composer, dies at 65
- 1888Franz Xaver Witt: Composer, dies at 54
- 1888Mehmed N Kemal Bey: Turkish writer / journalist (Vatan), dies at 47
- 1903Victor Roger: Composer, dies at 50
- 1915Jan Malat: Composer, dies at 72
- 1916Francesco Paolo Tosti: Composer, dies at 69
- 1918Margit Kaffka: Writer, dies at 38
- 1919Henry Clay Frick: Built largest coke and steel operation, dies at 69
- 1923Tomas Breton y Hernandez: Composer, dies at 72
- 1925Julio Garreta: Composer, dies at 50
- 1933Josef Gruber: Composer, dies at 78
- 1935Albert Kessel: 1st to die in California gas chamber
- 1943Nordahl Grieg: Writer
- 1944Filippo T Marinetti: Italian writer (father of futurism), dies at 67
- 1944JW Ummels: Dutch resistance fighter (House of Saxon-Nazi)
- 1950Dinu Lipatti: Composer, dies at 33
- 1953Francis Picabia: French Painter / illustrator, dies at 75
- 1957Harrison Ford: Silent screen actor (Rubber Tires), dies at 73
Events on Dec 3
- 0741St. Zachary begins his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Gregory III
- 1347Pope Clemens VI declares Roman tribunal Coke di Rienzo as heretics
- 15571st Covenant of Scottish protestants form
- 1586Sir Thomas Herriot introduces potatoes to England, from Colombia
- 1621Galileo invents telescope
- 16391st annulment by court decree passes
- 1676Battle at Lund: Sweden beats Denen
- 1685Charles II bars Jews from settling in Stockholm Sweden
- 1694English parliamentary election set for every 3 years
- 1699Baron Jacob Hop appointed Treasurer General of the Hague
- 17751st official US flag raising (aboard naval vessel Alfred)
- 1818Illinois becomes 21st state USA (Admission day)
- 1828Andrew Jackson elected 7th President of US
- 1833Oberlin College in Oh, 1st truly coeducational college opens
- 18341st US dental society organized (NY)
- 18351st US mutual fire insurance company issues 1st policy (RI)
- 1844RC Society Apostole of Prayer forms
- 1847Frederick Douglass publishes 1st issue of his newspaper "North Star"
- 1863Longstreet abandons his siege at Knoxville, Tennessee
- 1866Paid fire department replaces volunteer companies
- 1868Trial of Jefferson Davis starts; 1st blacks on US trial jury
- 1878Settlers arrive at Petach Tikvah Israel
- 1881Henry M Stanley finds Leopoldville / Kinshasa
- 188348th Congress (1883-85) convenes
- 1893Ndebeles destroy Rhodesia
- 1901Milwaukee is dropped from the AL and replaced by St. Louis Browns
- 1903Panglima Polim surrenders to Captain Colijn at Atjeh
- 1907George Cohans musical "Talk of the Town, " premieres in New York City
- 1910Neon lights, 1st publically seen (Paris Auto Show)
- 1912Gerrit Brinkman becomes 1st Dutch traffic officer
Born on Dec 3
- 1483Nicolaus von Amsdorf: German reformation theologist
- 1576Marsilio Casentini: Composer
- 1668Casimir Schweizelsperg: Composer
- 1684Ludvig Baron Holberg: Founder (Danish and Norwegian literature)
- 1729Padre Antonio Francisco J Jose Soler: Olot, Spain -- Composer (Fandango)
- 1750Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel: Composer
- 1752Georg-Friederich Fuchs: Composer
- 1753Samuel Crompton: English inventor (mule-jenny spinning machine)
- 1755Gilbert Stuart: United States -- Portrait painter (painted Washington)
- 1758Josef Gelinek: Composer
- 1795Rowland Hill: Introduced 1st adhesive postage stamp (1840)
- 1797Francis P Kenrick: Irish / US Archbishop of Baltimore
- 1800France Preseren: Slovenian poet (Krst pri Savici)
- 1806Henry Alexander Wise: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1876
- 1809Thomas Alfred Davies: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1899
- 1822Charles Adam Heckman: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1896
- 1826Edmond van der Straeten: Belgian lawyer / musicologist
- 1826George Brinton McClellan: Major General (Union Army), died in 1885
- 1829Green Berry Raum: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1909
- 1838Cleveland Abbe: United States -- Meteorologist (Father of Weather Bureau)
- 1838Octavia Hill: British reformer, leader of open-space movement
- 1842Ellen Henrietta Richards: United States -- Chemist (American Home Economics Association - 1st President)
- 1857Joseph Conrad: Poland -- Novelist (Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness)
- 1862Jules Renkin: Belgian jurist / Minister / Premier (1931-32)
- 1864Herman Heijermans, Jr.: Dutch writer (Kamertjeszonde, Diamond City)
- 1875Bernhard Lichtenberg: German clergyman / antifascist
- 1883Anton [Friedrich Wilhelm] von Webern: Vienna, Austria -- 12-tone composer
- 1885Marchien Zwitsers: Farmer in Lutten (died at 109 years old)
- 1888Ion Nonna Otescu: Composer
- 1895Anna Freud: Austrian / English psychoanalytist / Daughter of Sigmund F
Died on Dec 3
- 0450Petrus Chrysologus: 1st Archbishop of Ravenna
- 1137Lotharius III: Of Supplinburg, Roman-Ger Emperor (1133-37), dies at 67
- 1154Anastasius IV: Pope (1153-54)
- 1463Louis Chalon: Prince of Orange
- 1491Thomas Basin: French Historian / Bishop of Lisieux
- 1533Vasili III: Great Prince of Moscow (1505-33), dies at 54
- 1660Jacques Sarazin: French Sculptor / painter, dies at about 70
- 1676Daniel Stalpaert: Amsterdams master builder, buried
- 1789Claude-Joseph Vernet: French seascape painter
- 1807Clara Reeve: English Author (old English baron)
- 1823Joseph Pouteau: Composer, dies at 84
- 1839Frederik VI: King of Denmark (1808-39) / Norway (1803-14), dies at 71
- 1857Christian D Rauch: German sculptor, dies at 80
- 1866Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda: Composer, dies at 65
- 1876Hermann Goetz: Composer, dies at 35
- 1889Baltasar Saldoni: Composer, dies at 82
- 1892William Bonaparte: Grandson of Lucien
- 1893Allan Wilson: British / Rhodesian major, dies in battle
- 1894HM Jozef Schadde: Flem Architect (Antwerp Stock exchange), dies at 76
- 1894Robert Louis Stevenson: Engl writer (Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde), dies at 45
- 1910Mary Baker Eddy: Founder (Christian Science (Monitor))
- 1919Pierre A Renoir: French Painter / sculptor, dies at 78
- 1933Richard Henry Warren: Composer, dies at 74
- 1937Prosper Poullet: Belgian mayor
- 1941Johann Christian August Sinding: Composer, dies at 85
- 1942Wilhelm Peterson-Berger: Composer, dies at 75
- 1944Delfien Vanhaute: Flemish pastor / Poet (Ark of Noah), dies at 75
- 1949Elin Pelin: Writer
- 1949Maria Ouspenskaya: Actress (Spookies), dies at 62
- 1954Enrique Soro Barriga: Composer, dies at 70