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
Historical events on December 4
- 1110Syria harbor city Saida (Sidon) surrenders to Crusaders
- 1197Crusaders wound Rabbi Elezar ben Judah
- 1259Treaty of Paris: English King Henry III and French King Louis IX
- 1489Battle of Baza-Spanish army captures Baza from Moors
- 1534Turkish Sultan Suleiman occupies Baghdad
- 1563Council of Trent holds last session, after 18 years
- 1655Middelburg Neth forbids building of synagogue
- 1674Father Marquette builds 1st dwelling in what is now Chicago
- 1680Hen in Rome lays an egg imprinted with comet not seen until Dec 16th
- 16821st General Assembly in Pennsylvania (Chester)
- 1688General strategist John Churchill joins with Willem III
- 1691Emperor Leopold I takes control of Transsylvania
- 1691Spanish King Carlos II names Maximilian II Viceroy of S Netherlands
- 1745Bonnie Prince Charles reaches Derby
- 1798Rebellious Flemish farmers occupy Hasselt
- 1812Peter Gaillard of Lancaster, Pa patents a horse-drawn mower
- 1816James Monroe (VA), elected 5th pres, defeating Federalist Rufus King
- 1832French army begins bombing citadel of Antwerp
- 1833American Anti-Slavery Society formed by Arthur Tappan in Philadelphia
- 1836Whig party holds its 1st national convention - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- 1843Manila paper (made from sails, canvas & rope) patented, Massachusetts
- 1844James K Polk elected 11th President of US
- 1863Storm flood ravages Nethe coastal provinces
- 1864Battle of Waynesborough (Brier Creek) Georgia
- 1864Romanian Jews are forbidden to practice law
- 1867Grange organized to protect farm interests
- 1875William Marcy "Boss" Tweed (NYC-Tammany Hall) escapes from jail
- 1890Willem III, Dutch King, buried
- 189956th Congress (1899-1901) convenes
- 1899Webb Hayes Son of President Rutherford Hayes receives medal of honor
Born on December 4
- 1443Pope Julius II: (1503-13), Patron of Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael
- 1584John Cotton: Puritan clergyman in Mass Bay colony
- 1660Andre Campra: Composer
- 1667Michel Pignolet de Monteclair: Composer
- 1708Marianus Konigsperger: Composer
- 1720Jean-Jacques Robson: Composer
- 1791Johann Gottlob Topfer: Composer
- 1795Thomas Carlyle: Scotland, United Kingdom -- Essayist / historian (French Revolution)
- 1800Emil Aarestrup: Danish Physician / poet (Ritornellen)
- 1803Augustus Zerega diZerega: Martinique -- Ship owner (Red Z Lane)
- 1808Ernest Panckoucke: French publisher (Horatius)
- 1812Elias Smith Dennis: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1894
- 1818William Wing "Old Blizzards" Loring: Major General (Confederate Army)
- 1822Frances Crabbe: England, United Kingdom -- Feminist founded Anti-Vivisection Society
- 1825Hynek Ignac Frantisek Vojacek: Composer
- 1835Samuel Butler: England, United Kingdom -- Author (Erewhom, Way of All Flesh)
- 1838Melesio Morales: Composer
- 1861Lillian Russell [Helen Leonard]: United States -- Singer / actress (Great Mogul)
- 1865Edith Louisa Cavell: England, United Kingdom -- Nurse (WWI)
- 1866Vassily V Kandinsky: Russian / German / French abstract painter (Dreamy Inspiration)
- 1868Richard N Roland Holst: Dutch artist / painter
- 1874Jean H L Bossard: Actor / impresario (Merchant of Venice)
- 1875R M Rilke: Writer
- 1875Rainer Maria Rilke: Austria -- Poet (Duino Elegies)
- 1876Dimitur Poljanov [Popov]: Bulgaria -- Poet (Iron Poems)
- 1879Herbert Hamilton Harty: Composer
- 1881Erwin von Witzleben: German Field Marshal (July 20th plot)
- 1888Aleksandar I Karadordjevic: King of Yugoslavia (1921-34)
- 1889Buck Jones [Charles F Gebhart]: US actor (War Horse)
- 1889Isabel Randolph: Illinois, United States -- Actress (Fuller Brush Girl, Our Miss Brooks)
Died on December 4
- 0771Karloman II: French King of Burgundy, dies at about 20
- 0811Charles: Eldest Son of Emperor Charles the Great, dies at about 39
- 1137Lotharius III of Supplinburg: Emperor (1125, 33-37), dies at 67
- 1182Henry: Earl of Gelre / Zutphen (1141 / 79-82)
- 1371Reinald III [the Fat Duke]: Duke of Gelre (1343-61), dies at 38
- 1371Stefanus X Uros V: King of Serbia (1355-71)
- 1576Rheticus: Mathematician
- 1603Maarten de Vos: Flemish painter, dies at about 71
- 1649Outgert Arisz Akersloot: Dutch silversmith, dies at about 73
- 1676Johann Georg Ebeling: Composer, dies at 39
- 1798Luigi Galvani: Italian anatomy / physicist, dies at 61
- 1807Prince Hall: Activist / Masonic leader, dies in Boston
- 1836Daniel Read: Composer, dies at 79
- 1884Alice Mary Smith: Composer, dies at 45
- 1909Paul-Albert Besnard: French Painter / graphic artist (Elle), dies at 60
- 1915Gustav Hollaender: Composer, dies at 60
- 1932Gustav Meyrink: Writer, dies at 64
- 1933Stefan George: German Poet (Das neue Reich), dies at 65
- 1935Johan Halvorsen: Composer, dies at 71
- 1938Dina Appeldoorn: Dutch pianist / composer, dies at 54
- 1943Carlo Mierendorff: German politician / antifascist, dies at 46
- 1948Karl Bonhoeffer: German psychiatrist / neurologist
- 1952Karen Horney: German / US neo freudian psycho analyst, dies at 67
- 1953Daniel Gregory Mason: Composer, dies at 80
- 1954Nina Vasar: Wife of Russian Composer Dmitri Sjostakovitsj
- 1959Rosetta Duncan: (Duncan Sisters), dies in an auto accident at 58
- 1967Bert Lahr [Irving Lahrheim]: US comic (Wizard of Oz), dies at 72
- 1969Alceo Toni: Composer, dies at 85
- 1969Fred Hampton: US Black-Panther leader, murdered
- 1971Shunryu Suzuki: Zen teacher, founder of SF Zen Center
Events on Dec 5
- 1349500 Jews of Nuremberg massacre during Black Death riots
- 1448Bishop Jona of Moscow chosen as metropolitan of Kiev / Intoxication
- 1456Earthquake strikes Naples; about 35,000 die
- 1496Jews are expelled from Portugal by order of King Manuel I
- 1757Battle at Leuthen: Prussian army beats Austrians
- 17761st US fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa (William & Mary College), forms
- 1792George Washington re-elected US President
- 1798Government troops occupy Hasselt
- 1804Thomas Jefferson re-elected US President / George Clinton vice-pres
- 1831Former President John Q Adams takes his seat as member of House of Reps
- 1832Andrew Jackson re-elected President of US
- 1837Uprising under William Lyon Mackenzie in Canada
- 1846C F Schoenbein obtains patent for cellulose nitrate explosive
- 1854Aaron Allen of Boston patents folding theater chair
- 1861Gatling gun patented
- 1862Battle of Coffeeville, Mississippi
- 18681st American bicycle college opens (NY)
- 1876Daniel Stillson (Mass) patents 1st practical pipe wrench
- 1876Fire at Brooklyn Theater kills 295, trampled or burned to death
- 18791st automatic telephone switching system patented
- 188147th Congress (1881-83) convenes
- 18931st electric car (built in Toronto) could go 15 miles between charges
- 1905Henry Campbell-Bannermam (Lib) becomes Prime Minister of England
- 19081st football uniform numerals used (University of Pittsburgh)
- 19146th CFL Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts defeats University of Toronto, 14-2
- 1918Oil refinery on Curacao opens
- 1920Pro football playoff game Akron and Buffalo 0-0 tie, title undecided
- 1924Hamilton Tiger Red Green scores 5 goals to beat Toronto Maple Leafs 10-5
- 192513th CFL Grey Cup: Ottawa Senators defeats Win Tammany Tigers, 24-1
- 1928England defeats Australia by record 675 runs at Brisbane
Born on Dec 5
- 1545Janus Dousa [Johan van de Does]: Dutch politician / poet
- 1547Ubbo Emmius [van Embden]: Dutch-Frisian humanist / historian
- 1661Robert Haley: Earl of Oxford / English Premier (Whig, 1710-14)
- 1666Francesco Antonio Nicola Scarlotti: Composer
- 1687Francesco Xaverio Geminiani: Composer
- 1697Carlo Arrigoni: Composer
- 1697Giuseppe de Majo: Composer
- 1724Joseph Friebert: Composer
- 1782Martin Van Buren: Kinderhook, New York -- (D) 8th President (1837-41)
- 1786Henry Drummond: English banker / apostole
- 1824Titian James Coffey: Attorney General (Union), died in 1867
- 1826John Benjamin Sanborn: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1904
- 1830Christina Rossetti: London, England -- Poet (Winter Rain, Passing Away)
- 1839George Armstrong Custer: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1876
- 1844John Frederick Bridge: Composer
- 1852Thomas Linnemann Laub: Composer
- 1861Armando V Diaz: Italian marshal / Minister of War (1922-24)
- 1872Harry N Pillsbury: US chess player
- 1878Arrigo Pedrollo: Composer
- 1880Alexander Schmuller: Russian / Netherlands violinist / conductor
- 1884Evert Cornelis: Dutch conductor / pianist
- 1885Dirk H W Filarski: Dutch painter / lithographer (Bergense School)
- 1886Pieter J Old: Lawyer / Minister of Finance / Mayor of Rotterdam (1945-52)
- 1888Askell Snorrason: Composer
- 1890Fritz Lang: Germany -- Director (M, Metropolis)
- 1892Cyril Ring: Massachusetts, United States -- Actor (Body & Soul)
- 1896Juliette Baillot [Lady Huxley]: Author
- 1896Willem F M Lampe: Dutch ambassador of the Dutch Antilles
- 1899Sonny Boy Williamson [Aleck Miller]: Blues player
- 1901Grace Moore: United States -- Soprano (One Night to Live)
Died on Dec 5
- 1212Derek II of Are: Bishop of Utrecht (1197-1212)
- 1244Johanna of Constantinople: Countess of Flanders (1205-44)
- 1355Jan III: Duke of Brabant / Limburg
- 1560Francois II: King of France (1559-60), dies at 16
- 1594Gerardus Mercator: Flemish philosopher / cartographer, dies at 82
- 1663Severo Bonini: Composer, dies at 80
- 1675John Lightfoot: English Theologist (Horae Hebraicae), dies at 73
- 1745Christoph Forster: Composer, dies at 52
- 1758Johann Friedrich Fasch: Composer, dies at 70
- 1784Phillis Wheatley: 1st important black Poet in America, dies in Boston
- 1791Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Composer, dies at 35 in Vienna, Austria
- 1799Robert Kimmerling: Composer, dies at 61
- 1818Bruno Daalberg / Anonymus Belga: Secretary of High Council Adel, dies at 60
- 1835August v Platen: Writer, dies at 39
- 1842MJ Auguste Vestrius: French ballet dancers, dies at 82
- 1853Johann Peter Heuschkel: Composer, dies at 80
- 1859Louis Poinsot: French Mathematician / instrument maker, dies at 82
- 1886Peter Hofstede de Groot: Dutch reformed theologist, dies at 84
- 1891JKLSBFXvPSMGRG Pedro II of Alcantara: Emp of Brazil (1831-89)
- 1902Henry Stephen Cutler: Composer, dies at 78
- 1916Hans Richter: Composer, dies at 73
- 1922Samuel Muller Fzn: Dutch Historian / archivist
- 1925Wilhelmina E Drucker [Lensing]: Dutch feminist, dies at 78
- 1928Johannes F "Johan" Bakker, Sr.: Actor / husband of Truus Soete, dies at 61
- 1935Frans [MJ Francois] Erens: Literary (Years Gone By), dies at 78
- 1938Christina "Dina" Koudijs-van Appeldoorn: Pianist / composer, dies at 54
- 1940Jan Kubelik: Composer, dies at 60
- 1955Paul Harvey: Actor (Calamity Jane, Heldorado, Jamboree), dies at 73
- 1958Ferdinand Bruckner: Writer, dies at 67
- 1963Herbert H Lehman: (Gov-D-NY)