Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

December 15

1992
Bobby Fischer is indicted for his Yugoslavian chess match with Boris Spassky.

1979
Trivial Pursuit: The game is invented by Canadians Chris Haney and Scott Abbott. Over 15,000,000 were sold in 1984 alone.

1965
First rendezvous in space: Gemini 6 and Gemini 7.

1961
Adolf Eichmann: The German SS officer, who organized the transportation of Jews to concentration camps for "the final solution" during World War II, is sentenced to death by an Israeli court for war crimes. He was hanged the following May.

1939
First commercially produced nylon yarn, by the E.I. du Pont Co.

1939
Gone With the Wind is released.

1791
Bill of Rights: The document is ratified, providing the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

1949
Don Johnson (Donald Wayne), American actor. Film: A Boy and His Dog. TV: Miami Vice (Sonny Crockett).

1942
Dave Clark, musician, with the Dave Clark Five. They were the second British group to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show.

1933
Tim Conway, American comedian. TV: The Carol Burnett Show.

1916
Maurice Wilkins, British biochemist, co-winner of the 1962 Nobel prize for discovering the structure of DNA. He worked on creating the first atomic bomb.

1861     d. 1938
Charles Edgar Duryea, American inventor, "Father of the Automobile." He and his brother Frank formed the first U.S. automobile company, Duryea Motor Wagon Co. (1895), selling their first car in 1896.

1859
Dr. Lazarus Ludovic Zamenhof, developer of the international language Esperanto (1887).

1832     d. 1923
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, designed the framework for the Statue of Liberty (1885) and the Eiffel Tower in Paris (1889).

1485     d. 1536
Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England, Henry VIII's first wife. After the Pope refused to allow to sanction the King's divorce from her, the King established the Church of England and declared himself the religious ruler for his land.

37 A.D.     d. 68 A.D.
Nero Claudius Caesar, Emperor of Rome (54-68). He was the first emperor to persecute Christians on a large scale, and is said to be responsible for the deaths of Peter and Paul. According to legend, he played his lyre as Rome burned (64 A.D.). He committed suicide after being overthrown. (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1978     b. 1902
Chill Wills, American actor, voice of Francis the talking mule.

1966     b. 1901
Walt Disney (Walter Elias Disney), American Oscar-winning cartoonist, creator of Mickey Mouse (1928). He won 51 Oscars.

1944     b. 1904
Glenn Miller, American bandleader. His was the world's most popular dance band of the time. Music: Moonlight Serenade (1939) and Chattanooga Choo Choo (1941).

1917     b. 1830
Bernard John Dowling Irwin, American military leader. He received the first U.S. Medal of Honor (1894) for his action against Apache Indians (1861).

1890     b. circa 1834
Sitting Bull (Tatanka-yatanka), Sioux Indian leader. He was killed by U.S. soldiers.

1857     b. 1773
Sir George Cayley, English inventor, "Father of Aerodynamics." He piloted the first manned glider.

1796     b. 1745
Anthony Wayne, American Revolutionary War General. His daring and reckless tactics earned him the name "Mad Anthony."

1683     b. 1593
Izaak Walton, English author, called the "Father of Angling." His book The Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man's Recreation (1653) is one of the monuments of English literature.

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