Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

December 16

1992
Abraham Lincoln: The earliest known draft of President's "house divided" speech (c1857) is auctioned for $1,500,000.

1954
First Synthetic Diamonds: A girls almost-best friends are produced at General Electric Research Laboratories by Prof. H. Tracy Hall.

1944
World War II - Battle of the Bulge: The famous battle begins when Hitler's army attempts to drive the Allies from the western borders of Germany.

1920
Earthquake in Gansu Province, China killing 200,000 people.

1903
First female ushers: They begin service in the Majestic Theater, New York City.

1809
Napoleon: The French Emperor divorces Josephine because she is unable to provide him an heir.

1773
Boston Tea Party: Colonists, disguised as Indians, dump 350 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

1962
William "Refrigerator" Perry, American football player.

1943
Steven Bochco, American Emmy-winning writer, producer. TV: Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law.

1941
Lesley Stahl, American journalist. TV: Face the Nation (moderator), and 60 Minutes (correspondent).

1939
Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress. Film: Persona (1966) and Cries and Whispers (1972).

1937
Joyce Bulifant (Joyce Boulifant), American actress, Murray Slaughter's wife on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

1928     d. 1982
Philip K.

1921
Harry Spear, American actor, one of the Little Rascals. He appeared in 31 Our Gang films.

1917
Arthur C. Clarke, British science fiction author. Writings: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

1901     d. 1978
Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, known for her studies of primitive cultures. She posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1979).

1899     d. 1973
Sir Noel Pierce Coward, English playwright, composer, actor, director. Writings: Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

1888     d. 1965
Dr. Ivan Joseph Martin Osiier, Danish fencer. He tied the record for longest span of Olympic competition (1908-48). His wife Ellen was the first female fencing champion (1924). (source: Guinness Book of World Records)

1863     d. 1952
George Santayana, Spanish-American poet. Writings: The Realms of Being (1928-40). It was he who said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

1775     d. 1817
Jane Austen, English novelist. Writings: Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Persuasion (1818).

1770     d. 1827
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer. He is considered the greatest composer in the history of music; his 5th and 9th symphonies are unequalled.

1982     b. 1928
Colin Chapman, British auto designer, founder of Lotus Cars Ltd. (1952). He introduced the "monocoque" racing chassis (1962), and "ground effects" (the use of air pressure to hold down the car).

1980     b. 1890
Colonel Sanders (Harland David Sanders), American restauranteur, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (1956).

1965     b. 1874
William Somerset Maugham, English author. Writings: Of Human Bondage.

1964     b. 1906
Phil Davis, cartoonist, drew Mandrake the Magician.

1859     b. 1786
Wilhelm Karl Grimm, German author. He and his brother wrote Grimm's Fairy Tales (1812-15).

1687     b. 1623
William Petty, English statistician. He co-wrote the first book of statistics.

882     b. ????
John VIII, Italian religious leader, 107th Pope (872-882).

Please send Corrections and Omissions to epicidiot.com