Historical Events Dec 17 French and Swedish troops occupy Breisach on the Rhine Famous Birthdays Dec 24 Ralph Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu, English diplomat, born in London, England (d. 1709) (baptism date) Famous Deaths Dec 10 Ivan [Dzivo F] Gundulic, Dalmatian writer (Osman), dies at 49 Dec 18 Le Pere Joseph, French mystic, dies 1637 History by Year 1639