Historical Events
Music Concert
Dec 8 1st production of Dion Boucicault's play "Poor of New York"
- Dec 16 Earthquake in Naples, Italy
Music Premiere
Dec 29 Franz Liszt's symphonic poem "Die Hunnenschlacht" premieres in Weimar
Historic Event
Dec 31 Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa as new capital of Canada
Famous Birthdays
Joseph Conrad
Dec 3 Joseph Conrad, Polish novelist (Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness), born in Berdychiv, Poland (d. 1924)
- Dec 7 Niccolò van Westerhout, Italian composer, born in Mola di Bari, Italy (d. 1898)
- Dec 15 Eugeniusz Pankiewicz, Polish composer, born in Siedlce, Poland (d. 1898)
- Dec 16 E. E. [Edward Emerson] Barnard, American astronomer (Jupiter's 5th satellite), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1923)
- Dec 31 Michael "King" Kelly, American Baseball HOF utility (NL batting champion 1884, 86; NL runs scored 1884–86, Chicago White Sox) and manager (Boston Beaneaters, Reds; Cincinnati KKs), born in Troy, NY (d. 1894)
Famous Weddings
John Singleton Mosby
Dec 30 Confederate army cavalry battalion commander John S. Mosby (24) weds Pauline Clarke in Nashville
