What Happened on December 6
Important Events
- 1240 Mongols under Batu Khan occupy and destroy Kiev; out of 50,000 people in the city only 2,000 survive
- 1865 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution is ratified, abolishing slavery
- 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty signed; Ireland receives dominion status; partition creates Northern Ireland
- 1998 Hugo Chávez is elected President of Venezuela
- 2006 NASA reveals photographs taken by Mars Global Surveyor suggesting the presence of liquid water on Mars
Dec 6 in Film & TV
- 2002 "Adaptation" directed by Spike Jonze, starring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep premieres
Dec 6 in Music
- 1969 300,000 attend Altamont free concert in California, featuring The Rolling Stones. Marred by violence and four deaths.
Dec 6 in Sport
- 1992 San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice catches NFL record 101st touchdown in a 27-3 win over Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park
Famous Birthdays
Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin
(1805 - 1871)John Singleton Mosby
(1833 - 1916)Joyce Kilmer
(1886 - 1918)Dion Fortune
(1890 - 1946)Agnes Moorehead
(1900 - 1974)Stefanie Scott
24 Years Old
Would You Believe?
Thomas Edison records himself reciting "Mary had a little lamb"
On December 6, 1877
Famous Weddings
- 1491 King Charles VIII of France marries Anna of Bretagne
- 1930 Pablo Neruda marries Marie A Hagenaar Vogelzang in Batavia
- 1941 King Leopold of Belgium marries Lilian Baels
Famous Divorces
- 1938 Actress Bette Davis (30) divorces musician Harmon Nelson (31) due to cruel and inhuman manner after more than 6 years of marriage
- 1982 US Senator Ted & Joan Kennedy divorce
- 1988 Actor and comedian Robin Williams (37) divorces Valerie Velardi after 10 years of marriage
December in History
Mozart, the Incomparable Musical Genius
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a musical genius who composed over 600 works in his short lifetime, died mysteriously on this day and was buried unceremoniously.
December 5, 1791'Infamy' as Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
Japan launched its shock attack against the American Navy base at Pearl Harbor on this day – a date to “live in infamy,” according to the US President.
December 7, 1941Real-life Tragedy for Theatrical Family
On this day a tragedy engulfed one of Britain’s noted theatrical families of the early 20th century.
December 8, 1926Coronation Street, King of the Soaps
Thought to have no great future when launched on this day, Coronation Street still reigns supreme
December 9, 1960