On This Day

December 1839 in History

Events in History

  • Dec 18 1st celestial photograph (of Moon) made in US by John Draper in New York City

Birthdays in History


Person of interestGeorge Armstrong Custer

Dec 5 George Armstrong Custer, United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars, born in New Rumley, Ohio (d. 1876)

Union General George Armstrong Custer
Union General
George Armstrong Custer
  • Dec 7 Redvers Buller, English general and recipient of the Victoria Cross, born in Crediton, Devon (d. 1908)

Deaths in History

  • Dec 3 Frederik VI, king of Denmark (1808-39)/Norway (1803-14), dies at 71
  • Dec 15 Matthijs I van Bree, Flemish court-painter, dies at 66

Person of interestJean-Baptiste Lamarck

Dec 18 Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French naturalist (Lamarckian evolution), dies at 85

French Naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
French Naturalist
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck