THIS DAY IN #HISTORY 2612

This day in #history 2612
DECEMBER 26TH

92 – 1 st Spanish settlement La Navidad (modern Môle-Saint – Nicolas) in New World founded, by Columbus

1659 – Long Parliament reforms in Westminster

1825 – Erie Canal opens

1908 – Jack Johnson TKOs Tommy Burns in 14 for heavyweight boxing title , becomes 1 st black heavyweight champion

1925 – Turkey adopts Gregorian calendar

1978 – India ‘s former PM , Indira Gandhi, released from jail

1996 – The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification goes into force.

2012 – China opens the world ’s longest high speed rail route from Beijing to Guangzhou

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

1792 – Charles Babbage, London, inventor (calculating machine), (d . 1871)

1893 – Mao Tse -Tung [Zedong ], Chinese Prime Minister (1949 -76 ), (d . 1976 )

1935 – Gnassingbé Eyadéma, Pya Togo, General and President of Togo ( 1967 – 2005 )

FAMOUS DEATHS

1797 – John Wilkes, English journalist/ Higher/ Lower house leader, dies at 72

1972 – Harry Truman, 33rd US Pres (1945 -53) , dies in KC Mo at 88

2006 – Gerald R Ford, 38th President of the United States, dies at 93

FAMOUS WEDDING

2001 – “Harry Potter” author J . K . Rowling (36 ) weds anesthesiologist Neil Murray (30 ) in Aberfeldy, Scotland

2002 – Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’ Neal (30) weds Shaunie Nelson at The Beverly Hills Hotel’ s Crystal Garden