December 5

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1776 – In Williamsburg, VA, at the College of William and Mary, the first scholastic fraternity in America, Phi Beta Kappa, was organized.

1782 – The first native United States President, Martin Van Buren, was born in Kinderhook, NY.

1792 – George Washington was re-elected President.

1843 – The first ship to be called U.S.S. Michigan was launched. It served its time on the Great Lakes.

1848 – President James K. Polk triggered the Gold Rush of ’49 by confirming the gold had been discovered in California.

1876 – The first practical pipe wrench, the Stillson wrench, was patented by D.C. Stillson.

1893 – The first electric car was introduced.

1908 – At the University of Pittsburgh, numbers were first used on football uniforms worn by college football players.

1932 – German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa making it possible for him to travel to the United States.

1933 – Prohibition came to an end when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, thus establishing the required 75% of states needed to enact the amendment.

1935 – The first commercial hydroponics operation was established in Montebello, CA.

1945 – The so-called “Lost Squadron” disappeared. The five U.S. Navy Avenger bombers carrying 14 Navy flyers began a training mission at the Ft. Lauderdale Naval Air Station. They were never heard from again.

1951 – The first push button-controlled garage opened in Washington, DC.

1955 – E.D. Nixon and Rosa Parks lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

1955 – The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO.

1962 – The United States and the Soviet Union agreed to cooperate in the peaceful uses of outer space.

1974 – The BBC aired the last original episode of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”.

1978 – The American space probe Pioneer Venus I, orbiting Venus, began beaming back its first information and picture of the planet.

1983 – The video arcade game “NFL Football” was unveiled in Chicago, IL. It was the first video arcade game to be licensed by the National Football League.

1984 – The movie “Beverly Hills Cop”, starring Eddie Murphy, premiered in theaters.

1985 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 1,500 for the first time.

1988 – Jim Bakker and former aide, Richard Dortch, were indicted by a federal grand jury in North Carolina on fraud and conspiracy charges.

1997 – Matt Damon and Ben Affleck debuted their screenwriting efforts when “Good Will Hunting” opened in theaters.

2002 – The movie “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” opened in theaters.

2008 – O.J. Simpson was sentenced to between 15 and 27 years in prison in a Las Vegas, NV court for kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges.

2008 – The iTunes Music Store reached 300 million applications downloaded.

2008 – The movie “Frost/Nixon” premiered. The film tells the story behind the Frost/Nixon interviews of 1977. The film was directed by Ron Howard.

2010 – Merle Haggard, Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey were among those receiving the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C.

2010 – NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft became the longest-operating spacecraft ever sent to Mars. The Odyssey entered orbit around Mars on October 23, 2001.

2014 – NASA’s Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle debuted when it was launched for a four hour test flight. It landed on target in the Pacific Ocean.

2017 – The International Olympic Committee banned Russia from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics due to doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

2018 – The funeral for former President George H.W. Bush was held in Washington, DC. Another service was held in Houston, TX the following day. He was then buried at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, TX, next to his wife, Barbara.

BIRTHDAYS:

Sheldon Glashow – 93 years old (1932) – Physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Calvin Trillin – 90 years old (1935) – Novelist, humorist, and journalist

James Lee Burke – 89 years old (1936) – Journalist, author, and academic

Jim Messina – 78 years old (1947) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Jim Plunkett – 78 years old (1947) – Football player and radio host

Morgan Brittany – 74 years old (1951) – Actress

Art Monk – 68 years old (1957) – Football player

Osvaldo Golijov – 65 years old (1960) – Argentinian-American composer and educator

Pablo Morales – 63 years old (1962) – Swimmer and coach

Doctor Dré – 62 years old (1963) – Television and radio host

John Rzeznik – 60 years old (1965) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Gary Allan – 58 years old (1967) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Margaret Cho – 57 years old (1968) – Comedian, actress, producer, and screenwriter

Lisa Marie – 57 years old (1968) – Model and actress

Lydia Millet – 57 years old (1968) – Novelist

Eric Etebari – 56 years old (1969) – Actor, director, and producer

Morgan J. Freeman – 56 years old (1969) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Michel'le – 55 years old (1970) – Singer-songwriter

Ashia Hansen – 54 years old (1971) – American-English triple jumper

Kali Rocha – 54 years old (1971) – Actress

Cliff Floyd – 53 years old (1972) – Baseball player and sportscaster

Duane Ross – 53 years old (1972) – Hurdler and coach

Brian Lewis – 51 years old (1974) – Sprinter

Paula Patton – 50 years old (1975) – Actress

Amy Acker – 49 years old (1976) – Actress

Rachel Komisarz – 49 years old (1976) – Swimmer and coach

Neil Druckmann – 47 years old (1978) – Video game designer and author

Nick Stahl – 46 years old (1979) – Actor

Eddy Curry – 43 years old (1982) – Basketball player

Keri Hilson – 43 years old (1982) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Gabriel Luna – 43 years old (1982) – Actor

Lauren London – 41 years old (1984) – Actress

Frankie Muniz – 40 years old (1985) – Actor, drummer, and race car driver

Josh Smith – 40 years old (1985) – Basketball player

LeGarrette Blount – 39 years old (1986) – Football player

Justin Smoak – 39 years old (1986) – Baseball player

A. J. Pollock – 38 years old (1987) – Baseball player

Ross Bagley – 37 years old (1988) – Actor

Tina Charles – 37 years old (1988) – Basketball player

Kyle Long – 37 years old (1988) – Football player

Jurrell Casey – 36 years old (1989) – Football player

Montee Ball – 35 years old (1990) – Football player

Cam Fowler – 34 years old (1991) – Canadian-American ice hockey player

Christian Yelich – 34 years old (1991) – Baseball player

Semi Ojeleye – 31 years old (1994) – Basketball player

Levy Rozman – 30 years old (1995) – Chess International Master , streamer and YouTuber

Maddie Poppe – 28 years old (1997) – Singer-songwriter and musician

Quinnen Williams – 28 years old (1997) – Football player

Conan Gray – 27 years old (1998) – Singer-songwriter

TODAY IS:

• National Blue Jeans Day:
• Sacher-Torte Day: Indulging in a decadent dessert that harmoniously blends rich chocolate and a hint of fruity sweetness, creating a symphony of flavors.
• International Ninja Day: Stealthily slip into black attire to channel your inner ancient warrior, gather your gang of like-minded spies and binge some classic ninja movies.
• Krampusnacht: Embracing a darker yuletide tradition with chilling festivities, when a fearsome figure roams the streets, evoking both shivers and revelry.
• Bathtub Party Day: There's nothing quite like soaking in warm, bubbling water with friends or alone. It's a relaxing way to unwind and melt your troubles away!
• National Communicate with Your Kids Day:
• Crate Day:
• International Volunteer Day: Extending a helping hand, volunteering enriches communities, cultivates empathy, and fosters meaningful connections among individuals.
• Global Fat Bike Day: Experience winter cycling like never before with extra wide fat bikes, providing ultimate stability on snow, sand, and mud.
• National Repeal Day:
• World Soil Day: The Earth's foundation for life, where plants, animals, and humans thrive. Without it, we wouldn't have food, clean air, or water.
• National Rhubarb Vodka Day:
• Coats and Toys for Kids Day:
• Chester Greenwood Day:
• Light Up A Life Day:
• World Pear Day:
• National AFL-CIO Day:
• SKYWARN™ Recognition Day:
• Zagreb Advent:
• Hanukkah: The festival of lights — a time for family, delicious eats, and stories that remind of hope's enduring glow in the darkest times.
• Candle Day: Candles offer more than just light — fill your home with sweet scents and transform any space into a warm oasis.
• Tree Dressing Day:
• National Cookie Cutter Week:
• Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week:
• Advent:
• Rakia and Spirits Festival:
• Hornbill Festival:
• Blue Christmas: While most people are at home opening presents, emergency workers are on duty, ensuring the safety of their communities over the holidays.

Powered by Days Of The Year

For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.