Today in History - December 26th

1492 - On this day in history, the first Spanish settlement La Navidad (Môle-Saint-Nicholas) in The New World was founded by Columbus.
1620 - The Pilgrim Fathers landed at New Plymouth, MA, to found Plymouth Colony, with John Carver as Governor.
1776 - Today in history, the British suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War.
1799 - George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as "first in war, first in peace & first in the hearts of his countrymen."
1825 - On this day in history, the Erie Canal opened.
1848 - The first gold seekers arrived in Panama en route to San Francisco.
1917 - Today in history, during World War I, the US government took over operation of the nation's railroads.
1921 - The Catholic Irish Free State became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain.

1941 - On this day in history, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress.
1944 - Tennessee Williams' play "The Glass Menagerie" was first performed publicly at the Civic Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
1947 - Today in history, heavy snow blanketed the Northeast United States, burying New York City under 25.8 inches of snow in 16 hours.
1982 - The Man of the Year in TIME magazine was a computer.
2002 - On this day in history, the first cloned human baby was born.

SCIENCE, DISCOVERIES, PATENTS - Today in History, December 26th

1908 - On this day in history, Texan boxer "Galveston Jack" Johnson knocked out Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia, to become the first black boxer to win the world heavyweight title.
1928 - Johnny Weissmuller announced his retirement from amateur swimming.
1986 - Today in history, Doug Jarvis, age 31, set a NHL record as he skated in his 916th consecutive game.

1924 - Judy Garland, 2½, billed as Baby Frances, made her debut on stage.
1931 - On this day in history, George Gershwin's musical, "Of Thee I Sing," opened at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. It became the first American musical to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
1963 - Capitol Records released the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" backed with "I Saw Her Standing There."
1967 - Today in history, The Beatles film "Magical Mystery Tour" premiered on BBC-TV.
1968 - Led Zeppelin began its first US tour in Boston.