Today in History - December 29th


  • 1170 - On this day in history, the assassination inside Canterbury Cathedral of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, took place.
  • 1778 - English troops occupied Savannah, Georgia.
  • 1813 - Today in history, the British burned Buffalo, NY, during the War of 1812. 
  • 1845 - President James Polk signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States. 
  • 1848 - On this day in history, President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House. 
  • 1851 - The first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized, in Boston, MA. 
  • 1852 - Today in history, Emma Snodgrass was arrested in Boston for wearing pants.
  • 1888 - The first performance of Macbeth took place at the Lyceum Theatre. 
  • 1890 - On this day in history, The Seventh Cavalry massacred over 400 men, women and children at Wounded Knee Creek. This was the last major conflict between Indians and US troops.
  • 1940 - During World War II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London. 
  • 1952 - Today in history, the first transistorized hearing aid was offered for sale by Sonotone.
  • 1997 - Hong Kong began killing 1.25 million chickens, the entire population, for fear of the spread of 'bird flu.' 

SPORTS - Today in History, December 29th

  • 1934 - On this day in history and for the first regular season, a college basketball game was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. New York University defeated Notre Dame 25-18. 
  • 1937 - Babe Ruth returned to baseball as the new manager of the Class D, De Land Reds of the Florida State League. Ruth had retired from baseball in 1935. 

MUSIC HISTORY - Today in History, December 29th

  • 1812 - Today in history, Beethoven's Opus 96: Violin Sonata No. 10 in G major was performed for the first time.
  • 1955 - Barbra Streisand's first recording at age 13 "You'll Never Know" took place.
  • 1982 - Today in history, Jamaica issued a Bob Marley commemorative stamp. 

SCIENCE, INVENTIONS, PATENTS - Today in History, December 29th

  • 1862 - The bowling ball was invented.
  • 1885 - On this day in history, Gottlieb Daimler patented the first bike in Germany.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS - December 29th

  • Andrew Johnson 1808 
  • Pablo Casals 1876 
  • Dina Merrill 1928 
  • Jon Voight 1938 
  • Mary Tyler Moore 1938 
  • Marianne Faithfull 1946 
  • Ted Danson 1947
  • Yvonne Elliman 1953
  • Jude Law 1972