Important Events

406 80,000 Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine at Mainz, beginning invasion of Gallia
1744 English astronomer James Bradley announces discovery of Earth’s nutation motion (wobble)
1775 Battle of Quebec in American Revolutionary War; Americans defeated trying to take British stronghold
1861 22,990mm of rain falls in Cherrapunji Assam in India in 1861, a world record
1958 Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista tells his Cabinet he is fleeing the country

Dec 31 in Film & TV

1923 BBC begins using Big Ben chime ID

Dec 31 in Music

1879 Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera “Pirates of Penzance” premieres in NYC

Dec 31 in Sport

1989 Jockey Kent Desormeaux sets record with 598 wins in a year