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On This Day in History — December 22
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Highlights of December 22
- 2018 — A tsunami, triggered by the partial collapse of Anak Krakatoa, killed 426 people and injured over 14,000 in coastal areas of Indonesia. Read more
- 2014 — The United States Copyright Office stated that works lacking human authorship, such as a photograph taken by a monkey, could not be registered for copyright in the United States. Read more
- 2010 — The United States repealed its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the military (signing pictured). Read more
- 2008 — A dike ruptured at a waste containment area for a coal-fired power plant in Kingston, Tennessee, releasing 1.1 billion gallons (4.2 million m3) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in US history. Read more
- 2001 — Burhanuddin Rabbani of the Northern Alliance handed over power in Afghanistan to the interim government headed by Hamid Karzai. Read more
- 2001 — Richard Reid unsuccessfully attempted to detonate a bomb in his shoe on a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami. Read more
- 1997 — Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquished the disputed title of President of Somalia. Read more
- 1988 — Brazilian unionist and environmental activist Chico Mendes was murdered at his home in Xapuri. Read more
- 1984 — While riding a New York City Subway train, Bernhard Goetz shot four African-American youths who had attempted to rob him, sparking a nationwide debate on vigilantism, racism, and the legal limits of self-defense. Read more
- 1948 — Chaired by Sjafruddin Prawiranegara, the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia was established to counter Dutch attempts to re-assert colonial control. Read more
- 1939 — Members of the All-India Muslim League observed a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over the decision to enter the Second World War at the request of the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1937 — The Lincoln Tunnel, connecting New York City to Weehawken, New Jersey, opened. Read more
- 1920 — The Congress of Soviets approved the GOELRO plan, the first Soviet plan for national economic recovery and development. Read more
- 1807 — In an effort to avoid engaging in the Napoleonic Wars, the United States Congress passed the Embargo Act, forbidding American ships from engaging in trade with foreign nations. Read more
- 856 — An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 struck the eastern Alborz mountains in Persia, causing an estimated 200,000 deaths. Read more
- 401 — Pope Innocent I began his papacy, succeeding Anastasius I. Read more
Events
- 2018 — A tsunami caused by an eruption of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia kills at least 430 people and injures almost a thousand more. Read more
- 2018 — The 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, the second-longest shutdown of the U.S. federal government in history, begins. Read more
- 2017 — United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397 against North Korea is unanimously approved. Read more
- 2016 — A study finds the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus between 70 and 100% effective, making it the first proven vaccine against the disease. Read more
- 2012 — Bashir Ahmad Bilour of Awami National Party and eight others are killed in a Pakistan Taliban bomber suicide attack in Dhaki Nalbandi area near Qissa Khwani Bazaar. Read more
- 2010 — The repeal of the Don't ask, don't tell policy, the 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama. Read more
- 2008 — An ash dike ruptures at a solid waste containment area for a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing 4.2 million m3 (1.1 billion US gal) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in U.S. history. Read more
- 2001 — Burhanuddin Rabbani, political leader of the Northern Alliance, hands over power in Islamic State of Afghanistan to the interim government headed by President Hamid Karzai. Read more
- 2001 — Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63. Read more
- 1999 — Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board. Read more
- 1997 — Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces. Read more
- 1997 — Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991. Read more
- 1996 — Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board. Read more
- 1992 — During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people. Read more
- 1990 — Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland. Read more
- 1990 — Final independence of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia after termination of trusteeship. Read more
- 1989 — Romanian Revolution: Communist President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife Elena flee Bucharest in a helicopter as protesters erupt in cheers. Read more
- 1989 — German reunification: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany. Read more
- 1987 — In Zimbabwe, the political parties ZANU and ZAPU reach an agreement that ends the violence in the Matabeleland region known as the Gukurahundi. Read more
- 1984 — "Subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz shoots four would-be muggers on a 2 express train in Manhattan section of New York, United States. Read more
- 1978 — The pivotal Third Plenum of the 11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is held in Beijing, with Deng Xiaoping reversing Mao-era policies to pursue a program for the reform and opening up. Read more
- 1975 — U.S. President Gerald Ford creates the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to the 1970s energy crisis. Read more
- 1974 — Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli vote to become the independent nation of Comoros. Mayotte remains under French administration. Read more
- 1973 — A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Tangier-Boukhalef Airport in Tangier, Morocco, killing 106. Read more
- 1971 — The international aid organization Doctors Without Borders is founded by Bernard Kouchner and a group of journalists in Paris, France. Read more
- 1968 — Cultural Revolution: People's Daily posted the instructions of Mao Zedong that "The intellectual youth must go to the country, and will be educated from living in rural poverty." Read more
- 1965 — In the United Kingdom, a 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) speed limit is applied to all rural roads including motorways for the first time. Read more
- 1964 — The first test flight of the SR-71 (Blackbird) takes place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, United States. Read more
- 1963 — The cruise ship Lakonia burns 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Madeira, Portugal with the loss of 128 lives. Read more
- 1948 — Sjafruddin Prawiranegara established the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (Pemerintah Darurat Republik Indonesia, PDRI) in West Sumatra. Read more
- 1945 — U.S. President Harry S. Truman issues an executive order giving World War II refugees precedence in visa applications under U.S. immigration quotas. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Battle of the Bulge: German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!" Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The People's Army of Vietnam is formed to resist Japanese occupation of Indochina, now Vietnam. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: Adolf Hitler signs the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: Himara is captured by the Greek army. Read more
- 1939 — Indian Muslims observe a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over their not having been consulted over the decision to enter World War II with the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1937 — The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in New York City. Read more
- 1921 — Opening of Visva-Bharati College, also known as Santiniketan College, now Visva Bharati University, India. Read more
- 1920 — The GOELRO economic development plan is adopted by the 8th Congress of Soviets of the Russian SFSR. Read more
- 1906 — An Mw 7.9 earthquake strikes Xinjiang, China, killing at least 280. Read more
- 1894 — The Dreyfus affair begins in France, when Alfred Dreyfus is wrongly convicted of treason. Read more
- 1891 — Asteroid 323 Brucia becomes the first asteroid discovered using photography. Read more
- 1890 — Cornwallis Valley Railway begins operation between Kentville and Kingsport, Nova Scotia. Read more
- 1888 — The Christmas Meeting of 1888, considered to be the official start of the Faroese independence movement. Read more
- 1885 — Itō Hirobumi, a samurai, becomes the first Prime Minister of Japan. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: Savannah, Georgia, falls to the Union's Army of the Tennessee, and General Sherman tells President Abraham Lincoln: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah". Read more
- 1851 — India's first freight train is operated in Roorkee, to transport material for the construction of the Ganges Canal. Read more
- 1825 — The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., burns. Read more
- 1808 — Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy. Read more
- 1807 — The Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries, is passed by the U.S. Congress at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson. Read more
- 1790 — The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Alexander Suvorov and his Russian armies. Read more
- 1788 — Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty. Read more
- 1769 — Sino-Burmese War: The war ends with the Qing dynasty withdrawing from Burma forever. Read more
- 1489 — The forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, take control of Almería from the Nasrid ruler of Granada, Muhammad XI. Read more
- 1216 — Pope Honorius III approves the Dominican Order through the papal bull of confirmation Religiosam vitam. Read more
- 1135 — Three weeks after the death of King Henry I of England, Stephen of Blois claims the throne and is privately crowned King of England, beginning the English Anarchy. Read more
- 880 — Luoyang, eastern capital of the Tang dynasty, is captured by rebel leader Huang Chao during the reign of Emperor Xizong. Read more
- 856 — Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan kills an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history. Read more
- 401 — Pope Innocent I is elected, the only pope to succeed his father in the office. Read more
- 69 — Vespasian is proclaimed Emperor of Rome; his predecessor, Vitellius, attempts to abdicate but is captured and killed at the Gemonian stairs. Read more
Born on December 22
- 2006 — Callan McKenna, Scottish footballer Read more
- 2003 — Joe Anders, American-British actor Read more
- 2002 — David Datro Fofana, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 2001 — Camila Osorio, Colombian tennis player Read more
- 2001 — Jack Draper, British tennis player Read more
- 2000 — Joshua Bassett, American actor and singer Read more
- 1998 — G Hannelius, American actress and singer Read more
- 1998 — Latto, American rapper and singer Read more
- 1998 — Casper Ruud, Norwegian tennis player Read more
- 1994 — Rúben Lameiras, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1993 — Sergi Darder, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1993 — Raphaël Guerreiro, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1993 — Meghan Trainor, American singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1992 — Michaela Hončová, Slovak tennis player Read more
- 1992 — Nick Johnson, American basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Moonbyul, South Korean rapper, vocalist and songwriter Read more
- 1991 — DaBaby, American rapper Read more
- 1990 — Jean-Baptiste Maunier, French actor and singer Read more
- 1989 — Jordin Sparks, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1989 — Jacob Stallings, American baseball player Read more
- 1988 — Scott Darling, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Mohamed El Shenawy, Egyptian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Leigh Halfpenny, Welsh rugby player Read more
- 1987 — Zack Britton, American baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Éder, Bissau-Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1986 — Dennis Armfield, Australian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Fatih Öztürk, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1984 — Basshunter, Swedish singer, record producer and DJ Read more
- 1984 — Greg Finley, American actor Read more
- 1983 — José Fonte, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1983 — Doc Gallows, American wrestler Read more
- 1983 — Viola Kibiwot, Kenyan runner Read more
- 1982 — Britta Heidemann, German fencer Read more
- 1982 — Alinne Moraes, Brazilian actress and model Read more
- 1981 — Marina Kuptsova, Russian high jumper Read more
- 1980 — Chris Carmack, American actor, singer, and model Read more
- 1980 — Marcus Haislip, American basketball player Read more
- 1979 — Jamie Langfield, Scottish footballer and coach Read more
- 1978 — Danny Ahn, South Korean singer Read more
- 1978 — Joy Ali, Fijian boxer (died 2015) Read more
Died on December 22
- 2025 — Chris Rea, English singer-songwriter (born 1951) Read more
- 2023 — Leon Coates, English composer (born 1937) Read more
- 2019 — Ram Dass, American spiritual teacher and author (born 1931) Read more
- 2018 — Paddy Ashdown, British politician (born 1941) Read more
- 2018 — Simcha Rotem, last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (born 1924) Read more
- 2018 — Herman Sikumbang, Indonesian guitarist (born 1982); casualty during 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami Read more
- 2017 — Gonzalo Morales Sáurez, Costa Rican painter (born 1945) Read more
- 2016 — Chad Robinson, Australian rugby league player (born 1980) Read more
- 2015 — Peter Lundblad, Swedish singer-songwriter (born 1950) Read more
- 2015 — Freda Meissner-Blau, Australian activist and politician (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — John Robert Beyster, American physicist and academic (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Christine Cavanaugh, American actress (born 1963) Read more
- 2014 — Joe Cocker, English singer-songwriter (born 1944) Read more
- 2014 — Bernard Stone, American lawyer and politician (born 1927) Read more
- 2013 — Diomedes Díaz, Colombian singer-songwriter (born 1956) Read more
- 2013 — Hans Hækkerup, Danish lawyer and politician (born 1945) Read more
- 2013 — Oscar Peer, Swiss author, playwright, and philologist (born 1928) Read more
- 2012 — Chuck Cherundolo, American football player and coach (born 1916) Read more
- 2012 — Ryan Freel, American baseball player (born 1976) Read more
- 2012 — Cliff Osmond, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1937) Read more
- 2012 — Lim Keng Yaik, Malaysian physician and politician (born 1939) Read more
- 2010 — Fred Foy, American soldier and announcer (born 1921) Read more
- 2009 — Luis Francisco Cuéllar, Colombian rancher and politician (born 1940) Read more
- 2009 — Albert Scanlon, English footballer (born 1935) Read more
- 2007 — Charles Court, Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia (born 1911) Read more
- 2007 — Adrian Cristobal, Filipino journalist and playwright (born 1932) Read more
- 2006 — Elena Mukhina, Russian gymnast (born 1960) Read more
- 2006 — Galina Ustvolskaya, Russian composer (born 1919) Read more
- 2004 — Doug Ault, American baseball player and manager (born 1950) Read more
- 2002 — Desmond Hoyte, Guyanese lawyer, politician and President of Guyana (born 1929) Read more
- 2002 — Joe Strummer, English singer-songwriter (born 1952) Read more
- 2001 — Ovidiu Iacov, Romanian footballer (born 1981) Read more
- 2001 — Walter Newton Read, American lawyer and second chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (born 1918) Read more
- 1997 — Sebastian Arcos Bergnes, Cuban-American dentist and activist (born 1931) Read more
- 1996 — Jack Hamm, American cartoonist and television host (born 1916) Read more
- 1995 — Butterfly McQueen, American actress and dancer (born 1911) Read more
- 1995 — James Meade, English economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1907) Read more
- 1993 — Don DeFore, American actor (born 1913) Read more
- 1992 — Harry Bluestone, English violinist and composer (born 1907) Read more
- 1992 — Frederick William Franz, American religious leader (born 1893) Read more
Holidays & observances
Dongzhi Festival; Armed Forces Day (Vietnam); Christian feast day:
Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Eimhin; Christian feast day:
Ernan, Son of Eogan; Christian feast day:
Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US); Christian feast day:
Hunger; Christian feast day:
O Rex; Christian feast day:
Henry Budd (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
Lottie Moon (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
December 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Mother's Day (Indonesia); National Mathematics Day (India); Teachers' Day (Cuba); Unity Day (Zimbabwe)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 22”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.