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On This Day in History — December 29
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Highlights of December 29
- 2024 — Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport while attempting to perform a belly-landing after losing engine thrust to a flock of Baikal teal. Read more
- 1994 — Turkish Airlines Flight 278 crashed on approach to Van Ferit Melen Airport in Van, Turkey, killing 57 of the 76 people on board. Read more
- 1975 — Planted by unknown perpetrators, a bomb exploded (aftermath pictured) at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, killing 11 people and seriously injuring 74 others. Read more
- 1959 — American physicist Richard Feynman gave a speech entitled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" at Caltech, anticipating the field of nanotechnology. Read more
- 1940 — Second World War: The Luftwaffe began a major night bombing raid on the British capital as part of the Blitz, beginning what was later called the "Second Great Fire of London". Read more
- 1928 — The Northern Expedition, a military campaign by the National Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang, ended with the complete control of the Republic of China. Read more
- 1915 — First World War: The French parliament passed a law granting the land occupied by British war graves as "the free gift of the French people". Read more
- 1913 — Cecil B. DeMille started filming Hollywood's first feature film, The Squaw Man (featured). Read more
- 1890 — Sioux Wars: The United States Army killed 250 to 300 Lakota men, women and children at the Wounded Knee Massacre, beginning the Ghost Dance War. Read more
- 1876 — A railway bridge collapsed over the Ashtabula River in Ohio, killing 92 people and injuring 64 others on a Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway train. Read more
- 1860 — To counter the French Navy's Gloire, the world's first ironclad warship, the Royal Navy launched HMS Warrior, the world's first iron-hulled armoured warship. Read more
- 1845 — The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States, becoming the 28th state to be admitted to the Union. Read more
- 1812 — War of 1812: In a three-hour single-ship action, HMS Java (drawing shown) was captured by USS Constitution off the coast of Brazil. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashes into a wall in Muan, South Korea, killing 179 of the 181 occupants. It is the worst aircraft accident on South Korean soil in history. Read more
- 2023 — South Africa files a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over Israeli conducts in the Gaza Strip. Read more
- 2020 — A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hits near the town of Petrinja in Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia, killing seven people. Read more
- 2013 — A suicide bomb attack at the Volgograd-1 railway station in the southern Russian city of Volgograd kills at least 18 people and wounds 40 others. Read more
- 2013 — Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher suffers a massive head injury while skiing in the French Alps. Read more
- 2012 — A Tupolev Tu-204 airliner crashes in a ditch between the airport fence and the M3 highway after overshooting a runway at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, killing five people and leaving three others critically injured. Read more
- 2006 — The UK settles its Anglo-American loan, post-WWII loan debt. Read more
- 2003 — The last known speaker of Akkala Sami dies, rendering the language extinct. Read more
- 1998 — Leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologize for the Cambodian genocide that claimed over one million lives. Read more
- 1996 — Guatemala and leaders of Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity sign a peace accord ending a 36-year civil war. Read more
- 1994 — Turkish Airlines Flight 278 (a Boeing 737-400) crashes on approach to Van Ferit Melen Airport in Van, Turkey, killing 57 of the 76 people on board. Read more
- 1992 — Fernando Collor de Mello, president of Brazil, tries to resign amidst corruption charges, but is then impeached. Read more
- 1989 — Czech writer, philosopher and dissident Václav Havel is elected the first post-communist President of Czechoslovakia. Read more
- 1989 — The Nikkei 225 for the Tokyo Stock Exchange hits its all-time intra-day high of 38,957.44 and closing high at 38,915.87, serving as the apex of the Japanese asset price bubble. Read more
- 1975 — A bomb explodes at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, killing 11 people and injuring more than 75. Read more
- 1972 — Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 (a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar) crashes in the Florida Everglades on approach to Miami International Airport, Florida, killing 101 of the 176 people on board. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: in the Second Great Fire of London, the Luftwaffe fire-bombs London, England, killing almost 200 civilians. Read more
- 1937 — The Irish Free State is replaced by a new state called Ireland with the adoption of a new constitution. Read more
- 1934 — Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930. Read more
- 1930 — Sir Muhammad Iqbal's presidential address in Allahabad introduces the two-nation theory and outlines a vision for the creation of Pakistan. Read more
- 1913 — Cecil B. DeMille starts filming Hollywood's first feature film, The Squaw Man. Read more
- 1911 — Mongolia gains independence from the Qing dynasty, enthroning 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan of Mongolia. Read more
- 1890 — Wounded Knee Massacre: On Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, 300 Lakota are killed by the United States 7th Cavalry Regiment. Read more
- 1876 — The Ashtabula River railroad disaster occurs, leaving 64 injured and 92 dead at Ashtabula, Ohio. Read more
- 1874 — The military coup of Gen. Martinez Campos in Sagunto ends the failed First Spanish Republic and the monarchy is restored as Prince Alfonso is proclaimed King of Spain. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou ends in a Union defeat as forces under General William T. Sherman are repulsed with heavy losses by Confederate troops under General John C. Pemberton. Read more
- 1860 — The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour, renders all previous warships obsolete. Read more
- 1845 — The United States annexes the Republic of Texas and admits it as the 28th state. Read more
- 1835 — The Treaty of New Echota is signed, ceding all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States. Read more
- 1812 — USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captures HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle. Read more
- 1778 — American Revolutionary War: British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell defeat American forces under Major General Robert Howe and capture the port city of Savannah, Georgia. Read more
- 1607 — According to John Smith, Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh, successfully pleads for his life after tribal leaders attempt to execute him. Read more
- 1503 — The Battle of Garigliano was fought between a Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and a French army commanded by Ludovico II, Marquess of Saluzzo. Read more
- 1170 — Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II; he subsequently becomes a saint and martyr in the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church. Read more
Born on December 29
- 2006 — Ethan Mbappé, French footballer Read more
- 2005 — Davide Bartesaghi, Italian footballer Read more
- 2000 — Orkun Kökçü, Dutch-Turkish footballer Read more
- 2000 — Julio Rodríguez, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 2000 — Eliot Vassamillet, Belgian singer Read more
- 1999 — Andreas Skov Olsen, Danish footballer Read more
- 1999 — Francisco Trincão, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1998 — Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, American actor Read more
- 1998 — Victor Osimhen, Nigerian footballer Read more
- 1998 — Brandon Thomas-Asante, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1997 — Felix Keisinger, German skeleton racer Read more
- 1996 — Sana Minatozaki, Japanese singer Read more
- 1996 — Dylan Minnette, American actor, musician and singer Read more
- 1995 — Myles Garrett, American football player Read more
- 1995 — Rina Ikoma, Japanese singer and actress (Nogizaka46 and AKB48) Read more
- 1995 — Ross Lynch, American singer and actor Read more
- 1994 — Kristel Fulgar, Filipino actress Read more
- 1994 — Princess Kako of Akishino, Japanese princess Read more
- 1993 — Travis Head, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1993 — Gabby May, Canadian artistic gymnast Read more
- 1992 — Mislav Oršić, Croatian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Katsuhiro Suzuki, Japanese actor and model Read more
- 1991 — Steven Caulker, English footballer Read more
- 1991 — Patrick Feeney, American sprinter Read more
- 1990 — Allen Kim, South Korean singer, dancer, and actor (U-KISS) Read more
- 1989 — Jane Levy, American actress Read more
- 1989 — Kei Nishikori, Japanese tennis player Read more
- 1989 — Harri Säteri, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Eric Berry, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Christen Press, American footballer Read more
- 1988 — Ágnes Szávay, Hungarian tennis player Read more
- 1987 — Iain De Caestecker, Scottish actor Read more
- 1987 — Juliana Huxtable, American artist Read more
- 1987 — Yuhi Sekiguchi, Japanese race car driver Read more
- 1986 — Joe Anyon, former English footballer Read more
- 1986 — Derek Ryan, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1985 — Wang Ji-hye, South Korean actress Read more
- 1985 — Alexa Ray Joel, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1984 — Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, American playwright Read more
- 1984 — Brenton Lawrence, Australian rugby league player Read more
Died on December 29
- 2024 — Aaron Brown, American journalist and academic (born 1948) Read more
- 2024 — Jimmy Carter, American politician, 39th President of the United States (born 1924) Read more
- 2024 — Linda Lavin, American actress and singer (born 1937) Read more
- 2024 — Tomiko Itooka, Japanese supercentenarian (born 1908) Read more
- 2023 — Gil de Ferran, French-born Brazilian racing driver, CART champion (2000, 2001), 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner (born 1967) Read more
- 2022 — Pelé, Brazilian footballer (born 1940) Read more
- 2022 — Edgar Savisaar, Estonian politician, Estonian Minister of the Interior (born 1950) Read more
- 2022 — Vivienne Westwood, English fashion designer (born 1941) Read more
- 2021 — Peter Klatzow, South African composer (born 1945) Read more
- 2020 — Pierre Cardin, Italian-French fashion designer (born 1922) Read more
- 2020 — Joe Louis Clark, American educator (born 1937) Read more
- 2020 — Alexi Laiho, Finnish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1979) Read more
- 2019 — Alasdair Gray, Scottish writer and artist (born 1934) Read more
- 2019 — Neil Innes, English writer, comedian and musician (born 1944) Read more
- 2018 — Brian Garfield, American novelist, historian and screenwriter (born 1939) Read more
- 2018 — Rosenda Monteros, Mexican actress (born 1935) Read more
- 2017 — Peggy Cummins, Irish actress (born 1925) Read more
- 2017 — John C. Portman Jr., American neofuturistic architect and real estate developer (born 1924) Read more
- 2016 — Keion Carpenter, American football defensive back (born 1977) Read more
- 2016 — LaVell Edwards, American football head coach (born 1930) Read more
- 2015 — Om Prakash Malhotra, Indian general and politician, 25th Governor of Punjab (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Pavel Srníček, Czech footballer and coach (born 1968) Read more
- 2015 — Kim Yang-gon, North Korean politician (born 1942) Read more
- 2014 — Syed Hamid, Indian academic and diplomat (born 1920) Read more
- 2014 — Hari Harilela, Indian-Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist (born 1922) Read more
- 2014 — Odd Iversen, Norwegian footballer (born 1945) Read more
- 2014 — Juanito Remulla, Sr., Filipino lawyer and politician, Governor of Cavite (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — C. T. Hsia, Chinese-American critic and scholar (born 1921) Read more
- 2013 — Paul Comstive, English footballer (born 1961) Read more
- 2013 — Benjamin Curtis, American guitarist, drummer, and songwriter (born 1978) Read more
- 2013 — Connie Dierking, American basketball player (born 1936) Read more
- 2013 — Wojciech Kilar, Polish classical and film music composer (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — Besik Kudukhov, Russian wrestler (born 1986) Read more
- 2013 — Jagadish Mohanty, Indian author and translator (born 1951) Read more
- 2013 — Mike O'Connor, German-American journalist (born 1946) Read more
- 2012 — Mike Auldridge, American singer and guitarist (born 1938) Read more
- 2012 — Tony Greig, South African-Australian cricketer and sportscaster (born 1946) Read more
- 2012 — Roland Griffiths-Marsh, Malaysian-Australian soldier and author (born 1923) Read more
- 2012 — Edward Meneeley, American painter and sculptor (born 1927) Read more
- 2012 — Ben Overton, American jurist (born 1926) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Ebrulf; Christian feast day:
Thomas Becket; Christian feast day:
Trophimus of Arles; Christian feast day:
December 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Constitution Day (Ireland); Independence Day (Mongolia); The fifth day of Christmas (Western Christianity); The fourth day of Kwanzaa (United States)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 29”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.