On This Day in History — December 31

Highlights of December 31

• 2006 — War in Somalia: Transitional Federal Government forces attacked the last stronghold of the Islamic Courts Union in the town of Jilib. Read more
• 2004 — Taipei 101 (pictured) in Taipei, Taiwan, opened to the public as the world's tallest building. Read more
• 1999 — Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin became acting president upon President Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation. Read more
• 1999 — In accordance with the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal Zone from the United States. Read more
• 1998 — The European Exchange Rate Mechanism froze the exchange rates of the legacy currencies in the eurozone, establishing the value of the euro. Read more
• 1993 — Brandon Teena, an American trans man, was raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska; his death led to increased lobbying for hate crime laws in the United States. Read more
• 1986 — Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing more than 90 people and injuring 140 others, making it the second-deadliest hotel fire in American history. Read more
• 1983 — Two Australian biologists published an article titled "A Synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia", initiating the Wells and Wellington affair. Read more
• 1972 — Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente (pictured) died in a plane crash en route to deliver aid to victims of that year's Nicaragua earthquake. Read more
• 1965 — Central African military officers led by Jean-Bédel Bokassa began a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko. Read more
• 1961 — RTÉ, Ireland's first television network, began broadcasting. Read more
• 1950 — Korean War: North Korean troops attacked United Nations forces in the first of two battles at Wonju. Read more
• 1909 — The Manhattan Bridge, connecting Lower Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn and considered to be the forerunner of modern suspension bridges, opened to traffic. Read more
• 1907 — New York City held its first annual ball drop event in Times Square as part of New Year's Eve celebrations. Read more
• 1862 — The Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, began with an engagement in which both sides would suffer their highest casualty rates in the American Civil War. Read more
• 1857 — Queen Victoria announced the choice of Ottawa , then a small logging town, to be the capital of the British colony of Canada. Read more
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: At the Battle of Quebec, British forces repulsed an attempt by the Continental Army to capture Quebec City and enlist French Canadian support. Read more
• 1759 — Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum to the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin and began brewing Guinness. Read more

Events

• 2020 — The World Health Organization issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine. Read more
• 2019 — The World Health Organization is informed of cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause, detected in Wuhan. This later turned out to be COVID-19, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
• 2018 — Thirty-nine people are killed after a ten-story building collapses in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, Russia. Read more
• 2015 — A fire breaks out at the Downtown Address Hotel in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, located near the Burj Khalifa, two hours before the fireworks display is due to commence. Sixteen injuries were reported; one had a heart attack, another suffered a major injury, and fourteen others with minor injuries. Read more
• 2014 — A New Year's Eve celebration stampede in Shanghai kills at least 36 people and injures 49 others. Read more
• 2011 — NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon. Read more
• 2010 — Tornadoes touch down in midwestern and southern United States, including Washington County, Arkansas; Greater St. Louis, Sunset Hills, Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma, with a few tornadoes in the early hours. A total of 36 tornadoes touched down, resulting in the deaths of nine people and $113 million in damages. Read more
• 2009 — Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occur. Read more
• 2004 — The official opening of Taipei 101, the tallest skyscraper at that time in the world, standing at a height of 509 metres (1,670 ft). Read more
• 2001 — Rwanda adopts a new national flag and anthem. Read more
• 1999 — The first President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, resigns from office, leaving Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the acting President and successor. Read more
• 1999 — The U.S. government hands control of the Panama Canal (as well all the adjacent land to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone) to Panama. This act complied with the signing of the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties. Read more
• 1999 — Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking ends after seven days with the release of 190 survivors at Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan. Read more
• 1998 — The European Exchange Rate Mechanism freezes the values of the legacy currencies in the Eurozone, and establishes the value of the euro currency. Read more
• 1995 — The final comic of Calvin and Hobbes is published. Read more
• 1994 — This date is skipped altogether in Kiribati as the Phoenix Islands and Line Islands change time zones from UTC−11:00 to UTC+13:00 and UTC−10:00 to UTC+14:00, respectively. Read more
• 1994 — The First Chechen War: The Russian Ground Forces begin a New Year's storming of Grozny. Read more
• 1992 — Czechoslovakia is peacefully dissolved in what is dubbed by media as the Velvet Divorce, resulting in the creation of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Read more
• 1991 — All official Soviet Union institutions have ceased operations by this date, five days after the Soviet Union is officially dissolved. Read more
• 1986 — Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing more than 90 people and injuring 140 others, making it the second-deadliest hotel fire in American history. Read more
• 1983 — The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government. Read more
• 1983 — Benjamin Ward is appointed New York City Police Department's first ever African American police commissioner. Read more
• 1983 — In Nigeria, a coup d'état led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari ends the Second Nigerian Republic. Read more
• 1981 — A coup d'état in Ghana removes President Hilla Limann's PNP government and replaces it with the Provisional National Defence Council led by Flight lieutenant Jerry Rawlings. Read more
• 1968 — The first flight of the Tupolev Tu-144, the first civilian supersonic transport in the world. Read more
• 1968 — MacRobertson Miller Airlines Flight 1750 crashes near Port Hedland, Western Australia, killing all 26 people on board. Read more
• 1965 — Jean-Bédel Bokassa, leader of the Central African Republic army, and his military officers begin a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko. Read more
• 1963 — The Central African Federation officially collapses, subsequently becoming Zambia, Malawi and Rhodesia. Read more
• 1961 — RTÉ, Ireland's state broadcaster, launches its first national television service. Read more
• 1956 — The Romanian Television network begins its first broadcast in Bucharest. Read more
• 1955 — General Motors becomes the first U.S. corporation to make over US$1 billion in a year. Read more
• 1951 — Cold War: The Marshall Plan expires after distributing more than US$13.3 billion in foreign aid to rebuild Western Europe. Read more
• 1946 — President Harry S. Truman officially proclaims the end of hostilities in World War II. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: Operation Nordwind, the last major Wehrmacht offensive on the Western Front, begins. Read more
• 1942 — USS Essex, first aircraft carrier of a 24-ship class, is commissioned. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The Royal Navy defeats the Kriegsmarine at the Battle of the Barents Sea. This leads to the resignation of Grand Admiral Erich Raeder a month later. Read more
• 1907 — The first ever ball drop in Times Square. Read more
• 1906 — Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar signs the Persian Constitution of 1906. Read more
• 1879 — Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Read more
• 1878 — Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: The three-day Battle of Stones River begins near Murfreesboro, Tennessee between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg and the Union Army of the Cumberland under General William S. Rosecrans. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln signs an enabling act that would admit West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two. Read more
• 1857 — Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa, then a small logging town, as the capital of the Province of Canada. Read more
• 1853 — A dinner party is held inside a life-size model of an iguanodon created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Sir Richard Owen in south London, England. Read more
• 1844 — The Philippines skipped this date in order to align the country with the rest of Asia, as the trading interest switched to China, Dutch East Indies and neighboring territories after Mexico gained independence from Spain on 27 September 1821. In the islands, Monday, 30 December 1844 was immediately followed by Wednesday, 1 January 1845. Read more
• 1831 — Gramercy Park is deeded to New York City. Read more
• 1796 — The incorporation of Baltimore as a city. Read more
• 1790 — Efimeris, the oldest Greek newspaper of which issues have survived till today, is published for the first time. Read more
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: Battle of Quebec: British forces under General Guy Carleton repulse an attack by Continental Army General Richard Montgomery in a snowstorm. Read more
• 1759 — Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum and starts brewing Guinness. Read more
• 1757 — Empress Elizabeth I of Russia issues her ukase incorporating Königsberg into Russia. Read more
• 1687 — The first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope. Read more
• 1670 — The expedition of John Narborough leaves Corral Bay, having surveyed the coast and lost four hostages to the Spanish. Read more
• 1660 — James, Duke of York is named Duke of Normandy by Louis XIV of France. Read more
• 1600 — The British East India Company is chartered. Read more
• 1501 — The First Battle of Cannanore commences, seeing the first use of the naval line of battle.[citation needed] Read more
• 1229 — James I the Conqueror, King of Aragon, enters Medina Mayurqa (now known as Palma de Mallorca, Spain), thus consummating the Christian reconquest of the island of Mallorca. Read more
• 1225 — The Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty.[citation needed] Read more
• 1105 — Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV is forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Henry V, in Ingelheim. Read more
• 870 — Battle of Englefield: The Vikings clash with ealdorman Æthelwulf of Berkshire. The invaders are driven back to Reading (East Anglia); many Danes are killed. Read more

Born on December 31

• 2002 — Ryan Flamingo, Dutch footballer Read more
• 2002 — Sophia Laforteza, Filipino-American singer Read more
• 2002 — Joe Scally, American soccer player Read more
• 2001 — Katie Volynets, American tennis player Read more
• 2000 — Alycia Parks, American tennis player Read more
• 1999 — Calvin Bassey, Italian-Nigerian footballer Read more
• 1999 — Leif Davis, English footballer Read more
• 1997 — Ludovic Blas, French footballer Read more
• 1997 — Cameron Carter-Vickers, English-American soccer player Read more
• 1997 — Bright Osayi-Samuel, Nigerian footballer Read more
• 1996 — J. J. Arcega-Whiteside, Spanish-American football player Read more
• 1995 — Gabby Douglas, American gymnast Read more
• 1995 — Edmond Sumner, American basketball player Read more
• 1992 — Amy Cure, Australian track cyclist Read more
• 1992 — Karl Kruuda, Estonian racing driver Read more
• 1991 — Dennis Everberg, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
• 1991 — Djené, Togolese footballer Read more
• 1991 — ND Stevenson, American cartoonist Read more
• 1991 — Brandon Tanev, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1989 — Ryo Aitaka, Japanese kickboxer and professional wrestler Read more
• 1989 — Kelvin Herrera, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1988 — Michal Řepík, Czech ice hockey player Read more
• 1987 — Javaris Crittenton, American basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Seydou Doumbia, Ivorian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Danny Holla, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1987 — Nemanja Nikolić, Hungarian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Nate Freiman, American baseball player Read more
• 1986 — Kade Snowden, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1985 — Jonathan Horton, American gymnast Read more
• 1985 — Jan Smit, Dutch singer and television host Read more
• 1984 — Corey Crawford, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1984 — Ben Hannant, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1984 — Édgar Lugo, Mexican footballer Read more
• 1984 — Calvin Zola, Congolese footballer Read more
• 1983 — Jana Veselá, Czech basketball player Read more
• 1982 — Julio DePaula, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1982 — Craig Gordon, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1982 — Luke Schenscher, Australian basketball player Read more
• 1982 — The Rocket Summer, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Read more
• 1981 — Jason Campbell, American football player Read more

Died on December 31

• 2024 — Arnold Rüütel, Estonian politician, 3rd President of Estonia (born 1928) Read more
• 2024 — Johnnie Walker, British radio DJ (born 1945) Read more
• 2023 — Cale Yarborough, American Hall of Fame racing driver and founder of Cale Yarborough Motorsports, NASCAR Cup Series champion (1976, 1977, 1978) (born 1939) Read more
• 2022 — Pope Benedict XVI, German Roman Catholic cardinal and theologian, pope (2005–2013) and archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982) (born 1927) Read more
• 2022 — Barry Lane, English golfer (born 1960) Read more
• 2021 — Betty White, American actress, comedian and producer (born 1922) Read more
• 2018 — Kader Khan, Indian actor (born 1937) Read more
• 2016 — William Christopher, American actor (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Natalie Cole, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1950) Read more
• 2015 — Wayne Rogers, American actor and investor (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — Edward Herrmann, American actor (born 1943) Read more
• 2014 — Abdullah Hussain, Malaysian author (born 1920) Read more
• 2014 — Norm Phelps, American author and activist (born 1939) Read more
• 2014 — S. Arthur Spiegel, American captain, lawyer, and judge (born 1920) Read more
• 2014 — Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, British soldier and politician (born 1915) Read more
• 2013 — James Avery, American actor (born 1945) Read more
• 2013 — Roberto Ciotti, Italian guitarist and composer (born 1953) Read more
• 2013 — Bob Grant, American radio host (born 1929) Read more
• 2013 — Irina Korschunow, German author and screenwriter (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Tarak Mekki, Tunisian businessman and politician (born 1958) Read more
• 2012 — Jovette Marchessault, Canadian author and playwright (born 1938) Read more
• 2012 — Günter Rössler, German photographer and journalist (born 1926) Read more
• 2010 — Raymond Impanis, Belgian cyclist (born 1925) Read more
• 2010 — Per Oscarsson, Swedish actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1927) Read more
• 2009 — Cahal Daly, Irish cardinal and philosopher, Archbishop of Armagh (born 1917) Read more
• 2009 — Justin Keating, Irish surgeon, journalist, and politician, Minister for Industry and Commerce (born 1930) Read more
• 2008 — Donald E. Westlake, American author and screenwriter (born 1933) Read more
• 2007 — Roy Amara, American scientific researcher (born 1925) Read more
• 2007 — Michael Goldberg, American painter and educator (born 1924) Read more
• 2007 — Bill Idelson, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1919) Read more
• 2007 — Milton L. Klein, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1910) Read more
• 2007 — Ettore Sottsass, Austrian-Italian architect and designer (born 1917) Read more
• 2006 — Ya'akov Hodorov, Israeli footballer (born 1927) Read more
• 2006 — Seymour Martin Lipset, American sociologist, author, and academic (born 1922) Read more
• 2006 — George Sisler, Jr., American businessman (born 1917) Read more
• 2005 — Enrico Di Giuseppe, American tenor and educator (born 1932) Read more
• 2005 — Phillip Whitehead, English screenwriter, producer, and politician (born 1937) Read more
• 2004 — Gérard Debreu, French economist and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1921) Read more
• 2003 — Arthur R. von Hippel German-American physicist and author (born 1898) Read more
• 2002 — Kevin MacMichael, Canadian guitarist, songwriter, and producer (born 1951) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church); Christian feast day: December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan); New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States); New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Last Day of the Year or Bisperás ng Bagong Taón, special holiday between Rizal Day and New Year's Day (Philippines); New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Novy God Eve (Russia); New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Ōmisoka (Japan); New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: The first day of Hogmanay or "Auld Year's Night" (Scotland); The seventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity); The sixth and penultimate day of Kwanzaa (United States)

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