Notable Events of December 22nd
On This Day in History. December 22nd is a day that has seen a range of significant events throughout history. From the birth of influential…
This Day in History
December 22nd is a day that has seen a range of significant events throughout history.
From the birth of influential figures in politics, music, and mathematics to the end of oppressive regimes and the beginning of new traditions, this day has shaped the world we know today.
In addition to these important events, December 22nd also marks the birth and death of notable individuals who have left their mark on history.
These include Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson and 38th First Lady of the United States, and Joe Cocker, an English singer-songwriter known for his soulful voice and powerful live performances.
Overall, this day has a rich history that is worth exploring and remembering.
On this Day
1666 — Guru Gobind Singh is born in India and became the 10th guru of the Sikh religion. He is known for his contributions to the religion and his role in the resistance to the Mughal Empire. Guru Gobind Singh is credited with formalizing the Sikh faith and creating the Khalsa, a community of initiated Sikhs. He also compiled the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib.
1880 — George Eliot, an English author, dies. Eliot was a leading figure in the Victorian era and is known for her realistic and psychological novels, including “Middlemarch” and “Silas Marner.”
1882 — Edward H. Johnson becomes the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with electric lights at his home in New York City, starting a new tradition. Johnson was an associate of inventor Thomas Edison and the Vice President of the Edison Electric Light Company.
1887 — Srinivasa Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician, is born. Ramanujan is known for his contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of infinite series and number theory. He made important contributions to the development of mathematics in the 20th century and is considered one of the greatest mathematicians in history.
1912 — Lady Bird Johnson is born in the United States. She becomes the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson and served as the 38th First Lady. Lady Bird Johnson is known for her efforts to beautify the country, including the Highway Beautification Act, which aimed to reduce billboard clutter and increase the planting of wildflowers along highways.
1891 — Max Wolf discovers the first asteroid to be discovered through astrophotography, 323 Brucia, marking a significant milestone in the field of astronomy. Wolf was a German astronomer who made numerous contributions to the field, including discovering more than 400 asteroids.
1937 — The Lincoln Tunnel, a 1.5-mile-long tunnel under the Hudson River connecting New Jersey to New York City, opens to the public. The tunnel was the first of its kind to be built and is now one of the busiest in the world, carrying more than 100 million vehicles per year.
1943 — Paul Wolfowitz is born in the United States. He becomes an American politician and served as the 25th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense. Wolfowitz is known for his role in the development of the Bush Administration’s foreign policy, particularly the decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
1989 — Jordin Sparks is born in the United States. She becomes an American singer-songwriter and actress. Sparks is known for her successful music career, including the hit single “No Air,” and for her acting roles in television and film.
1989 — Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown in a revolution marking the end of communist rule in the country. Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are captured, tried, and executed by a firing squad. Ceaușescu had been the leader of Romania for more than two decades and was known for his oppressive and authoritarian rule. The Romanian Revolution was the only violent overthrow of a communist government in the 1980s.
1989 — Samuel Beckett, an Irish/French author, playwright, director, and Nobel Prize laureate, dies. Beckett is known for his contributions to the field of literature and is considered one of the most important writers of the 20th century. His works, including “Waiting for Godot” and “Endgame,” are known for their absurdist and existential themes.
2002 — Joe Strummer, an English singer-songwriter and guitarist dies. Strummer was a member of the punk rock band The Clash and is known for his contributions to the punk and reggae genres. He was also a vocal advocate for social and political issues and used his music as a platform to address them.
2010 — President Obama signs the repeal of the don’t ask, don’t tell policy, which had governed the recruitment and service of LGBTQ members in the United States military. The policy, put in place by the Clinton Administration in 1994, prohibited LGBTQ individuals from openly serving in the military. The policy’s repeal allowed LGBTQ individuals to serve openly in the military for the first time.
2014 — Joe Cocker, an English singer-songwriter, dies. Cocker is known for his soulful voice and his powerful live performances. He had a successful career that spanned more than four decades and is best known for his cover of the Beatles’ song “With a Little Help from My Friends,” which became a hit in the 1960s. Cocker was also known for his collaborations with other musicians, including his duet with Jennifer Warnes, “Up Where We Belong,” which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1982.
As we come to the end of this day in history, it is clear that December 22nd has played a significant role in shaping the world we know today.
From the birth of influential figures like Srinivasa Ramanujan and Lady Bird Johnson to the end of oppressive regimes and the beginning of new traditions, this day has left its mark on history.
And as we look to the future, we can only imagine what new events and developments will be added to the rich diversity of history on December 23rd.
As the famous Irish/French author, playwright, and director Samuel Beckett once said, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
May this quote inspire us to keep striving and making progress, no matter what challenges we may face, as we move forward into the future.