TODAY IN HISTORY

THURSDAY DEC 29, 2022

1845

Texas was admitted as the 28th state.

1170

Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was slain in Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II.

1812

During the War of 1812, the American frigate USS Constitution engaged and severely damaged the British frigate HMS Java off Brazil.

1851

The first Young Men’s Christian Association in the United States was founded in Boston.

1890

The Wounded Knee massacre took place in South Dakota as an estimated 300 Sioux Indians were killed by U.S. troops sent to disarm them.

1940

During World War II, Germany dropped incendiary bombs on London, setting off what came to be known as “The Second Great Fire of London.”

1972

Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011tristar, crashed into the Florida Everglades near Miami International Airport, killing 101 of the 176 people aboard.

1978

During the Gator Bowl, Ohio State University coach Woody Hayes punched Clemson player Charlie Bauman, who’d intercepted an Ohio State pass.

1989

Dissident and playwright Vaclav Havel assumed the presidency of Czechoslovakia.

1992

The United States and Russia announced agreement on a nuclear arms reduction treaty.

2006

Word reached the United States of the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. In a statement, President George W. Bush called Saddam’s execution an important milestone on Iraq’s road to democracy.

2007

The New England Patriots ended their regular season with a remarkable 16-0 record following a 38-35 comeback victory over the New York Giants.

2016

The United States struck back at Russia for hacking the U.S. presidential campaign with a sweeping set of punishments targeting Russia’s spy agencies and diplomats.