History for December 14

History for December 14 - On-This-Day.com
Nostradamus 1503 - Physician, astrologer and clairvoyant, Tycho Brahe 1546 - Scientist, James Doolittle 1896 - Aviater, World War II hero


Margaret Chase Smith 1897 - Politician, first woman to serve in both houses of the United States Congress, Lee Remick 1935 - Actress, Patty Duke 1946 - Actress


1798 - David Wilkinson of Rhode Island patented the nut and bolt machine.


1799 - The first president of the United States, George Washington, died at the age 67.


1900 - Professor Max Planck of Berlin University revealed his revolutionary Quantum Theory.


1903 - Orville Wright made the first attempt at powered flight. The engine stalled during take-off and the plane was damaged in the attempt. Three days later, after repairs were made, the modern aviation age was born when the plane stayed aloft for 12 seconds and flew 102 feet.


1911 - Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole. He reached the destination 35 days ahead of Captain Robert F. Scott.


1945 - Josef Kramer, known as "the beast of Belsen," and 10 others were executed in Hamelin for the crimes they committed at the Belsen and Auschwitz Nazi concentration camps.


1984 - Howard Cosell retired from the NFL's Monday Night Football.


1986 - The experimental aircraft Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, took off from California on the first non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world. The trip took nine days to complete.