| 771 |
|
With the death of his brother Carloman, Charlemagne becomes sole ruler of the Frankish Empire. |
| 1861 |
|
The U.S. Senate, voting 36 to 0, expels Senator John C. Brekinridge of Kentucky because of his joining the Confederate Army. |
| 1861 |
|
Queen Victoria of Britain forbids the export of gunpowder, firearms and all materials for their production. |
| 1862 |
|
Winchester, Va., falls into Union hands, resulting in the capture of 145 Southern soldiers. |
| 1863 |
|
Seven solid days of bombardment ends at Charleston, S.C. The Union fires some 1,307 rounds. |
| 1872 |
|
The U.S. brigantine Marie Celeste is found adrift and deserted with its cargo intact, in the Atlantic Ocean between the Azores and Portugal. |
| 1900 |
|
The French National Assembly, successor to the States-General, rejects Nationalist General Mercier's proposal to plan an invasion of England. |
| 1914 |
|
The first Seaplane Unit formed by the German Navy officially comes into existence and begins operations from Zeebrugge, Belgium. |
| 1918 |
|
France cancels trade treaties in order to compete in the postwar economic battles. |
| 1941 |
|
Operation Taifun (Typhoon), which was launched by the German armies on October 2, 1941, as a prelude to taking Moscow, is halted because of freezing temperatures and lack of serviceable aircraft. |
| 1942 |
|
U.S. planes make the first raids on Naples, Italy. |
| 1947 |
|
Tennessee William's play A Streetcar Named Desire premieres on Broadway starring Marlon Brando and Jessica Tandy. |
| 1950 |
|
The University of Tennessee defies court rulings by rejecting five Negro applicants. |
| 1952 |
|
The Grumman XS2F-1 makes its first flight. |
| 1959 |
|
Peking pardons Pu Yi, ex-emperor of China and of the Japanese puppet-state of Manchukuo. |
| 1981 |
|
President Ronald Reagan broadens the power of the CIA by allowing spying in the United States. |
| 1985 |
|
Robert McFarland resigns as National Security Advisor. Admiral John Poindexter is named to succeed. |
| 1991 |
|
The last American hostages held in Lebanon are released. |
| Born on December 4 |
| 1584 |
|
John Cotton, English-born Puritan clergyman (The Way of the Church of Christ in New England). |
| 1795 |
|
Thomas Carlyle, Scottish historian and essayist (The French Revolution, Sartor Resartus). |
| 1835 |
|
Samuel Butler, English writer and painter (Erewhon, The Way of All Flesh). |
| 1861 |
|
Lillian Russell, singer and actress. |
| 1865 |
|
Edith Cavell, English nurse who tended to friend and foe alike during World War I. |
| 1866 |
|
Wassily Kandinsky, Russian-born painter. |
| 1875 |
|
Rainer Maria Rilke, German poet. |
| 1892 |
|
Francisco Franco, Spanish general and dictator who came to power as a result of the Spanish Civil War. |
| 1924 |
|
Frank Press, geophysicist. |
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