Today in History - History - December 26th

1965Paul McCartney is interviewed on pirate radio station Radio Caroline

1924Judy Garland, 2½, billed as Baby Frances, makes her show business debut

1935Stalin views Dmitri Sjostakovitsj' opera "Lady Macbeth"

1799George Washington is eulogized by Col Henry Lee as "1st in war, 1st in peace & 1st in hearts of his countrymen"

1620Elizabeth Báthory's crimes are uncovered.

14921st Spanish settlement La Navidad (modern Môle-Saint-Nicolas) in New World founded, by Columbus

1941Winston Churchill becomes 1st British PM to address a joint meeting of Congress, warning that Axis would "stop at nothing"

1933Bradman scores 187* NSW v Victoria, 294 mins, 13 fours

1938Bradman scores 225 South Aust v Qld before Christ gets him out

1944Battle of Bastogne-US Gen Patton's 4th Pantzers repulse Germans

1891Henry Miller, Manhattan, New York, author/artist (Tropic of Capricorn, Tropic of Cancer, Sexus), (d. 1980)

1791Charles Babbage, London, British inventor (calculating machine), (d. 1871)

1921Steve Allen, NYC, comedian/TV host (Tonight Show, Steve Allen Show)

1893Mao Zedong, Shaoshan, Hunan, Chinese revolutionary & Chairman of the Communist Party of China (1949-76), (d. 1976)

1948MLB player Gil Hodges (24) weds Joan Lombardi

1946Actor Jackie Coogan (32) weds Ann McCormack (22)

2002Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (30) weds Shaunie Nelson at The Beverly Hills Hotel's Crystal Garden

1941Jazz musician Ella Fitzgerald (24) weds convicted drug dealer Benny Kornegay

1843US Navy flag officer David Farragut (42) weds Virginia Loyall

2001"Harry Potter" author J. K. Rowling (36) weds anesthesiologist Neil Murray (30) in Aberfeldy, Scotland

1959NFL coach John Madden (23) weds Virginia Fields

1993Comedian Rodney Dangerfield (72) weds Joan Child (41) at Silver Bells Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas

2006Gerald R Ford, 38th President of the United States, dies at 93

1989Doug Harvey, Canadian ice hockey player, dies of cirrhosis of the liver at 65

1972Harry Truman, 33rd US President (1945-53), dies in KC Mo at 88

2004Reggie White, American football player, dies at 43