Today in History - History - December 26th

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

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

1908Jack Johnson TKOs Tommy Burns in 14 for heavyweight boxing title, becomes 1st black heavyweight champion

1776George Washington defeats Hessians at Battle of Trenton in American Revolutionary War

1620Elizabeth Báthory's crimes are uncovered.

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

1919Yankees & Red Sox reach agreement on transfer of Babe Ruth the Yankees

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

1991Jack Ruby's gun sells for $220,000 in auction

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

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)

1935Gnassingbé Eyadéma, Pya Togo, General and President of Togo (1967 - 2005)

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

1959NFL coach John Madden (23) weds Virginia Fields

1948MLB player Gil Hodges (24) weds Joan Lombardi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2004Reggie White, American football player, dies at 43

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

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