On This Day — December 11

🕰️ Notable Events on December 11

• 2012 — At least 125 people are killed and up to 200 injured in bombings in the Alawite village of Aqrab, Syria. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Bernard Madoff is arrested and charged with securities fraud in a $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Wikipedia ↗
• 2007 — Insurgency in the Maghreb: Two car bombs explode in Algiers, Algeria, one near the Supreme Constitutional Court and the other near the offices of the United Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — The International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust is opened in Tehran, Iran, by then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; nations such as Israel and the United States express concern. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — Felipe Calderón, the President of Mexico, launches a military-led offensive to put down the drug cartel violence in the state of Michoacán. This effort is often regarded as the first event in the Mexican Drug War. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — The Buncefield Oil Depot catches fire in Hemel Hempstead, England. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Cronulla riots: Thousands of White Australians demonstrate against ethnic violence resulting in a riot against anyone thought to be Lebanese in Cronulla, New South Wales; these are followed up by retaliatory ethnic attacks on Cronulla. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — The People's Republic of China joins the World Trade Organization (WTO). Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Thai Airways Flight 261 crashes near Surat Thani Airport, killing 101. The pilot flying the Airbus A310-300 is thought to have suffered spatial disorientation. Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — The Kyoto Protocol opens for signature. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — First Chechen War: Russian President Boris Yeltsin orders Russian troops into Chechnya. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — A bomb explodes on Philippine Airlines Flight 434, en route from Manila, Philippines, to Tokyo, Japan, killing one. The captain is able to safely land the plane. Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Demonstrations by students and workers across Albania begin, which eventually trigger the fall of communism in Albania. Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — El Mozote massacre: Armed forces in El Salvador kill an estimated 900 civilians in an anti-guerrilla campaign during the Salvadoran Civil War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund) is enacted by the U.S. Congress. Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — The Lufthansa heist is committed by a group led by Lucchese family associate Jimmy Burke. It was the largest cash robbery ever committed on American soil, at that time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Apollo 17 becomes the sixth and last Apollo mission to land on the Moon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, featuring the Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, the Who, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, and the Dirty Mac with Yoko Ono, is filmed in Wembley, London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Che Guevara speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Arthur Lucas, convicted of murder, is the last person to be executed in Canada. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — French forces crack down in a violent clash with protesters in French Algeria during a visit by French President Charles de Gaulle. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — French Upper Volta and French Dahomey gain self-government from France, becoming the Republic of Upper Volta and the Republic of Dahomey (now Benin), respectively, and joining the French Community. Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Arab-Israeli War: The United Nations passes General Assembly Resolution 194, creating a Conciliation Commission to mediate the conflict. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is established. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: Germany and Italy declare war on the United States, following the Americans' declaration of war on the Empire of Japan in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States, in turn, declares war on them. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: Poland declares war on the Empire of Japan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy suffers its first loss of surface vessels during the Battle of Wake Island. Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Second Italo-Ethiopian War: Italy leaves the League of Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII's abdication as King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India, becomes effective. Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, takes his last drink and enters treatment for the last time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Statute of Westminster 1931: The British Parliament establishes legislative equality between the UK and the Dominions of the Commonwealth—Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Guangzhou Uprising: Communist Red Guards launch an uprising in Guangzhou, China, taking over most of the city and announcing the formation of a Guangzhou Soviet. Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Roman Catholic papal encyclical Quas primas introduces the Feast of Christ the King. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Irish War of Independence: In retaliation for a recent IRA ambush, British forces burn and loot numerous buildings in Cork city. Many civilians report being beaten, shot at, robbed and verbally abused by British forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — World War I: British General Edmund Allenby enters Jerusalem on foot and declares martial law. Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — The New Zealand Parliament Buildings are almost completely destroyed by fire. Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — A workers' uprising occurs in Kiev, Ukraine (then part of the Russian Empire), and establishes the Shuliavka Republic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Second Boer War: In the Battle of Magersfontein the Boers commanded by general Piet Cronjé inflict a defeat on the forces of the British Empire commanded by Lord Methuen trying to relieve the Siege of Kimberley. Wikipedia ↗
• 1868 — Paraguayan War: Brazilian troops defeat Paraguayan at the Battle of Avay. Wikipedia ↗
• 1816 — Indiana becomes the 19th U.S. state. Wikipedia ↗
• 1815 — The U.S. Senate creates a select committee on finance and a uniform national currency, predecessor of the United States Senate Committee on Finance. Wikipedia ↗
• 1792 — French Revolution: King Louis XVI of France is put on trial for treason by the National Convention. Wikipedia ↗
• 1789 — The University of North Carolina is chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly. Wikipedia ↗
• 1688 — Glorious Revolution: James II of England, while trying to flee to France, allegedly throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames. Wikipedia ↗
• 1602 — A surprise attack by forces under the command of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and his brother-in-law, Philip III of Spain, is repelled by the citizens of Geneva. (Commemorated annually by the Fête de l'Escalade.) Wikipedia ↗
• 1282 — Battle of Orewin Bridge: Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, is killed at Cilmeri, near Builth Wells, in mid-Wales. Wikipedia ↗
• 969 — Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas is assassinated by his wife Theophano and her lover, the later Emperor John I Tzimiskes. Wikipedia ↗
• 861 — Assassination of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil by the Turkish guard, who raise al-Muntasir to the throne. Start of the "Anarchy at Samarra". Wikipedia ↗
• 361 — Julian enters Constantinople as sole Emperor of the Roman Empire. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 11

• 1996 — Hailee Steinfeld, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Tiffany Alvord, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Dalton Pompey, Canadian baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Derrick Nix, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Tim Southee, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Clifton Geathers, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Roy Hibbert, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Karla Souza, Mexican actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Yekta Kurtuluş, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Leighton Baines, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Spyros Vrontaras, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Sandra Echeverría, Mexican actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — James Ellsworth, American professional wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Pablo Pérez Companc, Argentinian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Jason Kennedy, American journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Jeff McComsey, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Paul Medhurst, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Javier Saviola, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Kristjan Kitsing, Estonian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Valdis Mintals, Estonian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Rider Strong, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Roy Wood, Jr., American comedian, actor, and radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Brandon Rogers, American singer and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Mark Streit, Swiss ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Shareef Abdur-Rahim, American basketball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Yujiro Shirakawa, Japanese actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Gerben de Knegt, Dutch cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Rey Mysterio, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Maarten Lafeber, Dutch golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Ben Shephard, English journalist and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Gete Wami, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Mos Def, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Daniel Alfredsson, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Sami Al-Jaber, Saudi Arabian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Murray Goodwin, Zimbabwean cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Andriy Husin, Ukrainian footballer and manager (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Willie McGinest, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Victoria Fuller, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Viswanathan Anand, Indian chess player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Stig Inge Bjørnebye, Norwegian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Max Martini, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Alessandro Melli, Italian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Fabrizio Ravanelli, Italian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Mo'Nique, American comedian, actress, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Gary Dourdan, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Göran Kropp, Swedish race car driver and mountaineer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Erik Honoré, Norwegian guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Leon Lai, Hong Kong singer and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Jay Bell, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Gavin Hill, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Glenn Lazarus, Australian rugby league player and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Giannis Ragousis, Greek economist and politician, Greek Minister for National Defence Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Justin Currie, British singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Dave Schools, American singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Carolyn Waldo, Canadian swimmer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Mario Been, Dutch footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Mark Greatbatch, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, German tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — John Lammers, Dutch footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Nigel Winterburn, English footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Dave King, Irish-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Steve Nicol, Scottish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Macky Sall, Senegalese engineer and politician, 4th President of Senegal Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Chris Hughton, English-born Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Tom Shadyac, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Nikki Sixx, American bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Peter Bagge, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Lani Brockman, American actress and director, founded Studio East Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Andrew Lansley, English politician, Secretary of State for Health Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Gene Grossman, American economist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Stu Jackson, American basketball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Ray Kelvin, British fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Christian Sackewitz, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Brad Bryant, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Sylvester Clarke, Barbadian cricketer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Santiago Creel, Mexican lawyer and politician, Mexican Secretary of the Interior Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Jermaine Jackson, American singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Icelandic guitarist, mathematician, and engineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Bess Armstrong, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Mazlan Othman, Malaysian astrophysicist and astronomer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Ria Stalman, Dutch discus thrower and shot putter Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Christina Onassis, American-born Greek/Argentine businesswoman, socialite, and heiress (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Tanimura Shinji, Japanese singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Stamatis Spanoudakis, Greek guitarist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Teri Garr, American actress and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Rhoma Irama, Indonesian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Rick McCosker, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Diana Palmer, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Jon Garrison, American tenor and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Lynda Day George, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Brenda Lee, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — John Kerry, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician, 68th United States Secretary of State Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Anna Carteret, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Max Baucus, American lawyer, politician, and diplomat, 11th United States Ambassador to China Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — J. P. Parisé, Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Rogier van Otterloo, Dutch conductor and composer (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — J. Frank Wilson, American singer-songwriter (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — David Gates, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Donna Mills, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Tom Hayden, American activist and politician (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Thomas McGuane, American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Enrico Macias, Algerian-French singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — McCoy Tyner, American jazz musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Jim Harrison, American novelist, essayist, and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Taku Yamasaki, Japanese politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Hans van den Broek, Dutch lawyer and politician, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Pranab Mukherjee, Indian journalist and politician, 13th President of India Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Elmer Vasko, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Salim Durani, Afghan-Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., Filipino civil servant and politician, 23rd President of the Senate of the Philippines Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Enrique Bermúdez, Nicaraguan colonel and engineer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Keith Waldrop, American author and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Rajneesh, Indian guru, mystic, and educator (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Ronald Dworkin, American philosopher and scholar (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Rita Moreno, Puerto Rican-American actress, singer, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Chus Lampreave, Spanish actress (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Jean-Louis Trintignant, French actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Axel Anderson, German actor and production manager (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Subhash Gupte, Indian cricketer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — John Buscema, American illustrator (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Big Mama Thornton, American singer-songwriter (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Aaron Feuerstein, American businessman and philanthropist Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Paul Greengard, American neuroscientist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — James Sullivan, American politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Doc Blanchard, American football player and colonel (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Betsy Blair, American actress and dancer (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Lillian Cahn, Hungarian-born American businesswoman, co-founded Coach, Inc. (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Grigoris Bithikotsis, Greek singer-songwriter (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Dilip Kumar, Pakistani-Indian actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Maila Nurmi, Finnish-American actress, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Grace Paley, American short story writer and poet (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Ilmar Laaban, Estonian poet and publicist (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Liz Smith, English actress (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Denis Jenkinson, English motorcycle racer and journalist (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Cliff Michelmore, English television host and producer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Marie Windsor, American actress (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Clinton Adams, American painter and historian (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Russian novelist, historian, and short story writer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Pérez Prado, Cuban-Mexican singer-songwriter, pianist, and bandleader (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Elena Garro, Mexican author and playwright (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Jean Marais, French actor and director (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Carlo Ponti, Italian-Swiss film producer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Val Guest, English-American director, producer, screenwriter, and composer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian author, playwright, and screenwriter, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Qian Xuesen, Chinese aerodynamicist and academic (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Ronald McKie, Australian soldier, journalist, and author (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Elliott Carter, American composer and academic (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Manoel de Oliveira, Portuguese actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Hákun Djurhuus, Faroese educator and politician, 4th Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Amon Goeth, Austrian Nazi war criminal (d. 1946) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Robert Henriques, English farmer, author, and broadcaster (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 11 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on December 11

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Chanukah: 8 Candles
• Jewish: Rosh Chodesh Tevet
• Islamic: Lailat-ul-Ragha'ib