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A Look Back on This Week in History

It is that time of year where 2018 is drawing to an end and we look forward with anticipation to all that 2019 will bring.  Many of us are coming down from the Christmas hustle and bustle.  It is a great time to unwind and reflect on the year in review.  I thought that this would be a good time to write a post that highlights some notable moments that occurred this week in history.  Trivia buffs rejoice!  For those of you lucky enough to still be spending some time with friends and family, this post will be fun to share around a fire or at the local watering hole!

So let's get to it, here are some events from this week in history that I have found interesting enough to share with all of you!

1620- Construction began on Plymouth Settlement in what will become Massachusetts

1776- General George Washington led beleaguered American Revolutionary troops across Delaware River to attack British and Hessian soldiers in Trenton, NJ

1814- War of 1812 ended with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between Britain and U.S.

1831- HMS Beagle departed with Charles Darwin on board on five-year survey of southern Atlantic and Pacific oceans

1845- Texas joined the Union as the 28^th state

1888- Van Gogh cut off the lobe of his ear in a fit of dementia

1908- Jack Johnson became first African-American heavyweight boxing champion after defeating Canadian Tommy Burns in 14 rounds

1914- “Christmas Truce of 1914” WW1 German soldiers ceased fire, emerged from trenches and began singing Christmas carols.  They approached Allied forces across no-man’s land, extending a greeting of ‘Merry Christmas’, the opposing troops exchanged gifts, sang carols, and even played a friendly game of soccer

1923- Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree

1932- Radio City Music Hall opened

1962- To Kill a Mockingbird film debuted

1966- Jimi Hendrix wrote "Purple Haze" - the song that would later launch Hendrix’s fame in the U.S. and become one the most popular songs of all time

1968- Apollo 8 returned safely, completing the first manned mission to the moon

1969- Curtis Flood challenged the MLB’s reserve clause, paving the way for modern day free agency

1986- American aviators Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager completed the first global flight aboard the aircraft Voyager, circumnavigating the entire globe in 9 days on one load of fuel- with only 5 gallons to spare upon landing

1988- “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison reached #1, driven by airplay on MTV

2002- Katie Hnida became the first female to play in a Div. 1 college football game

(Note: all information was borrowed from The History Channel editors, www.history.com/this-day-in-history)

As you can see, this week in history had a lot of interesting and notable moments.  Some of which have helped shape culture and society today.  Are there any I missed?  Feel free to reach out and share some of your own!

-Tim Mavroules