✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 349th day of the year

December 15

A look at December 15 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including L. L. Zamenhof and Gustave Eiffel, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♐ZodiacSagittarius ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2013

    South Sudanese Civil War

    The South Sudanese Civil War begins when opposition leaders Dr. Riek Machar, Pagan Amum and Rebecca Nyandeng vote to boycott the meeting of the National Liberation Council at Nyakuron.

    2013–2018 conflict in South
  2. 1970

    Venera 7

    Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 successfully lands on Venus. It is the first successful soft landing on another planet.

    Soviet lander mission to
  3. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: The Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse begins during the Guadalcanal campaign.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1939

    Gone with the Wind (film)

    Gone with the Wind (highest inflation adjusted grossing film) receives its premiere at Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

    1939 film by Victor
  5. 1914

    World War I

    World War I: The Serbian Army recaptures Belgrade from the invading Austro-Hungarian Army.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  6. 1893

    Symphony No. 9 (Dvořák)

    Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World" a.k.a. the "New World Symphony") by Antonín Dvořák premieres in a public afternoon rehearsal at Carnegie Hall in New York City, followed by a concert premiere on the evening of December 16.

    1893 symphony by Antonín
  7. 1862

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: The Battle of Fredericksburg ends in a Union defeat as General Ambrose Burnside withdraws the Army of the Potomac across the Rappahannock River.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  8. 1778

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: British and French fleets clash in the Battle of St. Lucia.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  9. 1025

    Constantine VIII

    Constantine VIII becomes sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire, 63 years after being crowned co-emperor.

    Byzantine emperor from 962
  10. 687

    Pope Sergius I

    Pope Sergius I is elected as a compromise between antipopes Paschal and Theodore.

    Head of the Catholic
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 15

L. L. Zamenhof

b. 1859

Polish linguist and ophthalmologist, created Esperanto

Gustave Eiffel

b. 1832

French architect and engineer, co-designed the Eiffel Tower

AD 37

b. 37

Roman emperor

AD 130

b. 130

Roman emperor

Henri Becquerel

b. 1852

French physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize laureate

Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria

b. 1447

Duke of Bavaria from 1503 to 1508

Uziel Gal

b. 1923

German-Israeli engineer, designed the Uzi gun

Hans Carossa

b. 1878

German author and poet

Deaths

  • 1966Walt Disney, American animator, director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded The Walt Disney Company
  • 1950Vallabhbhai Patel, Indian lawyer and politician, 1st Deputy Prime Minister of India
  • 1890Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota tribal chief
  • 1675Johannes Vermeer, Dutch painter and educator
  • 1161Wanyan Liang, Chinese emperor
  • 1025Basil II, Byzantine emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Bill of Rights Day (United States) 2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina)
  • —Christian feast day: Drina Martyrs
  • —Christian feast day: Drostan (Aberdeen Breviary)
  • —Christian feast day: John Horden and Robert McDonald (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • —Christian feast day: Maria Crocifissa di Rosa
  • —Christian feast day: Mesmin
  • —Christian feast day: Valerian of Abbenza
  • —Christian feast day: Virginia Centurione Bracelli

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