✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 365th day of the year

December 31

A look at December 31 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Henri Matisse and Jacques Cartier, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2004

    Taipei 101

    The official opening of Taipei 101, the tallest skyscraper at that time in the world, standing at a height of 509 metres (1,670 ft).

    Skyscraper in Taiwan
  2. 1998

    European Exchange Rate Mechanism

    The European Exchange Rate Mechanism freezes the values of the legacy currencies in the Eurozone, and establishes the value of the euro currency.

    European system to reduce
  3. 1986

    Dupont Plaza Hotel arson

    Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing more than 90 people and injuring 140 others, making it the second-deadliest hotel fire in American history.

    1986 fire in San
  4. 1965

    Jean-Bédel Bokassa

    Jean-Bédel Bokassa, leader of the Central African Republic army, and his military officers begin a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko.

    Leader of Central Africa
  5. 1961

    RTÉ

    RTÉ, Ireland's state broadcaster, launches its first national television service.

    Irish public service broadcaster
  6. 1907

    Times Square Ball

    The first ever ball drop in Times Square.

    Time ball in New
  7. 1862

    Abraham Lincoln

    American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln signs an enabling act that would admit West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two.

    President of the United
  8. 1857

    Queen Victoria

    Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa, then a small logging town, as the capital of the Province of Canada.

    Queen of the United
  9. 1775

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: Battle of Quebec: British forces under General Guy Carleton repulse an attack by Continental Army General Richard Montgomery in a snowstorm.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  10. 1759

    Arthur Guinness

    Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum and starts brewing Guinness.

    Irish brewer (1725–1803)
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 31

Henri Matisse

b. 1869

French painter and sculptor

Jacques Cartier

b. 1491

French navigator and explorer

Alex Salmond

b. 1954

Scottish economist and politician

Grégory Coupet

b. 1972

French footballer

Horacio Quiroga

b. 1878

Uruguayan-Argentinian author, poet, and playwright

Muhammad ibn al-Qasim

b. 695

Umayyad general

Alex Ferguson

b. 1941

Scottish footballer and manager

Simon Wiesenthal

b. 1908

Ukrainian-Austrian Nazi hunter and author

Deaths

  • 2022Pope Benedict XVI, German Roman Catholic cardinal and theologian, pope and archbishop of Munich and Freising
  • 1993Brandon Teena, American murder victim
  • 1972Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican-American baseball player and Marine
  • 1877Gustave Courbet, French-Swiss painter and sculptor
  • 1691Robert Boyle, Anglo-Irish chemist and physicist
  • 192Commodus, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)
  • —New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States)
  • —New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Last Day of the Year or Bisperás ng Bagong Taón, special holiday between Rizal Day and New Year's Day (Philippines)
  • —New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Novy God Eve (Russia)
  • —New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Ōmisoka (Japan)
  • —New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: The first day of Hogmanay or "Auld Year's Night" (Scotland)

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