Today is Monday, December 5, the 339th day of 2011. There are 26 days left in the year.

1492 ― Columbus discovers Hispaniola (El Espanola/Haiti)

1766 ― London auctioneers Christie's hold their first sale

1830 ― Hector Berlioz' ``Symphonique Fantastique" premieres in Paris

1848 ― President Polk triggers Gold Rush of '49, confirms California gold discovery

1854 ― Aaron Allen of Boston patents folding theater chair

1926 ― Sergei Eisenstein's ``Battleship Potemkin" debuts

1941 ― Russian anti offensive in Moscow drives out Nazi army

1955 ― Historic bus boycott begins in Montgomery, Al., by Rosa Parks

1977 ― Egypt breaks diplomatic relations with Syria, Libya, Algeria, Iraq and South Yemen

1989 ― France TGV train reaches world record speed of 482.4 kph