Today is Saturday, December 1, the 336th day of 2012. There are 30 days left in the year.
1804 ― Emperor Napoleon marries Josephine of Martinique
1835 ― Hans Christian Andersen published his first book of fairy tales
1887 ― Sino-Portuguese treaty recognizes Portugal's control of Macao
1913 ― Continuous moving assembly line introduced by Ford (car every 2. 38 minutes)
1941 ― Japanese emperor Hirohito signs declaration of war
1959 ― Twelve nations sign a treaty for scientific peaceful use of Antarctica
1973 ― Jack Nicklaus becomes first golfer to earn $2 million in a year
1982 ― Michael Jackson releases "Thriller"
1989 ― East Germany drops the communist monopoly from its constitution
1991 ― AIDS Awareness Day