1451 ― Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa orders Jews of Holland to wear a badge
1784 ― Pennsylvania Packet & General Advertiser, the first daily newspaper in America issued
1792 ― First French Republic declared
1893 ― Frank Duryea drives first U.S.-made gas-propelled vehicle
1895 ― Duryea Motor Wagon Company, the first auto manufacturer, opens
1897 ― NY Sun runs famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial
1937 ― J.R.R. Tolkien publishes "The Hobbit"
1949 ― People's Republic of China proclaimed
1981 ― Belize gains independence from Britain (National Day)
1981 ― Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first female Supreme Court justice
1986 ― NY Jets beat Miami Dolphins 51-45 in OT with a record 884 passing yards
1991 ― Armenia votes on whether to remain in the Soviet Union