1492 — First Spanish settlement in New World founded, by Columbus
1748 — France & Austria signs treaty about Southern Netherlands
1805 — France & Austria sign Peace of Pressburg
1825 — Erie Canal opens
1854 — Wood-pulp paper first exhibited, Buffalo
1862 — 38 Santee Sioux Indians hanged in Mankato MN, due to their uprising
1865 — James H Mason (Massachusetts) patents first U.S. coffee percolator
1872 — Fourth largest snowfall in NYC history (18")
1932 — Earthquake kills 70,000 in Kansu China
1934 — Yomiuri Giants, Japan's first professional baseball team forms
1944 — Battle of Bastogne-U.S. General Patton's 4th Pantzers repulse the Germans
1947 — British transfer Heard & McDonald Islands (Indian Ocean) to Australia
1966 — Maulana Karenga establishes Kwanzaa (first fruits of harvest) holiday
1982 — TIME's Man of the Year is a computer
1988 — Anti African student rebellion in China People's Republic