Today in History for 16th December 2023

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Historical Events

1777 - Virginia becomes 1st state to ratify Articles of Confederation (US 1st constitution)
1883 - Tonkin Campaign: The French capture the citadel in Hanoi
1960 - "Wildcat" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 172 performances
1979 - Dallas QB Roger Staubach throws 3 TDs and 336 yards in his last NFL regular season game with the Cowboys, a 35-34 win over Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium
1979 - Libya raises crude oil prices, joining four other OPEC nations, which has a dramatic effect on the United States
1987 - Roh Tae Woo elected president of South Korea

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Famous Birthdays

1909 - Lall Singh, Indian cricketer (scored 15 and 29 in India's 1st Test match) (d. 1985)
1916 - Theo Bitter, Dutch painter and set designer (d. 1994)
1931 - Shelby Singleton, American record label owner and producer (Smash Records, Mercury Records), born in Waskom, Texas (d. 2009)
1937 - Joyce Bulifant, American actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Marie Slaughter"), born in Newport News, Virginia
1950 - Roy Schuiten, Dutch cyclist, born in Zandvoort, Netherlands (d. 2006)
1963 - James Mangold, American filmmaker (Girl, Interrupted; Kate and Leopold; Walk the Line; Logan), born in New York City

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Famous Deaths

1783 - Yoriyuki Arima, Japanese mathematician (approximated the value of pi and its square, pi^2), dies at 68
1852 - Henri-Jean Rigel, French composer, music director, and "pianiste de la musique particulière de l’Empereur et Roi" to Napoleon, dies at 80
1920 - Ma Yuanzhang, Chinese Muslim rebel and Sufi master, crushed to death during the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake at an unknown age
1944 - Don Meyer Basketball coach Northern State, Lipscomb, and Hamline
2001 - Stuart Adamson, Scottish rock vocalist and guitarist (The Skids, Big Country), dies at 43
2006 - Don Jardine, Canadian professional wrestler (b. 1940)

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