Today in History for 24th December 2023

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Historical Events

1515 - Thomas Wolsey appointed Lord Chancellor of England
1914 - German plane drops bombs on Dover, England
1941 - First ships of admiral Nagumo's Pearl Harbor fleet return to Japan
1953 - Wellington-Auckland (NZ) express train swept away in flood kills 166
1997 - The Dominican Republic becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty
1999 - Opening of St Peter's Holy Door by Pope John Paul II in approach of 3rd millennium

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Famous Birthdays

1880 - Johnny Gruelle, American cartoonist, children's book writer and creator of Raggedy Ann, born in Arcola, Illinois (d. 1939)
1910 - William "Bill" Pickering, NASA scientist (JPL), born in Wellington, New Zealand (d. 2004)
1931 - Jill Bennett, British actress (Lady Jane, Concrete Jungle), born in Penang, Straits Settlements (d. 1990)
1946 - Brenda Howard, American bisexual activist, born in The Bronx, New York City (d. 2005)
1967 - Mikhail Shchennikov, Russian race walker, born in Yekaterinburg, Russia
1968 - Joe Scuderi, Australian cricketer (South Australian all-rounder), born in Ingham, Australia

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Famous Deaths

1707 - Noel Coypel, French painter, dies at 78
1926 - Johan Castberg, Norwegian politician (Castbergian Child Laws protecting extra-martial children), dies at 64
1941 - Siegfried Alkan, German composer, dies at 83
1955 - Nana Bryant, American stage and screen actress (Ladies of the Chorus; Harvey; Brewster's Millions), dies at 67
1994 - Buddy Ace, [Jimmie Lee Land] American Texas blues singer, dies of a heart attack while performing at 57
2006 - Braguinha [Carlos Alberto Ferreira Braga], Brazilian songwriter, dies at 99

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