December 5

December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 26 days remaining.

Events:

• 1492 - Christopher Columbus discovers the island of Hispaniola.
• 1776 - Phi Beta Kappa fraternity founded.
• 1831 - Former President of the United States John Quincy Adams takes a seat in the United States House of Representatives.
• 1933 - Prohibition ends in the United States.
• 1945 - United States Navy flying squadron lost in Bermuda Triangle.
• 1974 - Monty Python's Flying Circus final broadcast.

Births:

• 1782 - Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States (+ 1862)
• 1830 - Christina Rossetti, poet
• 1839 - George Armstrong Custer, American general (+ 1876)
• 1886 - Rose Wilder Lang[?], writer (+ 1968)
• 1890 - David Bomberg, painter
• 1890 - Fritz Lang, film director (+ 1976)
• 1901 - Werner Karl Heisenberg, physicist (+ 1976)
• 1901 - Walt Disney, film producer (+ 1966)
• 1902 - Strom Thurmond, American politician
• 1903 - Johannes Heesters[?], singer and actor
• 1906 - Otto Preminger, director, producer (+ 1986)
• 1914 - Hans Hellmut Kirst[?], author (+ 1989)
• 1932 - Little Richard, singer
• 1932 - Sheldon Lee[?], physicist
• 1934 - Joan Didion[?], writer
• 1935 - Calvin Trillin[?], writer
• 1944 - Jeroen Krabbé[?], actor
• 1946 - José Carreras[?], singer
• 1947 - Jim Plunkett[?], American football star
• 1947 - Jim Messina[?], musician
• 1968 - Margaret Cho, comedian, actress

Deaths:

• 1791 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer
• 1870 - Alexandre Dumas père, writer
• 1926 - Claude Oscar Monet, impressionist painter
• 1950 - Shri Aurobindo, guru
• 2001 - Franco Rasetti, physicist
• 2002 -
  • Einar Skinnarland[?], SOE agent
  • Roone Arledge, sports broadcasting pioneer

Holidays and observances:

• The Netherlands - Saint Nicholas Eve (Sinterklaas, the predecessor of Santa Claus)
• Roman Empire - Faunalia[?] celebrated in honor of Faunus

December 4 - December 6 - November 5 - January 5 -- listing of all days

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