In 1580, three Jesuit missionaries arrived at the Mughal imperial court at Fatehpur Sikri at the invitation of Emperor Akbar to participate in religious discussions at the Ibadat Khana (house of worship).
Oranges were introduced to Hawaii in 1792, marking the beginning of citrus cultivation on the islands.
In 1824, the United Kingdom established the “National Institution for the Preservation of Life by Ship Accident”, later renamed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1858, dedicated to maritime rescue and safety.
In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as the 16th president of the United States, beginning a period of leadership that led the nation through its most challenging era.
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln established the U.S. Government Printing Office, increasing the efficiency of federal document production and dissemination.
In 1895, Gustav Mahler conducted the Berlin premiere of his unfinished Second Symphony (“Resurrection”) with the Berlin Philharmonic, the completed version of which was performed later in December.
In 1899, Cyclone Mahina struck north of Cooktown, Queensland, causing waves up to 12 meters high which rose 5 kilometers inland, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 300 people.
In 1918, U.S. Army mess cook Private Albert Gitchell of Fort Riley, Kansas, became the first documented military case of the Spanish flu, marking the start of a global pandemic that killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people. Some sources cite a date of March 11.
In 1924, the iconic song “Happy Birthday to You” was officially published by the Clayton F. Summey Company, establishing it as the world’s most recognized celebratory song.
In 1930, Emma Fahning made history by bowling the first officially sanctioned perfect 300 game by a woman, setting a milestone in the sport.
In 1931, West Indies registered their first ever victory over Australia by winning by 30 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which proved to be a historic milestone in their cricketing journey.
In 1936, the famous airship Hindenburg made its maiden flight from Friedrichshafen, Germany, a pivotal moment in aviation history.
In 1957, the Gold Coast officially adopted the name Ghana in preparation for its imminent independence, a pivotal moment in the country’s history.
In 1959, NASA’s Pioneer 4 narrowly missed the Moon but successfully entered heliocentric orbit, becoming the second – and the first – “artificial planet” launched to Earth by the US.
In 1967, Peggy Fleming of the United States won the World Ladies Figure Skating Championships in Vienna, demonstrating her grace and dominance in the sport.
