🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on December 13:

1937 ─ The Japanese Imperial Army took control of Nanjing during the Sino-Japanese War, initiating a brutal occupation.

1934 ─ J. P .M. Prentice, a British astronomer, identified the bright nova in the constellation Hercules.

1921 ─ During the Washington Conference, the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and France signed the Four-Power Pact, which defined territorial holdings in the Pacific.

1862 ─ One of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War unfolded as Union and Confederate forces clashed near Fredericksburg.

1642 ─ Dutch navigator Abel Tasman became the first European to sight the South Island of New Zealand, which led to the expansion of maps of the Pacific region.

1545 ─ The Catholic Church convened the Council of Trent in Italy and shaped the aspects of the Counter-Reformation.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On December 13, we’re singing to:

Werner von Siemens (1816) ─ German electrical engineer who made significant contributions to the development of electrical engineering and founded the Siemens company.

Mary Todd Lincoln (1818) ─ Mary Todd Lincoln, First Lady of the United States married to Abraham Lincoln and known for her strong will and controversial public image.

Dick Van Dyke (1925) ─ Dick Van Dyke, a legendary actor and comedian whose career in television and film included Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Steve Buscemi (1957) ─ Actor known for his distinctive performances in films such as Fargo and Reservoir Dogs, as well as his role in the series Boardwalk Empire.

Taylor Swift (1989) ─ Taylor Alison Swift, singer-songwriter who became a global music icon with her storytelling and spellbinding lyrics as well as her ability to reinvent herself across genres.

 🪦Who Died Today?

On December 13, we’re saying goodbye to:

Moses Maimonides (1204) ─ Jewish philosopher, scholar, and physician whose works, including the Guide for the Perplexed, have had a profound influence on Jewish culture.

Donatello (1466) ─ Italian sculptor who played a key role in the development of Renaissance art with works such as David and Gattamelata.

Samuel Johnson (1784) ─ English author and lexicographer best known for his Dictionary of the English Language, a monumental contribution to English literature.

Thomas Augustus Watson (1934) ─ American industrialist and assistant to Alexander Graham Bell who helped develop the telephone and later became a successful entrepreneur.

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