- 1639 - Jeremiah Horrocks made the first observation of a transit of Venus.
- 1674 - Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette (pictured) founded a mission on the shores of Lake Michigan to minister to the Illiniwek; the mission later grew into Chicago, Illinois.
- 1791 - The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, was first published.
- 1829 - The practice of sati was formally abolished in British India after years of campaigning by Ram Mohan Roy against this Hindu funeral custom of self-immolation.
- 1977 - The President of the Central African Republic had himself crowned as Emperor Bokassa I in a lavish ceremony.
Recent days: December 3 – December 2 – December 1
More anniversaries:
- 1639 - Jeremiah Horrocks made the first observation of a transit of Venus.
- 1674 - Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette (pictured) founded a mission on the shores of Lake Michigan to minister to the Illiniwek; the mission later grew into Chicago, Illinois.
- 1791 - The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, was first published.
- 1829 - The practice of sati was formally abolished in British India after years of campaigning by Ram Mohan Roy against this Hindu funeral custom of self-immolation.
- 1977 - The President of the Central African Republic had himself crowned as Emperor Bokassa I in a lavish ceremony.
Recent days: December 3 – December 2 – December 1
More anniversaries: