What Happened on Dec 6

Ferdinand Magellan reaches South America

As Brazil was Portuguese territory, Magellan avoided it and on December 13 anchored near present-day Rio de Janeiro. There the crew was resupplied,... Read more

Departure of Expedition Along Cape Cod Resulting in "First Encounter" Between English and Native Americans

Originally settled by the Nauset tribe, Eastham was the site where in 1621 a hunting expedition comprised from the crew of the sailing vessel... Read more

Battle Of San Pasqual

The Battle of San Pasqual (also spelled San Pascual) was a military encounter that occurred during the Mexican-American War in what is now the San... Read more

Abraham Lincoln Appoints Salmon P. Chase Chief Justice Of The United States

On December 6, 1864, Abraham Lincoln appointed Salmon P. Chase chief justice of the United States. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Chase studied... Read more

The Thirteenth Amendment is ratified

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except... Read more

Washington Monument Is Completed

On December 6, 1884, workers placed the 3,300 pound marble capstone on the Washington Monument, and topped it with a nine-inch pyramid of cast... Read more

State of the Union Address by President Grover Cleveland

The following is an excert from the State of the Union address related to the US relationship with Hawaii: "I express my unhesitating conviction... Read more

Death of Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis died between 12:30AM and 1:00AM on December 6, 1889. The news of his death hit the front page of many Southern newspapers. The... Read more

Monongah Mining Disaster

The worst mining disaster in American History occurred in the community of Monongah, West Virginia on December 6, 1907. Around 10 o'clock in the... Read more

The Halifax Explosion

The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation... Read more

Winston Churchill Signs The Anglo-Irish Treaty

The Anglo-Irish Treaty would replace the Third Home Rule Bill and the Ireland Act and would result in a much more independent South Ireland, or... Read more

Ernest Hemingway's Father Clarence Commits Suicide

Suffering from severe diabetes and concerned about his financial future, Clarence Hemingway shot himself on December 6, 1928 with his father's... Read more

Davey O'Brien Wins Heisman Trophy

This 5'7" 150-pounder sparked Texas Christian to an undefeated season his senior year. In his last season, he threw 194 passes, completed 110 for... Read more

Nile Kinnick Wins Heisman Trophy

Nile Kinnick is the Hawkeyes' greatest football player of all time. In his football career, he gained 1,674 yards. In his senior year, he completed... Read more

Canadian Allied Forces Capture the Villa Rogatti

The task of taking Villa Rogatti, the westernmost crossing point, was given to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Having... Read more

Ernie Davis Wins Heisman Trophy

Ernie Davis of Syracuse, a big, rugged 6'2", 212-pounder, played left halfback and was his team's leading ground-gainer for three seasons. He... Read more

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" First Airs

Rudolph the Red–Nosed Reindeer is a long-running Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass. It first aired... Read more

The Rolling Stones Release 'Beggars Banquet'

Of the 19 songs on the two albums, there are two that stand out head and shoulders above anything else. And no, they aren't the obvious ones most... Read more

Altamont Free Concert

On December 6, 1969 the Rolling Stones organized - if that's the right word - and headlined the free Altamont Music Festival at the Altamont... Read more

"Gimmer Shelter" Is Released

Gimme Shelter is a 1970 documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, chronicling The Rolling Stones' 1969 US tour,... Read more

"The Dresser" Is Released

The Dresser is a 1983 film which tells the story of an aging actor's personal assistant, who struggles to keep his charge's life together. The film... Read more

Doug Flutie Wins Heisman Trophy

Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie (born October 23, 1962) is a retired American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at... Read more

Ty Detmer Wins Heisman Trophy

The 56th winner of the Heisman Trophy is Ty Detmer, the brilliant junior quarterback of the Brigham Young University Cougars. To football fans that... Read more

Cathedral release Forest of Equilibrium

Forest of Equilibrium is the debut album of the British doom metal band Cathedral. It was released in 1991 on Earache Records. It is considered a... Read more

Pearl Jam releases Vitalogy on CD and cassette

Vitalogy is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 22, 1994 through Epic Records. Pearl Jam... Read more