Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés.
The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an e...
Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The surrender of the Pakistan Army brings an end to both conflicts. This is commemorated annually as Victory Day in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India respectively.
The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day.
World War II: The Battle of the Bulge begins with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest.
World War I: Admiral Franz von Hipper commands a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby.
First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli.
Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match.
Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire.
American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints General Joseph E. Johnston to replace General Braxton Bragg as commander of the Army of Tennessee.
The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand.
The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri.
British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah.
Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act.
Seven-Year War: Battle of Noryang: The final battle of the Seven-Year War is fought between the China and the Korean allied forces and Japanese navies, resulting in a decisive allied forces victory.