What Happened in December 1651

Historical Events

  • Dec 24 Jan van Riebeeck departs for Cape of Good Hope to found 1st permanent European settlement
  • Dec 25 Massachusetts General Court ordered a five shilling fine for "observing any such day as Christmas"

Famous Birthdays

  • Dec 28 Johann Krieger, German organist and composer, born in the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1735)

Famous Deaths

  • Dec 1 Cristóbal de Isla Diego, Spanish Baroque composer and conductor, dies at 65
  • Dec 6 Anna Roemers Visscher, Dutch poet, dies at 68
  • Dec 14 Pierre Dupuy, French historian and scholar, dies at 69
  • Dec 17 Wolfgang Schonsleder, Germany composer and clergyman, dies at 81
  • Dec 18 Francisco the Melo, Portuguese-Spanish earl of Assumar, dies at 54