Historical Events
- Dec 16 Battle of Blood River: Zulu impis defeated by Voortrekkers in South Africa (Great Trek)
Famous Birthdays
- Dec 3 Cleveland Abbe, American meteorologist (Father of Weather Bureau), born in New York City (d. 1916)
- Dec 3 Octavia Hill, British reformer, leader of open-space movement, born in London, England (d. 1912)
- Dec 4 Melesio Morales, Mexican composer, born in Mexico City (d. 1908)
- Dec 11 Emil Rathenau, German industrialist (AEG), born in Berlin (d. 1915)
- Dec 11 John Labatt, Canadian brewer and businessman (Labatt Brewing Company), born in Westminster Township (d. 1915)
- Dec 11 Whitney Eugene Thayer, American composer, born in Mendon, Massachusetts (d. 1889)
- Dec 12 Sherburne Wesley Burnham, American astronomer (binary stars), born in Thetford, Vermont (d. 1921)
- Dec 13 Alexis de Castillon, French composer, born in Chartres, France (d. 1873)
- Dec 17 Berthold Tours, Dutch-English composer, born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1897)
- Dec 20 Edwin Abbott Abbott, English schoolmaster and theologian (Flatland), born in Marylebone, United Kingdom (d. 1926)
- Dec 31 Emile Loubet, French politician (President 1899-1906), born in Marsanne, France (d. 1929)
Famous Deaths
- Dec 14 Jean-Olivier Chénier, French Canadian physician and Patriote, dies during Battle of Saint-Eustache at 32
