Historical Events
Jesse James Robs Train
Dec 8 James-Younger gang led by Jesse James robs a train at Muncie, Kansas stealing $30,000
King Kalakaua's US Visit
Dec 12 Hawaiian King David Kalakaua is 1st king to visit the US as guest of Ulysses S. Grant at 1st US state dinner at the White House
- Dec 15 1st reigning king to visit US is the King of Hawaii, received by President Grant
- Dec 15 Henry Bergh, Eldgridge Gerry, and philanthropist John D. Wright found the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in NYC, the world's first anti-child abuse agency. Later known as The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC).
- Dec 24 Pope Pius IX proclaims a jubilee for 1875
Famous Birthdays
- Dec 1 Dominicus Johner, German composer and scholar, born in Waldsee (d. 1955)
- Dec 8 Ernst Moro, Austrian physician and pediatrician (Moro reflex), born in Laibach, Duchy of Carniola, Austria-Hungary (d. 1951)
- Dec 11 Paul Wegener, German actor and director (The Golem, The Student of Prague), born in Arnoldsdorf, West Prussia, Germany (d. 1948)
- Dec 12 Volter Kilpi, Finnish writer (Alastalon salissa), born in Kustavi, Finland (d. 1939)
- Dec 13 Ludwig Curtius, German archaeologist (Die antike Kunst), born in Augsburg, Germany (d. 1954)
Mackenzie King (1874-1950)
Dec 17 10th Prime Minister of Canada (1921-30, and 1935-48), born in Berlin, Ontario
- Dec 21 Juan Bautista Sacasa, President of Nicaragua (1932-36), born in León, Nicaragua (d. 1946)
- Dec 22 Franz Schmidt, Austrian composer and musician, born in Bratislava, Slovakia (d. 1939)
- Dec 25 Lina Cavalieri, Italian dramatic soprano, and silent film actress, born in Viterbo, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1944)
- Dec 27 Max Ettinger, Jewish-German composer (Jiddische Requiem), born in Lwow, Poland (d. 1951)
- Dec 31 Ernest Austin, English composer, born in Poplar, London (d. 1947)
Famous Deaths
- Dec 7 Constantin von Tischendorf, German biblical scholar (b. 1815)
- Dec 8 Franz Wilhelm Ferling, German oboist and composer (48 études for oboe), dies at 78
- Dec 9 Ezra Cornell, American businessman and philanthropist (founder of Western Union Telegraph and Cornell University), dies at 67
- Dec 16 Abraham Capadose, Dutch physician and missionary, dies at 79
William B. Cushing (1842-1874)
Dec 17 American naval officer (best known for sinking the CSS Albemarle during a daring nighttime raid on 27 October 1864), dies at 32
- Dec 22 Johann Peter Pixis, German pianist and composer, dies at 86
