Did you know that on December 22, 1882, the first Christmas tree to be illuminated by electric lights was displayed? Amazing historical fact, right?
Check out more historical events that happened on December 22.
- 1885 – Itō Hirobumi, a samurai, became the first Prime Minister of Japan.
- 1894 – The United States Golf Association was formed in New York City.
- 1910 – U.S. Postal savings stamps were issued for the first time.
- 1912 – The 38th first lady of the United States, Lady Bird Johnson, was born.
- 1941 – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived in Washington for a wartime conference with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.
- 1942 – World War II: Adolf Hitler signed the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon.
- 1952 – French government of Pinay, resigned.
- 1956 – The last British and French forces evacuated Egypt.
- 1961 – America performed a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
- 1963 – Official 30-day mourning period for President John F. Kennedy ended.
- 1965 – Great Britain set the national maximum road speed at 70 miles per hour.
- 1974 – Iraq announced plans to increase its oil production capacity.
- 1975 – US President Gerald Ford signed the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
- 1978 – Thailand adopted a constitution.
- 1980 – US President-elect Ronald Reagan appointed Jeanne Kirkpatrick (UN) & James Watt (Interior)
- 1989 – Romanian President, Nicolae Ceaușescu, was overthrown.
- 1989 – Republic of Chad (Africa) adopted its Constitution.
- 1990 – Lech Walesa was sworn in as Poland’s first popularly elected president.
- 2018 – Partial shutdown of the US federal government began.
- 2020 – Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi scored his 644th goal for FC Barcelona.