Osun Defender History Corner: December 14 In Focus
Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.
December 14, 1542
Princess Mary Stuart becomes Queen of Scots at the age of six days.
December 14, 1799
George Washington, the first President of the United States, dies at Mount Vernon.
December 14, 1911
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen becomes the first person to reach the South Pole.
December 14, 1918
Women in the United Kingdom vote for the first time in a general election.
December 14, 1927
Iraq gains independence from the United Kingdom.
December 14, 1947
The United Nations General Assembly adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
December 14, 1962
NASA’s Mariner 2 becomes the first spacecraft to fly by Venus.
December 14, 1964
Martin Luther King Jr. is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his civil rights leadership.
December 14, 1972
Apollo 17, the final Apollo moon mission, lands on the Moon.
December 14, 1973
Malta becomes a republic within the Commonwealth, with Sir Anthony Mamo as its first President.
December 14, 1981
Israel annexes the Golan Heights, seized from Syria during the Six-Day War.
December 14, 1985
Wilma Mankiller becomes the first woman to lead a major American Indian tribe as the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
December 14, 1995
The Dayton Agreement is signed, bringing an end to the Bosnian War.
December 14, 1999
Torrential rains trigger landslides in Venezuela, leading to significant loss of life and property.
December 14, 2001
The Islamic extremist group Taliban announces the release of eight Western aid workers after they spent six months in captivity.
December 14, 2003
The Soham murder trial concludes in the United Kingdom with Ian Huntley found guilty of two counts of murder.
December 14, 2004
The Millau Viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world, is officially opened in France.
December 14, 2008
Bernie Madoff is arrested and charged with securities fraud in connection with a massive Ponzi scheme.
December 14, 2012
A mass shooting occurs at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, resulting in the deaths of 26 people, including 20 children.
December 14, 2017
The Walt Disney Company acquires 21st Century Fox, consolidating various media assets.
Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on December 14. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
