Events by Month: December - Questions and Answers

A general knowledge quiz on historical events - each of which occurred on a different day in December. Also, give the November and October editions a try.

Events by Month: December - Questions

1st December, 1955. Which notable US Civil Rights figure is arrested in Montgomery, Alabama after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man?

2nd December, 1697. Which religious building - London's tallest structure until 1967 - was consecrated, after it was rebuilt in the aftermath of the Great Fire?

3rd December, 1967. At a hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, Christiaan Barnard performs the first human transplant of which organ?

4th December, 1954.  Which 'royal' fast food chain opened its first restaurant in Miami, Florida?

5th December, 2013. Which South African former president and anti-apartheid leader died at the age of 95 in Johannesburg?

6th December, 1933. US federal judge John Woolsey rules that which James Joyce novel (published in 1922) was not obscene?

7th December 1941. The Japanese navy launch a surprise attack on which American naval base in Hawaii, sparking their entry into the Second World War four days later?

8th December 1980. Which former Beatles member was killed by Mark David Chapman in New York?

9th December 1979. The World Health Organisation declares which once-widespread disease to have been eradicated?

10th December 1953. Which British Prime Minister (1940-45, 1951-55) receives the Nobel Prize for Literature?

11th December 1936. Which monarch officially abdicates the thrown of the United Kingdom, leading the accession of George VI?

12th December 1915. Which successful American singer, known as "Ol' Blue Eyes", was born in Hoboken, New Jersey?

13th December 1577. Which British explorer and privateer sets sail from Plymouth on what would be the second continuous circumnavigation of the world?

14th December 1911. Which Norwegian explorer becomes the first person to reach the South Pole, shortly before the team led by Robert Falcon Scott?

15th December 1939. Which film - the highest grossing of all time when adjusted for inflation - set during the US Civil War, opens in Atlanta, Georgia?

16th December 1653. Which soldier and politician becomes Lord Protector of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following the execution of Charles I?

17th December 1903. Which pair of brothers launch the first powered and sustained aircraft flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina?

18th December 1865. The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution is adopted, outlawing which practice across the nation following the end of the Civil War?

19th December 1848. Which female author - most famous for Wuthering Heights - died at the age of 30?

20th December 1924. Which infamous war criminal and German leader was released from Landsberg prison?

21st December 1620. Puritan pilgrims aboard which ship land at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts?

22nd December 1989. Which gate and monument in Berlin re-opens, effectively ending nearly 40 years of division between East and West Germany?

23rd December 1815. Which author's novel Emma is first published in the United Kingdom?

24th December, 1973. Stephenie Meyer, author of which set of vampire romance novels, was born in Hartford, Connecticut? 

25th December, 1066. Which Norman duke was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey on Christmas day?

26th December, 1860. The first inter-club match in which sport was held between the teams of Hallam and Sheffield?

27th December, 1831. Which geologist and naturalist sets sail on board the HMS Beagle, during which time he would develop his theory of evolution by natural selection?

28th December 1895. William Röntgen announces the discovery of which form of radiation, commonly used to image internal body structures?

29th December 1845. The US annexed which then-independent nation, which subsequently became the 28th state? 

30th December, 2006. Which former President of Iraq is executed in Baghdad for crimes against humanity?

31th December, 1759. Arthur Guinness signs a 9000 year lease in which city, where he would begin brewing the beer which bears his name?

Events by Month: December - Answers

1st December, 1955. Which notable US Civil Rights figure is arrested in Montgomery, Alabama after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man? Rosa Parks

2nd December, 1697. Which religious building - London's tallest structure until 1967 - was consecrated, after it was rebuilt in the aftermath of the Great Fire? St. Paul's Cathedral

3rd December, 1967. At a hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, Christiaan Barnard performs the first human transplant of which organ? Heart

4th December, 1954.  Which 'royal' fast food chain opened its first restaurant in Miami, Florida? Burger King

5th December, 2013. Which South African former president and anti-apartheid leader died at the age of 95 in Johannesburg? Nelson Mandela

6th December, 1933. US federal judge John Woolsey rules that which James Joyce novel (published in 1922) was not obscene? Ulysses

7th December 1941. The Japanese navy launch a surprise attack on which American naval base in Hawaii, sparking their entry into the Second World War four days later? Pearl Harbor

8th December 1980. Which former Beatles member was killed by Mark David Chapman in New York? John Lennon 

9th December 1979. The World Health Organisation declares which once-widespread disease to have been eradicated? Smallpox

10th December 1953. Which British Prime Minister (1940-45, 1951-55) receives the Nobel Prize for Literature? Sir Winston Churchill

11th December 1936. Which monarch officially abdicates the thrown of the United Kingdom, leading the accession of George VI? Edward VIII

12th December 1915. Which successful American singer, known as "Ol' Blue Eyes", was born in Hoboken, New Jersey? Frank Sinatra

13th December 1577. Which British explorer and privateer sets sail from Plymouth on what would be the second continuous circumnavigation of the world? Sir Francis Drake

14th December 1911. Which Norwegian explorer becomes the first person to reach the South Pole, shortly before the team led by Robert Falcon Scott? Roald Amundsen

15th December 1939. Which film - the highest grossing of all time when adjusted for inflation - set during the US Civil War, opens in Atlanta, Georgia? Gone With The Wind

16th December 1653. Which soldier and politician becomes Lord Protector of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following the execution of Charles I? Oliver Cromwell

17th December 1903. Which pair of brothers launch the first powered and sustained aircraft flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina? Orville and Wilbur Wright

18th December 1865. The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution is adopted, outlawing which practice across the nation following the end of the Civil War? Slavery

19th December 1848. Which female author - most famous for Wuthering Heights - died at the age of 30? Emily Brontë

20th December 1924. Which infamous war criminal and German leader was released from Landsberg prison? Adolf Hitler

21st December 1620. Puritan pilgrims aboard which ship land at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts? The Mayflower

22nd December 1989. Which gate and monument in Berlin re-opens, effectively ending nearly 40 years of division between East and West Germany? Brandenburg Gate

23rd December 1815. Which author's novel Emma is first published in the United Kingdom? Jane Austen

24th December, 1973. Stephenie Meyer, author of which set of vampire romance novels, was born in Hartford, Connecticut? Twilight

25th December, 1066. Which Norman duke was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey on Christmas day? William I (The Conqueror)

26th December, 1860. The first inter-club match in which sport was held between the teams of Hallam and Sheffield? Association Football

27th December, 1831. Which geologist and naturalist sets sail on board the HMS Beagle, during which time he would develop his theory of evolution by natural selection? Charles Darwin

28th December 1895. William Röntgen announces the discovery of which form of radiation, commonly used to image internal body structures? X-Rays

29th December 1845. The US annexed which then-independent nation, which subsequently became the 28th state? Texas

30th December, 2006. Which former President of Iraq is executed in Baghdad for crimes against humanity? Saddam Hussein

31th December, 1759. Arthur Guinness signs a 9000 year lease in which city, where he would begin brewing the beer which bears his name? Dublin, Ireland