Sunday, 13th December 1998 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 38 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings cloudy with temperatures between 7°C and 10°C. Tonight's moon is in its first quarter phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Sagittarius. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Sunday, 13th December in London, GB.
London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is a major global centre for finance, culture and governance, situated on the River Thames in south-east England. The city has been a significant settlement for nearly two thousand years and remains one of the world's most influential metropolitan areas. On 13 December 1998, London experienced cloudy conditions. The date fell during the Sagittarius zodiac period, whilst the moon was in its first quarter phase.
Several significant historical events have occurred on this date across Europe and beyond. In 1981, Polish prime minister Wojciech Jaruzelski declared martial law, a pivotal moment that reshaped the country's political landscape during the Cold War era. More recently, in 1991, the Croatian War of Independence marked another critical turning point when the Croatian Army retreated following the failure of Operation Whirlwind, with military units destroying their tanks to prevent capture by opposing forces. These events underscore how 13 December has witnessed moments that have fundamentally altered European history and geopolitical relations.
The significance of tracking historical events on specific dates extends beyond mere chronology. Understanding what occurred on any given day across different years and locations provides valuable context for comprehending broader patterns in history, politics and culture. DayAtlas offers users the ability to explore weather conditions, historical events, and notable births and deaths for any date and location, making it a useful resource for researchers, historians and those interested in daily historical records.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 13th December 1998
Impatience is the only true defeat.
Fortune of the Day
13th December in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on December 13th blend Sagittarius optimism with Martian drive and courage. They're fearless thinkers who approach philosophical questions with practical energy. Their direct nature and hunger for freedom make them inspiring to others.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths lie in bravery, intellectual curiosity, and motivating others. Martian impatience can lead to hasty decisions and conflicts. Their bluntness, while honest, sometimes lacks the diplomacy situations require.
Love These individuals need partners who respect their independence and value intellectual debate. Passion and adventure are non-negotiable. Boredom is their relationship's worst enemy.
Caree & Finance Education, law, and entrepreneurship suit them remarkably well. Their business instinct and persuasive power drive success. Financial security comes through focused action and calculated risk-taking.
Health Active lifestyles keep these natives vital and balanced. They thrive on movement and mental engagement. Nervous tension can disrupt sleep—physical activity is essential for stress relief.
That night, the moon was in its first quarter phase.
Chinese year of the Tiger (Earth).
Fun Facts About 13th December
Name Days in Your Language: Cinderella, Cindy, Cynth, Cynthia
Someone born on this day in 1998 would be 27 years old today — just 9,981 days into life, which is roughly 239,564 hours, 14,373,881 minutes, or 862,432,914 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 347. day of the year.
There are 18 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 50 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 13th December
- Jayden Goodwin, Australian cricketer (2001)
- Simona Waltert, Swiss tennis player (2000)
- Marina Bassols Ribera, Spanish tennis player (1999)
- Gleyber Torres, Venezuelan baseball player (1996)
- Emma Corrin, English actor (1995)
Lives Remembered on 13th December
- Lew Grade, Ukrainian-born British impresario and media proprietor (born 1906) (1998)
- Richard Thomas, Royal Naval Officer (born 1922) (1998)
- Wade Watts, civil rights activist (born 1919) (1998)
- Don E. Fehrenbacher, American historian, author, and academic (born 1920) (1997)
- Edward Blishen, English author and educator (born 1920) (1996)
- Ann Nolan Clark, American author and educator (born 1896) (1995)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 13th December
- Christian feast day: St Antiochus of Sulcis
- Christian feast day: Blessed Francesco Marinoni
- Christian feast day: St Judoc aka St Joyce
- Christian feast day: St Lucy
- Christian feast day: St Odile of Alsace
- Acadian Remembrance Day (Acadians)
- National Day (Saint Lucia)
- Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day (Poland)
- Nanjing Massacre Memorial Day (China)
- Nusantara Day (Indonesia)
- Republic Day (Malta)
- Sailor's Day (Brazil)
- Saint Lucia Day (mainly in Scandinavia)
What Happened on 13th December?
- The Treaty of Lisbon is signed by the EU member states to amend both the Treaty of Rome and the Maastricht Treaty which together form the constitutional basis of the EU. The Treaty of Lisbon is effective from 1 December 2009. (2007)
- Iraq War: Operation Red Dawn: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit. (2003)
- European Union enlargement: The EU announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia will become members on May 1, 2004. (2002)
- Indian Parliament attack: Sansad Bhavan, the building housing the Indian Parliament, is attacked by five Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. Twelve people are killed, including the terrorists. (2001)
- Banat Air Flight 166 crashes in Sommacampagna near Verona Villafranca Airport in Verona, Italy, killing 49. (1995)
- Flagship Airlines Flight 3379 crashes in Morrisville, North Carolina, near Raleigh–Durham International Airport, killing 15. (1994)
- The Troubles: Attack on Derryard checkpoint: The Provisional Irish Republican Army launches an attack on a British Army temporary vehicle checkpoint near Rosslea, Northern Ireland. Two British soldiers are killed and two others are wounded. (1989)
- PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat gives a speech at a UN General Assembly meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, after United States authorities refused to grant him a visa to visit UN headquarters in New York. (1988)
- The 6.0 Ms North Yemen earthquake shakes southwestern Yemen with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), killing 2,800, and injuring 1,500. (1982)
- General Wojciech Jaruzelski declares martial law in Poland, largely due to the actions by Solidarity. (1981)