Tuesday, 30th December 2025 in Lisbon

Welcome to your daily snapshot of Lissabon! Explore 48 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in Lissabon. 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 Lissabon brings cloudy with temperatures between 6°C and 11°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Capricorn. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Tuesday, 30th December in Lissabon, PT.

Lisbon
Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL – CC BY-SA 2.0Wikimedia Commons

Lisbon, Portugal's capital and westernmost city on mainland Europe, sits on the Tagus estuary overlooking the Atlantic. On 30 December 2025, the city experiences cloudy conditions typical of winter in the region. The sun is in Capricorn, and the moon is in its waning crescent phase, a period associated with reflection and closure as the year draws to an end.

On this day

On 30 December 2006, Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, was executed after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal. The execution marked a significant moment in post-conflict Iraq and drew international attention as the deposed leader faced justice through the country's domestic legal system.

That same year, Europe witnessed a significant transport tragedy when the Indonesian ferry MV Senopati Nusantara sank in the Java Sea during a storm, killing at least 400 people. Additionally, Spanish authorities dealt with a critical security incident when the Basque nationalist group ETA detonated a van bomb at Madrid–Barajas Airport, ending a nine-month ceasefire and reigniting tensions in the country.

DayAtlas displays weather conditions, historical events, notable births and deaths for any chosen date and location. Users can explore what happened on specific days throughout history and discover meteorological data for places worldwide.

Find out what's happening today in Lissabon.

What the Weather Had in Store for Lissabon on 30th December 2025

Cloudy

Sunrise 08:54
Sunset 18:24
Sunshine duration 09:00 hours
Daylight duration 09:29 hours

Maximum temperature 11.5°C
Minimum temperature 6.5°C

Wind speed 10.7km/h from NE
Precipitation 0mm

Seeds need patience, not pressure, to unfold.

Fortune of the Day

30th December in the Stars – Star Sign Capricorn

Today, the zodiac sign Capricorn celebrates its birthday.

Personality Profile

Personality Those born on December 30th blend Capricorn's steadiness with Mercury's intellectual curiosity. They appear thoughtful and measured, yet approachable compared to typical Capricorns. Their minds weave between practical solutions and deeper meaning.

Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths include intellectual clarity, strategic thinking, and reliable execution of plans. Weaknesses emerge when they become overly critical or rationalize away emotions, which can distance them from others emotionally.

Love In relationships, these natives crave genuine communication and intellectual stimulation. They build trust slowly but remain loyal and supportive partners. A companion valuing depth and authenticity finds steadfast devotion.

Caree & Finance Careers in analysis, education, management consulting, or skilled trades align with their abilities. Financial security matters deeply; they plan long-term and avoid unnecessary risk. Entrepreneurial drive balances well with pragmatism.

Health These individuals thrive with structured movement like yoga or strength training. They risk overextension through perfectionism. Regular mental breaks and authentic connections support psychological wellbeing.


That night, the moon was in its waning crescent phase.


Chinese year of the Snake (Wood).

Fun Facts About 30th December

Name Days in Your Language: Ainsley, Kelsa, Kelsey, Kelsi, Kelsie, Mason


Someone born on this day would be just 174 days old today — roughly 4,198 hours, 251,897 minutes, or 15,113,840 seconds spent on Earth so far.


It's the 364. day of the year. In 2025, 30th December falls on a Tuesday.


There are 1 days still to come.


We’re currently in Week 1 — the year marches on.

Famous Birthdays on 30th December

On this day, 229 notable people were born on 30th December — spanning from 39 to 1995. From world leaders to artists and scientists, discover who shares this birthday.

30/12/1995

Igor Shesterkin, Russian hockey goaltender

Igor Olegovich Shestyorkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 118th overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft. In his first full NHL season in 2021–22, Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender.


Joshua, American singer

Joshua Hong, known mononymously as Joshua (Korean: 조슈아), is an American singer based in South Korea. Managed by Pledis Entertainment, he is a member of the South Korean boy band Seventeen and its vocal team.


Ollie Watkins, English footballer

Oliver George Arthur Watkins is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the England national team. Described as a complete forward, Watkins is known for his finishing ability and work ethic.


V, South Korean singer

Kim Tae-hyung, known professionally as V (뷔), is a South Korean singer. In 2013, he made his debut as a member of the South Korean boy band BTS, under Big Hit Entertainment. V has performed three solo songs under BTS's name—"Stigma" in 2016, "Singularity" in 2018, and "Inner Child" in 2020—all of which charted on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart. Outside of his music projects with BTS, V had his acting debut in the 2016 television series Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth and, with Jin, contributed the single "It's Definitely You" to its soundtrack. He released his first independent song, the self-composed "Scenery", in 2019. In 2023, V made his official debut as a solo artist with the release of the singles "Love Me Again" and "Rainy Days". His debut solo EP Layover was released on September 8, 2023, accompanied by a third single, "Slow Dancing".


30/12/1992

Ryan Tunnicliffe, English footballer

Ryan Tunnicliffe is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.


Carson Wentz, American football player

Carson James Wentz is an American professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Dakota State Bison, winning two consecutive NCAA FCS national championships as the starter. Wentz was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 NFL draft, making him the highest drafted FCS player.


30/12/1991

Camila Giorgi, Italian tennis player

Camila Giorgi is an Italian former professional tennis player. She had a career-high singles ranking of world No. 26, which was achieved on 22 October 2018. Giorgi was known for her aggressive style of play and powerful flat groundstrokes, and she was considered one of the hardest hitters of the ball on the tour.


30/12/1990

Bruno Henrique, Brazilian footballer

Bruno Henrique Pinto, known as Bruno Henrique, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a winger for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Flamengo.


Joe Root, English cricketer

Joseph Edward Root is an English international cricketer who plays for England in Tests and ODIs. He captained the Test team from 2017–2022. He plays for Yorkshire in English domestic cricket. Root is currently the leading run-scorer among active batsmen, the second highest run-scorer of all time in Test cricket and the highest run scorer for England. Root is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen ever and among the finest England has produced. He was part of the England team that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where he top scored for England. As of March 2026, he has topped the ICC rankings for Test batsmen on ten occasions.


C. J. Wilcox, American basketball player

Brian Craig "C. J." Wilcox is an American former professional basketball player. The 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) shooting guard played high school basketball at Pleasant Grove High School before going on to complete four years at the University of Washington. He was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 28th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.


30/12/1989

Tyler Anderson, American baseball player

Tyler John Anderson is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Angels. He played college baseball for the University of Oregon. The Rockies selected Anderson in the first round, with the 20th overall selection, of the 2011 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2016. He is a two-time All-Star.


Ryan Sheckler, American skateboarder and entrepreneur

Ryan Allen Sheckler is an American professional skateboarder and entrepreneur, and the star of the MTV-produced reality television series Life of Ryan, which ran from 2007 to 2009. He also starred in four seasons of the short-format video series Sheckler Sessions on Red Bull TV. Sheckler was listed in Fox Weekly's "15 Most Influential Skateboarders of All-Time" article.


Kateřina Vaňková, Czech tennis player

Kateřina Vaňková is a Czech former professional tennis player.


30/12/1987

Jakub Nakládal, Czech ice hockey player

Jakub Nakládal is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenseman who last played for HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).


30/12/1986

Domenico Criscito, Italian footballer

Domenico Criscito is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a left-back. A versatile player, Criscito was effective both offensively and defensively and was also capable of playing as a wing-back or centre-back, a position which he often occupied in his early career.


Ellie Goulding, English singer-songwriter and producer

Elena Jane Goulding is an English singer-songwriter and activist. She has achieved significant commercial success, earning multiple chart records in the United Kingdom and internationally. Goulding has also received recognition for her songwriting, environmental activism, humanitarian work and support for LGBTQ+ causes.


Caity Lotz, American actress

Caity Lotz is an American actress, dancer, and singer. She has portrayed Stephanie Horton in the AMC series Mad Men, Officer Kirsten Landry in the MTV mockumentary series Death Valley (2011), Annie Barlow in The Pact (2012), and Sara Lance/The Canary/White Canary in The CW's Arrowverse television franchise.


Jeff Ward, American actor

Jeff Ward is an American actor and theatre director. He is best known for his role as Deke Shaw in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2017–2020) and Buggy the Clown in One Piece (2023–present). He also played Roy Hardaway in the Netflix miniseries Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021) and Seth Marlowe in Channel Zero: No-End House (2017).


Gianni Zuiverloon, Dutch footballer

Gianni Michel Eugene Zuiverloon is a Dutch former footballer who played as a right-back or centre-back. He represented the Netherlands at youth level and also played abroad for football clubs in England, Spain and India.


30/12/1985

Lars Boom, Dutch cyclist

Lars Anthonius Johannes Boom is a professional cyclo-cross and mountain bike racing cyclist from the Netherlands. He has also competed professionally in road racing, having raced between 2004 and 2019.


Bryson Goodwin, Australian rugby league player

Bryson Goodwin is a former New Zealand international rugby league footballer who last played as a goal-kicking centre or winger for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League.


Anna Wood, American actress

Anna Wood is an American film, stage, and television actress, known for her recurring role on the short-lived NBC television drama series Deception and starring as attorney Jamie Sawyer in the short-lived CBS legal drama series Reckless. She also played "The Woman in Red" in the USA supernatural drama series Falling Water.


30/12/1984

Randall Azofeifa, Costa Rican footballer

Randall Azofeifa Corrales is a Costa Rican former footballer who played as a midfielder.


Andra Day, American singer and songwriter

Cassandra Monique Batie, known professionally as Andra Day, is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Grammy Award, a Children's and Family Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award, along with a nomination for an Academy Award.


LeBron James, American basketball player, producer and businessman

LeBron Raymone James Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has won four NBA championships from 10 NBA Finals appearances, including eight consecutive appearances between 2011 and 2018. He has also won three Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team. James is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time.


30/12/1983

Eddie Edwards, American professional wrestler

Eric Maher, better known by the ring name Eddie Edwards, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is the second and current leader of The System.


Nick Symmonds, American runner

Nicholas Boone Symmonds is an American YouTube personality and retired middle-distance runner from Boise, Idaho, who specialized in the 800 meters and 1500 meters. At Willamette University, he won seven NCAA Division III titles outdoors. Symmonds is a 6-time US national 800 meters champion. He has competed in the 800m at two Olympic Games, reaching the semi-finals in Beijing 2008, and finishing fifth in the London 2012 final, running a personal best of 1:42.95 behind David Rudisha's world record of 1:40.91. The following year, he won a silver medal in the 800 meters at the 2013 World Championships, having previously finished sixth in the 2009 final and fifth in the 2011 final.


Kevin Systrom, American computer programmer and businessman, co-founded Instagram

Kevin Systrom is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur. He co-founded Instagram, along with Mike Krieger.


30/12/1982

Kristin Kreuk, Canadian actress

Kristin Laura Kreuk is a Canadian actress. Debuting on teen drama Edgemont, she became most known for her television roles as Lana Lang in the superhero television series Smallville (2001–2009), Catherine Chandler in The CW sci-fi series Beauty & the Beast (2012–2016) and as Joanna Hanley in the CBC legal drama series Burden of Truth (2018–2021). In 2009, she portrayed Chun-Li in the American martial arts film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.


Tobias Kurbjuweit, German footballer

Tobias Kurbjuweit is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or forward.


Dawan Landry, American football player

Dawan Frank Landry is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.


30/12/1981

Ali Al-Habsi, Omani footballer

Ali Abdullah Harib Al-Habsi is an Omani retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for the Oman national team for nearly two decades, from 2001 to 2019.


Cédric Carrasso, French footballer

Cédric Pascal Régis Carrasso is a French former professional footballer who spent most of his career with Bordeaux and Marseille playing as a goalkeeper. He was also capped once for the France national team.


Michael Rodríguez, Costa Rican footballer

Michael Steven Rodríguez Gutiérrez is a Costa Rican former footballer who most recently played for the National Premier Soccer League club Puerto Rico Bayamón.


Matt Ulrich, American football player

Matthew James Ulrich was an American professional football player who was an offensive guard for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats. He won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts during the 2006 season over the Chicago Bears.


30/12/1980

Eliza Dushku, American former actress and producer

Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American and Albanian former actress. Dushku starred as Faith in the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1998–2003) and its spin-off series Angel (2000–2003). She also had lead roles in the Fox supernatural drama series Tru Calling (2003–2005) and the Fox science fiction series Dollhouse (2009–2010), for which she was a producer.


D. J. Mbenga, Congolese-Belgian basketball player

Didier "D. J." Ilunga-Mbenga is a Belgian-Congolese former professional basketball player. He has also played for the Belgian national basketball team as he is a dual citizen of both his native countries.


Alison McGovern, British politician

Alison McGovern is a British Labour politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Birkenhead since 2024, and previously Wirral South since 2010. She served as Minister of State for Employment from 2024 to 2025 and currently serves as Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness.


30/12/1979

Michael Grimm, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Michael Joseph Grimm is an American singer-songwriter and winner of the fifth season of America's Got Talent.


30/12/1978

Devin Brown, American basketball player

Devin LaVell Brown is an American former professional basketball shooting guard who played 8 seasons in the National Basketball Association. Brown won an NBA championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs in 2005.


Tyrese Gibson, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor

Tyrese Darnell Gibson is an American R&B singer and actor from Los Angeles, California. He signed with RCA Records in 1998, and released his debut single "Nobody Else" in August of that year. It peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded his self-titled debut album (1998), which received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and spawned his second top 40 single, "Sweet Lady".


Phillips Idowu, English triple jumper

Phillips Olaosebikan Idowu, is a British athlete who specialised in the triple jump and was active at elite level between 2000 and 2014, with his greatest success coming between 2006 and 2011. He is a former World Outdoor (2009) and Indoor (2008), European Outdoor (2010) and Indoor (2007), Diamond League (2011) and Commonwealth Games (2006) triple jump champion. He was also a silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Idowu is a member of the London-based Belgrave Harriers athletics club and has been for much of his career.


Zbigniew Robert Promiński, Polish drummer

Zbigniew Robert Promiński, stage name Inferno, is a Polish heavy metal musician, best known as the drummer for extreme metal band Behemoth. He has also contributed to bands such as Azarath, Witchmaster, Damnation, Deus Mortem, Artrosis, Christ Agony, and Devilyn. Also, his endorsements include Paiste cymbals, Czarcie Kopyto pedals, Pearl drums, Evans Drumheads, and Vic Firth drumsticks.


Rob Scuderi, American ice hockey player

Robert John Scuderi is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman, currently serving as an assistant coach for the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators.


30/12/1977

Laila Ali, American boxer and actress

Laila Amaria Ali is an American television personality and retired professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007. During her career, from which she retired undefeated, she held the WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA female super middleweight titles, and the IWBF light heavyweight title. Ali is widely regarded by many within the sport as one of the greatest female professional boxers of all time. She is the daughter of boxer Muhammad Ali.


Glory Alozie, Nigerian-Spanish sprinter and hurdler

Gloria “Glory” Alozie Oluchi is a former track and field athlete competing mostly in hurdling. Born in Nigeria, she represented her country of birth and Spain.


Grant Balfour, Australian baseball player

Grant Robert Balfour is an Australian former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays, and Oakland Athletics. He is second all-time in saves and strikeouts among Australian MLB pitchers behind Liam Hendriks, and holds the Oakland Athletics consecutive save record at 44.


Saša Ilić, Serbian footballer and manager

Saša Ilić is a Serbian professional football manager, who is the head coach of Partizan, and a former player.


Kenyon Martin, American basketball player

Kenyon Lee Martin Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a power forward, he played for the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of China. He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was named the national college player of the year during his senior season. Martin was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. He was an NBA All-Star in 2004.


Lucy Punch, English actress

Lucy Punch is an English actress. She played the role of Amanda Hughes in the BBC sitcom Motherland (2016–2022) and its spin-off Amandaland (2025–present) which earned her a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance. Her film credits include Ella Enchanted (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Dinner for Schmucks, Bad Teacher (2011), and Into the Woods (2014). She has also appeared in the television series The Class (2006), A Series of Unfortunate Events (2018–2019) and Bloods (2021–2022).


Kazuyuki Toda, Japanese footballer

Kazuyuki Toda is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder or defender. He played for the Japan national team until 2002.


30/12/1976

Kastro, American rapper

Katari Terrance Cox, better known by his stage name Kastro, is an American rapper. A cousin of Tupac Shakur, Kastro would perform alongside him in the former's rap group, the Outlawz, and is featured on many of the late rapper's songs such as "Made Niggaz", and "Hail Mary". When he was in elementary school, he introduced his friend, and future Outlawz rapper, Malcolm Greenidge, later named E.D.I. Mean, to Tupac.


Patrick Kerney, American football player

Patrick Manning Kerney is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft with the 30th overall pick.


A. J. Pierzynski, American baseball player and sportscaster

Anthony John Pierzynski is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports presenter. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher with the Minnesota Twins (1998–2003), San Francisco Giants (2004), Chicago White Sox (2005–2012), Texas Rangers (2013), Boston Red Sox (2014), St. Louis Cardinals (2014) and Atlanta Braves (2015–2016). Pierzynski is one of only thirteen catchers in Major League history to reach 2,000 hits in his career.


30/12/1975

Scott Chipperfield, Australian footballer

Scott Kenneth Chipperfield is an Australian former soccer player who played as a midfielder for Wollongong Wolves, FC Basel, FC Aesch and the Australia national soccer team.


Tiger Woods, American golfer

Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and as one of the most famous athletes in modern history. Woods is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, holds numerous golf records, and is an inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame.


30/12/1974

Alexandro Alves do Nascimento, Brazilian footballer (died 2012)

Alexandro Alves do Nascimento was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a striker. He played in Brazil for Vitória, Palmeiras, Juventude (RS), Portuguesa (SP), Cruzeiro, Atlético Mineiro, Vasco da Gama, Boavista (RJ), Fortaleza, Chinese side Shenyang Ginde, in Germany for Hertha BSC, and in Greece for Kavala.


Dr. Jitheshji, Indian Speed Cartoonist and Pictorial Orator

S. Jithesh, popularly known as Dr. Jitheshji, is an Indian performing speed cartoonist and a former vice-chairman of the Kerala Cartoon Academy. He is considered the father of Speed Cartooning, having initiated and popularised concepts such as Speed Cartooning, Super-Speedy Cartooning, and Raptoon through his infotainment stage shows titled Varayarangu Raptoon Thriller.


30/12/1973

Jason Behr, American actor

Jason Behr is an American film and television actor. He first starred in the American television series Roswell, for which he was twice nominated for a Saturn Award, followed by roles in the films The Shipping News and the American remake of the Japanese horror film The Grudge. Behr has also had a series of guest appearances in various television shows like Step by Step, The Profiler, 7th Heaven, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and JAG and had recurring roles in the American television series Dawson's Creek and Breakout Kings.


Ato Boldon, Trinidadian runner, sportscaster, and politician

Ato Jabari Boldon is a Trinidadian former track and field athlete, politician, and four-time Olympic medal winner. He holds the Trinidad and Tobago national record in the 50, 60 and 200 metres events with times of 5.64, 6.49 and 19.77 seconds respectively, and also the Commonwealth Games record in the 100 m. He also held the 100 m national record at 9.86 s, having run it four times until Richard Thompson ran 9.85 s on 13 August 2011.


30/12/1972

Daniel Amokachi, Nigerian footballer and manager

Daniel Owefin Amokachi is a Nigerian football manager and former professional player.


Maureen Flannigan, American actress and producer

Maureen Flannigan is an American documentary filmmaker and former child actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as teenager Evie Ethel Garland on the fantasy sitcom Out of This World, which ran from 1987 to 1991.


Paul Keegan, Irish footballer

Paul Keegan is an Irish former professional footballer. Keegan was the first Irishman to play in Major League Soccer in the United States.


Dita Indah Sari, Indonesian trade union leader and activist

Dita Indah Sari is an Indonesian trade union and socialist activist. As a human rights campaigner during the Suharto regime, she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in 1996 on the charge of sedition. During her imprisonment, she was named a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.


30/12/1971

Sister Bliss, English keyboard player, songwriter, and producer

Ayalah Deborah Bentovim, better known by her stage name Sister Bliss, is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ and songwriter. In the studio, she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong as a member of the production duo Rollo & Sister Bliss; and she is particularly known as part of Faithless.


C. S. Lee, Korean-American actor

Charlie Seunghee Lee is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing forensics analyst Vince Masuka on the Showtime drama series Dexter.


Ricardo, Spanish footballer and manager

Ricardo López Felipe, known simply as Ricardo, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.


Daniel Sunjata, American actor

Daniel Sunjata Condon is an American actor. He is known for his role as Franco Rivera in the FX television series Rescue Me. Sunjata has received acclaim for his more recent role as Adam Karadec in the ABC television series High Potential.


30/12/1969

Emmanuel Clérico, French race car driver

Emmanuel Clérico is a French racing driver. A French F3 runner-up and International Formula 3000 front-runner in the 1990s, he was test driver for the Larrousse and Ligier Formula One teams. A graduate of ACO's driving school, he went on to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA GT Championship.


Dave England, American snowboarder and stuntman

David Joseph England is an American stunt performer, television personality, and former professional snowboarder. He is best known as one of the stars of the reality stunt show Jackass.


Jay Kay, English singer and songwriter

Jason "Jay" Kay is an English singer and songwriter. In 1992, he co-founded the acid jazz and funk band Jamiroquai, and he still serves as their lead vocalist. As of 2026, the band had sold more than 26 million albums internationally.


Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia

Kersti Kaljulaid is an Estonian politician who served as the fifth president of Estonia between 2016 and 2021, and was its first and only female head of state since the country declared independence in 1918. She was also the youngest president, aged 46 at the time of her election.


Michelle McGann, American golfer

Michelle McGann is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour.


Meredith Monroe, American actress

Meredith Leigh Monroe is an American actress best known for portraying Andie McPhee on Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003, her recurring role as Haley Hotchner on Criminal Minds and Carolyn Standall on 13 Reasons Why.


30/12/1968

Bryan Burk, American screenwriter and producer

Bryan Burk is an American film and television producer.


Adam Dale, Australian cricketer

Adam Craig Dale is an Australian former cricketer who played in two Test matches and 30 One Day Internationals between 1997 and 2000. He played in first-class and List A cricket for Queensland Bulls and in club cricket for North Melbourne Cricket Club, Heidelberg Cricket Club, Northcote Cricket Club, Old Paradians Cricket Club and Research Cricket Club. Dale was a part of the Australian team that won the 1999 Cricket World Cup.


Sandra Glover, American hurdler

Sandra Glover, née Cummings is an American former track and field athlete who competed in the 400-meter hurdles. She was a medalist in that event at the World Championships in Athletics in 2003 (silver) and 2005 (bronze). She also represented her country at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She was the national champion at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for four consecutive years from 1999 to 2002. She had five victories on the IAAF Golden League circuit during her career.


Albano Mucci, Australian activist

Albano Mucci, known as Al Mucci and Wildlife Al. Albano is a champion for environmental management and animal conservation and social justice for Australia's Indigenous Peoples.


30/12/1967

Carl Ouellet, Canadian wrestler and sportscaster

Carl Ouellet is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name PCO. He is known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and with World Championship Wrestling during the 1990s. Throughout the 1990s, he regularly teamed with Jacques Rougeau as the Quebecers and the Amazing French Canadians, winning the WWF Tag Team Championship on three occasions. After retiring in 2011, Ouellet returned to the ring in 2016, undergoing a career renaissance with the gimmick of PCO: "part beast-turned-man, part old-time strongman". From 2018 to 2021, Ouellet wrestled for Ring of Honor (ROH), where he was a ROH World Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion, and ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion. He joined TNA in 2022, winning the TNA Digital Media Championship before departing at the end of 2024.


30/12/1966

Gary Chartier, American philosopher, scholar, and academic

Gary William Chartier is an American legal scholar, philosopher, political theorist, and theologian. His work addresses anarchism and ethics. Chartier is a professor and serves as associate dean of La Sierra University's business school.


Bennett Miller, American director and producer

Bennett Altman Miller is an American film director who is known for having directed the films Capote (2005), Moneyball (2011), and Foxcatcher (2014). He has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Director.


30/12/1965

Heidi Fleiss, American procurer

Heidi Lynne Fleiss is an American former madam, media personality, and entrepreneur. In the earlier 90s, Fleiss ran an upscale prostitution ring based in Los Angeles, and is often referred to as the "Hollywood Madam". Fleiss also formerly worked as a columnist and was a television personality regularly featured in the 1990s American media.


30/12/1964

Almir Kayumov, Russian footballer and referee (died 2013)

Almir Izmailovich Kayumov was a Russian football player and referee.


Sylvie Moreau, Canadian actress and screenwriter

Sylvie Moreau, is a Canadian actress.


George Newbern, American actor

George Newbern is an American actor, best known for his roles as Charlie in the ABC show Scandal (2012–2018) and Bryan MacKenzie in Father of the Bride (1991) and its sequels Father of the Bride Part II (1995) and Father of the Bride Part 3(ish) (2020). He guest starred as Danny in Friends and had a recurring role as Julia's son Payne in Designing Women.


30/12/1963

Chandler Burr, American journalist and author

Chandler Burr is an American journalist, author, and museum curator.


Mike Pompeo, American diplomat and politician; 70th United States Secretary of State

Michael Richard Pompeo is an American politician, attorney, diplomat, and former U.S. Army officer who served in the first administration of Donald Trump as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018, and as the 70th United States secretary of state from 2018 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented Kansas's 4th district in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017.


Johnny Rogers, American-Spanish basketball player

John Bernard Rogers Bakker is a Spanish-American former professional basketball player. Rogers played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal and UC Irvine Anteaters. Listed at a height of 6'10" and 225 lbs., he played at the power forward position.


Milan Šrejber, Czech tennis player

Milan Šrejber is a former tennis player from Czechoslovakia, who represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. There he reached the semi-finals of the men's doubles competition, partnering Miloslav Mečíř. The pair was defeated by America's eventual winners Ken Flach and Robert Seguso, but still won the bronze medal. The right-hander won one career singles title, and reached his highest ATP singles ranking of World No. 23 in October 1986.


30/12/1961

Douglas Coupland, German-Canadian author and playwright

Douglas Coupland is a Canadian visual artist and writer. Trained originally as a sculptor, Coupland found unexpected success as a novelist with the publication of his 1991 international bestseller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, which popularized the terms Generation X and McJob. He has since gone on to publish dozens of books, including novels, short story collections, and essay collections. He has also worked as a columnist and contributor for a number of periodicals, including the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Guardian, and Wired Magazine.


Bill English, New Zealand farmer and politician, 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand

Sir Simon William English is a New Zealand former politician who served as the 39th prime minister of New Zealand from 2016 to 2017 and leader of the National Party from 2001 to 2003 and 2016 to 2018. He had previously served as the 17th deputy prime minister of New Zealand and minister of finance from 2008 to 2016 under John Key and the Fifth National Government.


Sean Hannity, American radio and television host

Sean Patrick Hannity is an American conservative television presenter, broadcaster and writer. He hosts The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show, has hosted a self-titled political commentary program on Fox News since 2009, and co-hosted the original Fox News debate show Hannity & Colmes with Alan Colmes from the network's founding in 1996 to 2009.


Ben Johnson, Jamaican-Canadian sprinter

Benjamin Sinclair Johnson, is a Canadian former sprinter. During the 1987–88 season he held the title of the world's fastest man, breaking both the 100 m and the 60 m indoor World Records. He won the 100 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, and again at the 1988 Summer Olympics, but was disqualified for doping and stripped of the gold medals. He was the first to beat the 9.9 and 9.8 seconds barrier.


Charlie Nicholas, Scottish footballer and sportscaster

Charles Nicholas is a Scottish former professional footballer. A striker, Nicholas is best known for his spells at Celtic and Arsenal. He won 20 international caps for Scotland, including playing at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.


30/12/1960

Richard M. Durbin, English biologist and academic

Richard Michael Durbin is a British computational biologist and Al-Kindi Professor of Genetics at the University of Cambridge. He also serves as an associate faculty member at the Wellcome Sanger Institute where he was previously a senior group leader.


30/12/1959

Antonio Pappano, English pianist and conductor

Sir Antonio Pappano is an English-Italian conductor and pianist. Between 2002 and 2024, he was the longest-serving music director of the Royal Opera House. Since 2024, he has served as chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.


Kåre Thomsen, Norwegian guitarist and graphic designer

Kåre Thomsen is a Norwegian Jazz musician (guitar) and graphic designer, known for a number of releases and is active on the Bergen jazz scene performing with musicians like Karl Seglem, Vigleik Storaas and Terje Isungset. He is the younger brother of the acclaimed Bergen guitarist Ole Thomsen.


Tracey Ullman, English-American actress, singer, director, and screenwriter

Tracey Ullman is a British and American actress, comedian, singer, dancer, screenwriter, producer, director, and author. Critics have lauded her ability to shift seamlessly between characters and accents, with many dubbing her the "female Peter Sellers".


Josée Verner, Canadian politician, 8th Canadian Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Josée Verner, is a Canadian politician. She represented the electoral district of Louis-Saint-Laurent in the House of Commons of Canada from 2006 to 2011 as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. She also served as a minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper serving as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie. On May 18, 2011, it was announced that she would be appointed to the Senate of Canada following the loss of her Commons seat in the 2011 federal election. She was formally appointed on June 13, 2011.


30/12/1958

Pedro Costa, Portuguese director, screenwriter, and cinematographer

Pedro Costa is a Portuguese film director. He is best known for his sequence of films set in the Greater Lisbon Area, focusing on the lives of the impoverished residents of a slum in the Fontainhas neighbourhood, in Amadora.


Steven Smith, American engineer and astronaut

Steven Lee Smith, is an American technology executive and a former NASA astronaut, being a veteran of four space flights covering 16 million miles and seven spacewalks, totaling 49 hours and 25 minutes. Smith's spacewalk time places him in 14th on the all-time American and World spacewalk duration lists.


30/12/1957

Matt Lauer, American journalist and television host

Matthew Todd Lauer is an American television news personality, best known for his work with NBC News. After serving as a local news personality, in New York City, on WNBC, his first national exposure was as the news anchor for NBC's Today, from 1994 to 1997. In 1997, Lauer was moved from the news desk to the host's chair. He was co-anchor of Today, from 1997 to 2017. He was also a frequent contributor to the evening news magazine Dateline NBC. With NBC, Lauer hosted the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and co-hosted the opening ceremonies of several Olympic Games.


Glenn Robbins, Australian comedian and actor

Glenn Maxwell Robbins is an Australian comedian, writer, actor, television and radio presenter. He is best known for The Comedy Company, portraying Kel Knight in Kath & Kim and adventurer Russell Coight in All Aussie Adventures. Robbins has appeared on The Panel, Thank God You're Here and Have You Been Paying Attention?.


30/12/1956

Ingus Baušķenieks, Latvian singer-songwriter and producer

Ingus Baušķenieks is a Latvian musician known as a member of Dzeltenie Pastnieki and as a solo artist. He is a multi-instrumentalist, with the bass guitar being his primary instrument in band engagements. He is also known for his proficiency in home recording and tape editing.


Suzy Bogguss, American country singer-songwriter and guitarist

Susan Kay Bogguss is an American country music singer and songwriter. She began her career in the 1980s as a solo singer. In the 1990s, six of her songs were Top 10 hits, three albums were certified gold, and one album received a platinum certification. She won Top New Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music and the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 16, 2026.


Patricia Kalember, American actress

Patricia Kalember is an American actress, best known for her role as Georgiana "Georgie" Reed Whitsig in the NBC drama series Sisters (1991–1996). Kalember also had the leading roles in a number of television films, co-starred in the feature films, including Fletch Lives (1989), Jacob's Ladder (1990), A Far Off Place (1993), Signs (2002), The Company Men (2010), and Limitless (2011), and recurring roles in thirtysomething (1989–1991) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2004–2010).


Sheryl Lee Ralph, American actress and singer

Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress and singer. Known for her performances on stage and screen, she earned acclaim for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since 2021, she has starred as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022, becoming the first Black woman in 35 years to win the award.


30/12/1954

Barry Greenstein, American poker player and philanthropist

Barry Greenstein is an American professional poker player and former mathematics postgraduate student. He has won a number of major events, including three at the World Series of Poker and two on the World Poker Tour. Greenstein donates part of his profit from tournament winnings to charities, primarily Children Incorporated, earning him the nickname "the Robin Hood of poker". He was elected into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2011.


30/12/1953

Daniel T. Barry, American engineer and astronaut

Daniel Thomas Barry is an American engineer, scientist, television personality, and a retired NASA astronaut. He was a contestant on the CBS reality television program Survivor: Panama, as well as on BattleBots on ABC. He was at Singularity University from 2009 to 2012, where he was co-chair of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and the chair of the graduate summer program. He is also a co-founder of Fellow AI, a telepresence robotics company, and the founder and president of Denbar Robotics.


Dana Key, American singer, guitarist, and producer (died 2010)

Dana Key was an American Christian rock guitarist, singer, and producer who was co-founder of the Christian rock group DeGarmo and Key with keyboardist Eddie DeGarmo, best friends since the first grade. Key grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, meeting DeGarmo in the 1st grade. The two grew up together in the same neighborhood. Key was a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key, the author of The Star-Spangled Banner.


Graham Vick, English director and producer (died 2021)

Sir Graham Vick was an English opera director known for his experimental and revisionist stagings of traditional and modern operas. He worked in many of the world's leading opera houses and was artistic director of the Birmingham Opera Company.


Meredith Vieira, American journalist and game show host

Meredith Louise Vieira is an American broadcast journalist and television personality. She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show The View (1997–2006), the original host of the syndicated daytime version of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2002–2013), and as co-host of the NBC morning news program Today (2006–2011). As of 2019, she hosts the syndicated weekday game show 25 Words or Less.


30/12/1952

June Anderson, American soprano and actress

June Anderson is an American dramatic coloratura soprano. She is known for bel canto performances of Rossini, Donizetti, and Vincenzo Bellini.


30/12/1951

Doug Allder, English footballer and coach

Douglas Stewart Allder is an English former professional footballer who made over 200 appearances in the Football League for Millwall as a left winger. He was capped by England at youth level and is a member of the Millwall Hall of Fame.


Chris Jasper, American musician, singer-songwriter, and producer (died 2025)

Christopher Howard Jasper was an American singer, composer and producer. Jasper was a member of the Isley Brothers from 1973 to 1983, and Isley-Jasper-Isley from 1984 to 1987. He was also a successful solo musician and record producer, recording over 17 of his own solo albums, including four urban contemporary gospel albums, all written, produced and performed, both vocally and instrumentally, by Jasper.


Nick Rose, English runner

Nicholas Henry Rose is a British former international track and field athlete. He competed in a variety of middle-distance and long-distance running events and participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics and the 1984 Summer Olympics. He set the world record in the half-marathon in 1979.


30/12/1950

Timothy Mo, Chinese-English author

Timothy Peter Mo is a British Asian novelist. Born to a British mother and a Hong Kong father, Mo lived in Hong Kong until the age of 10, when he moved to Britain. Educated at Mill Hill School and St John's College, Oxford, Mo worked as a journalist before becoming a novelist.


Lewis Shiner, American journalist and author

Lewis Shiner is an American writer.


Bjarne Stroustrup, Danish computer scientist, created the C++ programming language

Bjarne Stroustrup is a Danish computer scientist, known for the development of the C++ programming language. He led the Large-scale Programming Research department at Bell Labs, served as a professor of computer science at Texas A&M University, and spent over a decade at Morgan Stanley while also being a visiting professor at Columbia University. Since 2022 he has been a full professor at Columbia.


Martti Vainio, Finnish runner

Martti Olavi Vainio is a Finnish former long-distance runner. In Finland he is recognized as the last of the great runners of the famous "V-line", the previous ones being Juha Väätäinen, Lasse Virén, and Pekka Vasala. Each of them won at least one gold medal either at the Summer Olympics or the European Athletics Championships in the 1970s. Vainio's accomplishments are tarnished though, for testing positive for PEDs on at least two occasions. One of those events was the 1984 Olympic Games where he was disqualified and stripped of his medal and later suspended from sport.


30/12/1949

David Bedford, English runner

David Colin Bedford OBE is an English former long-distance runner, whose athletic career spanned the early 1970s. Post-retirement, he served as race director of the London Marathon until 2012, and is the Chairman of the IAAF Road Running Commission, as well as sitting on the IAAF Cross Country Committee as the UK Athletics elected representative.


Jerry Coyne, American biologist and author

Jerry Allen Coyne is an American biologist and skeptic known for his work on speciation and his commentary on intelligent design. A professor emeritus of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago, he has published on the theory of evolution. His concentration is speciation and ecological and evolutionary genetics, particularly as they involve the fruit fly, Drosophila. In 2023 he became a fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.


Jim Flaherty, Canadian lawyer and politician, 37th Canadian Minister of Finance (died 2014)

James Michael Flaherty was a Canadian politician who served as the federal minister of finance from 2006 to 2014 under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.


30/12/1948

Jed Johnson, American interior designer and director (died 1996)

Jed Johnson was an American interior designer and film director. He first came to prominence through his close association with pop artist Andy Warhol before becoming recognized for his influential design work. The New York Times hailed him as "one of the most celebrated interior designers of our time."


30/12/1947

James Kahn, American author, screenwriter, and producer

James Kahn is an American medical specialist and writer, best known for his novelization of Return of the Jedi. Born in Chicago, Kahn received a degree in medical studies from the University of Chicago. His post-graduate training, specializing in Emergency Medicine, was completed at USC–LA County Hospital and UCLA. His original work includes three novels in the New World series: World Enough, and Time (1980), Time's Dark Laughter (1982), and Timefall (1987). As well as Return of the Jedi, he wrote the novelizations of the films Poltergeist and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. He has also written for well-known television series such as Melrose Place and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was the producer of Melrose Place from 1996 to 1998.


Jeff Lynne, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Jeffrey Lynne is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is the co-founder and only consistent member of the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), which was formed in 1970. He has written all of the band's music since 1972, including hits such as "Evil Woman", "Livin' Thing", "Telephone Line", "Mr. Blue Sky", "Don't Bring Me Down", and "Hold On Tight". He also has had a solo career, with two albums: Armchair Theatre (1990) and Long Wave (2012).


Steve Mix, American basketball player and coach

Steven Charles Mix, nicknamed "the Mayor", is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Mix had a thirteen-year playing career, was an NBA All-Star and played in the NBA Finals on four occasions. He later had a lengthy career as a broadcaster for the Philadelphia 76ers.


30/12/1946

Clive Bunker, English drummer and songwriter

Clive William Bunker is an English rock drummer. He is best known as the original drummer of Jethro Tull, playing in the band from 1967 until 1971. Never a self-professed technical drummer, Bunker engaged with the essence of blues and rock 'n' roll, influenced by Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell. He was also inspired by Buddy Rich and the Hollies' Bobby Elliott.


Patti Smith, American singer-songwriter and poet

Patricia Lee Smith is an American singer, songwriter, poet, and author. Her 1975 debut album Horses made her an influential member of the New York City–based punk rock movement. Smith has fused rock and poetry in her work. In 1978, her most widely known song, "Because the Night," co-written with Bruce Springsteen, reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number five on the UK Singles Chart.


Berti Vogts, German footballer and coach

Hans-Hubert "Berti" Vogts is a German former football manager and player. A defender, he played for Borussia Mönchengladbach his whole club career and won the FIFA World Cup with West Germany in 1974. Vogts later managed Germany, winning the UEFA European Championship in 1996.


30/12/1945

Davy Jones, English singer-songwriter and actor (died 2012)

David Thomas Jones was an English musician and actor. Best known as a member of the American pop rock band the Monkees and a co-star of the TV series The Monkees (1966–1968), Jones was considered a teen idol.


Lloyd Kaufman, American director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded Troma Entertainment

Stanley Lloyd Kaufman Jr. is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and actor. Alongside producer Michael Herz, he is the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio, and the director of many of their feature films, such as The Toxic Avenger (1984) and Tromeo and Juliet (1996). Many of the strategies employed by him at Troma have been credited with making the film industry significantly more accessible and decentralized.


Paola Pigni, Italian runner (died 2021)

Paola Pigni was an Italian middle- and long-distance runner. She was a three-time world champion in cross country and held the world record over five distance running events on the track, from 1,500m to 10,000m.


Concetta Tomei, American actress

Concetta Tomei is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Major Lila Garreau on the ABC drama series China Beach (1988–1991) and as Lynda Hansen on the NBC medical drama series Providence (1999–2002).


30/12/1944

William J. Fallon, American admiral

William Joseph Fallon is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who retired after serving for over 41 years. His last military assignment was as Commander, U.S. Central Command from March 2007 to March 2008. ADM Fallon was the first Navy officer to hold that position. His other four-star assignments include Commander, U.S. Pacific Command from February 2005 to March 2007, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command from October 2003 to February 2005, and 31st vice chief of Naval Operations from October 2000 to August 2003. On 11 March 2008, he announced his resignation from CENTCOM and retirement from active duty, citing administrative complications caused in part by an article in Esquire Magazine, which described him as the only thing standing between the Bush Administration and war with Iran.


Joseph Hilbe, American mathematician and philosopher (died 2017)

Joseph Michael Hilbe was an American statistician and philosopher, founding President of the International Astrostatistics Association (IAA) and one of the most prolific authors of books on statistical modeling in the early twenty-first century. Hilbe was an elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association as well as an elected member of the International Statistical Institute (ISI), for which he founded the ISI astrostatistics committee in 2009. Hilbe was also a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and Full Member of the American Astronomical Society.


30/12/1942

Vladimir Bukovsky, Russian author and activist (died 2019)

Vladimir Konstantinovich Bukovsky was a Soviet and Russian human rights activist and writer. From the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, he was a prominent figure in the Soviet dissident movement, well known at home and abroad. He spent a total of twelve years in the psychiatric prison-hospitals, labour camps, and prisons of the Soviet Union during Brezhnev's rule.


Guy Edwards, English race car driver

Guy Richard Goronwy Edwards, QGM was a British racing driver. Best known for his sportscar and British Formula One career, as well as for brokering sponsorship deals, Edwards participated in 17 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 13 January 1974. He scored no championship points.


Michael Nesmith, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (died 2021)

Robert Michael Nesmith was an American musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and actor, known as a member of The Monkees and for his solo work. His songwriting credits with The Monkees include "Mary, Mary", "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", "Tapioca Tundra", "Circle Sky" and "Listen to the Band". Additionally, his song "Different Drum" became a hit for the Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt.


Janko Prunk, Slovenian historian, academic, and politician

Janko Prunk is a Slovenian historian of modern history. He has published articles and monographs on analytical politology, modern history, the genesis of modern political formations, and the history of social and political philosophy in Slovenia. He has also written on the history of political movements in Europe from the end of the 18th century until today, especially about Slovene Christian socialism and the history of Slovenian national questions.


Robert Quine, American guitarist (died 2004)

Robert Wolfe Quine was an American guitarist. A native of Akron, Ohio, Quine worked with a wide range of musicians, though he himself remained relatively unknown. Critic Mark Deming wrote that "Quine's eclectic style embraced influences from jazz, rock, and blues players of all stripes, and his thoughtful technique and uncompromising approach led to rewarding collaborations with a number of visionary musicians."


Toomas Savi, Estonian physician and politician

Toomas Savi is an Estonian politician and in 2004-2009 was a Member of the European Parliament for the Estonian Reform Party, part of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.


Fred Ward, American actor (died 2022)

Freddie Joe Ward was an American character actor. Starting with a role in an Italian television movie in 1973, he appeared in such diverse films as Escape from Alcatraz (1979), The Right Stuff (1983), Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), Tremors (1990) and Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996), Miami Blues (1990), The Player (1992), Short Cuts (1993), Road Trip (2000), and 30 Minutes or Less (2011).


30/12/1941

Mel Renfro, American football player and coach

Melvin Lacy Renfro is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 14-year career as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.


30/12/1940

James Burrows, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

James Edward Burrows was an American television director. He received numerous accolades, including 11 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards. He was honored with the Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 and the NBC special Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows in 2016.


30/12/1939

Glenda Adams, Australian author and academic (died 2007)

Glenda Emilie Adams was an Australian novelist and short story writer, probably best known as the winner of the 1987 Miles Franklin Award for Dancing on Coral. She was a teacher of creative writing, and helped develop writing programs.


Felix Pappalardi, American singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer (died 1983)

Felix Albert Pappalardi Jr. was an American music producer, songwriter, vocalist, and bassist. He is best known as the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the band Mountain, whose song "Mississippi Queen" peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a classic rock radio staple.


30/12/1938

Ron Wolf, American Football Hall of Fame General Manager

Ronald Wolf is an American former professional football executive who was a general manager (GM) of the National Football League (NFL)'s Green Bay Packers. Wolf is widely credited with bringing success to a Packers franchise that had rarely won during the two decades prior to Wolf joining the organization. He also played a significant role in personnel operations with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1963 to 1975 and again from 1978 to 1990. He joined Green Bay's front office in November 1991 from a personnel director's job with the New York Jets. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2015.


30/12/1937

Gordon Banks, English footballer and manager (died 2019)

Gordon Banks was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he made 679 appearances during a 20-year professional career, and won 73 caps for England, highlighted by starting every game of the nation's 1966 World Cup victory.


John Hartford, American singer-songwriter and fiddler (died 2001)

John Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country, and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore. His most successful song is "Gentle on My Mind", which won three Grammy Awards and was listed in "BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century". Hartford performed with a variety of ensembles throughout his career, and is perhaps best known for his solo performances where he would interchange the guitar, banjo, and fiddle from song to song. He also invented his own shuffle tap dance move, and clogged on an amplified piece of plywood while he played and sang.


Jim Marshall, American football player (died 2025)

James Lawrence Marshall was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. He recovered an NFL career-record 29 opponents' fumbles. He also holds the league career marks for most consecutive starts (270) and most games played (282) by a defensive player. The Vikings retired his No. 70, and he was inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor.


Paul Stookey, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Noel Paul Stookey is an American singer-songwriter and activist who is known for being a member of the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary along with Peter Yarrow and Mary Travers. Following the deaths of Travers in 2009 and Yarrow in 2025, Stookey is the sole surviving member of the group. He continues to work as a solo artist and an activist.


30/12/1935

Omar Bongo, Gabonese lieutenant and politician, President of Gabon (died 2009)

Omar Bongo Ondimba was a Gabonese politician who was the second president of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009. A member of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), Bongo was promoted to key positions as a young official under Gabon's first President Léon M'ba in the 1960s, before being elected the second vice president in his own right in 1966. In 1967, after M'ba's death, he became the country's president.


Sandy Koufax, American baseball player and sportscaster

Sanford Koufax, nicknamed "the Left Arm of God", is an American former professional baseball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, he played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Koufax was the first three-time winner of the Cy Young Award, each time winning unanimously and the only pitcher to do so when a single award was given for both leagues; he was also named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1963. Retiring at age 30 due to chronic pain in his pitching elbow, Koufax was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 at age 36, the youngest player ever elected.


Jack Riley, American actor (died 2016)

John Albert Riley Jr. was an American actor, comedian and writer, best known for his comedic roles. He is known for playing Elliot Carlin, a chronic psychology client of Bob Newhart's character on The Bob Newhart Show, and for voicing Stu Pickles, one of the parents in the animated Rugrats franchise.


30/12/1934

John N. Bahcall, American astrophysicist and astronomer, co-developed the Hubble Space Telescope (died 2005)

John Norris Bahcall was an American astrophysicist and the Richard Black Professor for Astrophysics at the Institute for Advanced Study. He was known for a wide range of contributions to solar, galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, including the solar neutrino problem, the development of the Hubble Space Telescope, and his leadership and development of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.


Joseph Bologna, American actor, director, playwright and screenwriter (died 2017)

Joseph Bologna was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter notable for his roles in the comedy films My Favorite Year, Blame It on Rio, Big Daddy, and Transylvania 6-5000.


Barry Briggs, New Zealand motorcycle racer and sportscaster

Barry Briggs is a New Zealand former speedway rider.


Joseph P. Hoar, American general (died 2022)

Joseph Paul Hoar was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. He served as Commander in Chief of United States Central Command from 1991 to 1994, retiring from the Marine Corps on September 1, 1994.


Tony Serra, American criminal defense and civil rights attorney, political activist and tax resister

Joseph Tony Serra is an American criminal defense and civil rights attorney, political activist and tax resister from San Francisco.


Del Shannon, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1990)

Charles Weedon Westover, known professionally as Del Shannon, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his 1961 number-one Billboard hit "Runaway", which was covered later by various major artists, including Elvis Presley and the Traveling Wilburys. In 1999, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to his music career, he had minor acting roles.


Russ Tamblyn, American actor

Russell Irving Tamblyn, also known as Rusty Tamblyn, is an American film and television actor and dancer.


30/12/1933

Timité Bassori, Ivorian filmmaker, actor, and writer

Timité Bassori is an Ivorian filmmaker, actor, and writer. His only feature-length film, The Woman with the Knife (1969), is considered a classic of African cinema.


30/12/1931

Skeeter Davis, American singer-songwriter (died 2004)

Skeeter Davis was an American country music singer and songwriter who sang crossover pop music songs including 1962's "The End of the World". She started out as part of the Davis Sisters as a teenager in the late 1940s, eventually recording for RCA Victor. In the late 1950s, she became a solo star.


John T. Houghton, Welsh physicist and author (died 2020)

Sir John Theodore Houghton was a Welsh atmospheric physicist who was the co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) scientific assessment working group which shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with Al Gore. He was lead editor of the first three IPCC reports. He was professor in atmospheric physics at the University of Oxford, former Director General at the Met Office and founder of the Hadley Centre.


Frank Torre, American baseball player and manager (died 2014)

Frank Joseph Torre was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman. Torre, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the Milwaukee Braves (1956–60) and Philadelphia Phillies (1962–63). He was the older brother of Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe Torre, himself a former Major League Baseball player and longtime manager. Torre attended James Madison High School in his native Brooklyn, New York.


30/12/1930

Roy Yorke Calne, English surgeon and academic (died 2024)

Sir Roy Yorke Calne was a British surgeon and pioneer in organ transplantation. He was part of the team that performed the first liver transplantation operation in Europe in 1968, the world's first liver, heart and lung transplantation in 1987, the first intestinal transplant in the UK in 1992 and the first successful combined stomach, intestine, pancreas, liver and kidney cluster transplantation in 1994.


Elmira Minita Gordon, Belizean educator, 1st Governor-General of Belize (died 2021)

Dame Elmira Minita Gordon was a Belizean educator, psychologist and politician; she served as the first governor general of Belize from its independence in 1981 until 1993. She was the first Belizean to receive a doctorate in psychology. She is one of the few "double dames", having received damehoods in two separate orders: the Order of St Michael and St George and the Royal Victorian Order.


Red Rhodes, American pedal steel guitarist (died 1995)

Orville J. Rhodes, better known as Red Rhodes or O. J. Rhodes, was an American pedal steel guitarist.


Tu Youyou, Chinese chemist and pharmacist, Nobel Prize laureate

Tu Youyou is a Nobel Prize-winning Chinese malariologist and pharmaceutical chemist. She discovered artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin, used to treat malaria, a breakthrough in twentieth-century tropical medicine, saving millions of lives in South China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.


30/12/1929

Rosalinde Hurley, English physician, microbiologist, and academic (died 2004)

Dame Rosalinde Hurley, Mrs Gortvai, was a British physician, microbiologist, pathologist, public health and medical administrator, ethicist and barrister. She was knighted in 1988 for her services to medicine and public health.


30/12/1928

Bo Diddley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2008)

Ellas Otha Bates, known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, George Thorogood, Syd Barrett, Tom Petty, and the Clash.


30/12/1927

Jan Kubíček, Czech painter and sculptor (died 2013)

Jan Kubíček was a Czech painter and printmaker, and one of the most radical Central European exponents of constructivist and concrete art. He also spent more than a decade illustrating children's books for Czechoslovakia's main publishing house Albatros and designed iconic film posters and book covers throughout the 1960s. Moreover, having passed through a significant Lettrism phase during the early 1960s, he left behind an impressive body of photographs, illustrations and graphic art for which he received the 1999 Vladimír Boudník Award.


30/12/1926

Stan Tracey, English pianist and composer (died 2013)

Stanley William Tracey was a British jazz pianist and composer, whose most important influences were Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. Tracey's best known recording is the 1965 album Jazz Suite Inspired by Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood", which is based on the BBC radio drama Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas.


30/12/1925

Ian MacNaughton, Scottish actor, producer, and director (died 2002)

Edward Ian MacNaughton was a Scottish actor, television producer and director, best known for his work with the Monty Python team.


30/12/1924

Yvonne Brill, Canadian-American propulsion engineer (died 2013)

Yvonne Madelaine Brill was a Canadian American rocket and jet propulsion engineer. She is responsible for inventing the Electrothermal Hydrazine Thruster (EHT/Resistojet), a fuel-efficient rocket thruster that keeps today’s satellites in orbit, and holds a patent for its invention. During her career she was involved in a broad range of national space programs in the United States, including NASA and the International Maritime Satellite Organization.


30/12/1923

Prakash Vir Shastri, Indian academic and politician (died 1977)

Prakash Vir Shastri was a Member of the Parliament of India (Sansad) and was also a leader in the Arya Samaj movement.


30/12/1922

Jane Langton, American author and illustrator (died 2018)

Jane Gillson Langton was an American author of children's literature and mystery novels. She also illustrated her novels.


30/12/1921

Rashid Karami, Lebanese lawyer and politician, 32nd Prime Minister of Lebanon (died 1987)

Rashid Karami was a Lebanese statesman. He is considered one of the most important political figures in Lebanon for more than 30 years, including during much of the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), and served as prime minister eight times, according to the Guinness Book of World Records this would make him the most elected democratic prime minister in history. He was assassinated in 1987.


30/12/1919

Dick Spooner, English cricketer (died 1997)

Richard Thompson Spooner was an English cricketer who played for Warwickshire and England.


David Willcocks, English organist, composer, and conductor (died 2015)

Sir David Valentine Willcocks, was a British choral conductor, organist, composer and music administrator. He was particularly well known for his association with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, which he directed from 1957 to 1974, making frequent broadcasts and recordings. Several of the descants and carol arrangements he wrote for the annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols were published in the series of books Carols for Choirs which he edited along with Reginald Jacques and John Rutter. He was also director of the Royal College of Music in London.


30/12/1917

Seymour Melman, American engineer and author (died 2004)

Seymour Melman was an American professor emeritus of industrial engineering and operations research at Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.


30/12/1914

Bert Parks, American actor, singer, television personality, and beauty pageant host (died 1992)

Bert Parks was an American actor, singer, and radio and television announcer, best known for hosting the annual Miss America telecast from 1955 to 1979.


30/12/1913

Lucio Agostini, Italian-Canadian conductor and composer (died 1996)

Lucio Agostini was an Italian-born composer, arranger, and conductor who established his career in Canada.


Elyne Mitchell, Australian author (died 2002)

Elyne Mitchell, OAM was an Australian author noted for the Silver Brumby series of children's novels. Her nonfiction works draw on family history and culture.


30/12/1911

Jeanette Nolan, American actress (died 1998)

Jeanette Nolan was an American actress. Nominated for four Emmy Awards, she had roles in the television series The Virginian (1962–1971) and Dirty Sally (1974) and in films such as Macbeth (1948).


30/12/1910

Paul Bowles, American composer and author (died 1999)

Paul Frederic Bowles was an American composer, author, and translator. He became associated with the Moroccan city of Tangier, where he settled in 1947 and lived for 52 years to the end of his life.


30/12/1906

Alziro Bergonzo, Italian architect and painter (died 1997)

Alziro Bergonzo was an Italian architect and painter. His primary style was the rationalized Stile Littorio.


Carol Reed, English director and producer (died 1976)

Sir Carol Reed was an English film director and producer. Considered one of the most foremost British filmmakers of the post-World War II era, he achieved prominence in the late 1940s for his film noir thrillers Odd Man Out (1947), The Fallen Idol (1948), and The Third Man (1949). Odd Man Out was the first recipient of the BAFTA Award for Best British Film. The Fallen Idol won the second BAFTA Award for Best British Film. The British Film Institute voted The Third Man the greatest British film of the 20th century.


30/12/1905

Daniil Kharms, Russian poet, author, and playwright (died 1942)

Daniil Ivanovich Kharms was a Russian avant-gardist and absurdist poet, writer and dramatist in the early Soviet era.


30/12/1904

Dmitry Kabalevsky, Russian composer and academic (died 1987)

Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky was a Soviet composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue of Russian gentry descent.


30/12/1899

Helge Ingstad, Norwegian explorer, lawyer, and politician, 2nd Governor of Svalbard (died 2001)

Helge Marcus Ingstad was a Norwegian explorer. In 1960, after mapping some Norse settlements, Ingstad and his wife archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad found remnants of a Viking settlement in L'Anse aux Meadows in the province of Newfoundland in Canada. They were thus the first to prove conclusively that the Icelandic/Greenlandic Norsemen such as Leif Erickson had found a way across the Atlantic Ocean to North America, roughly 500 years before Christopher Columbus and John Cabot. He also thought that the mysterious disappearance of the Greenland Norse Settlements in the 14th and 15th centuries could be explained by their emigration to North America.


30/12/1897

Alfredo Bracchi, Italian songwriter and screenwriter (died 1976)

Alfredo Bracchi was a versatile Italian writer, whose production ranged from song lyrics to movie scripts.


30/12/1890

Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, Mexican soldier and politician, 47th President of Mexico (died 1973)

Adolfo Tomás Ruiz Cortines was a Mexican politician who served as President of Mexico from 1952 to 1958. A member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), he previously served as Governor of Veracruz and Secretary of the Interior. During his presidency, which constituted the Mexican Miracle, women gained the right to vote, and he instituted numerous public health, education, infrastructure, and works projects.


30/12/1887

William Kolehmainen, Finnish-American runner and coach (died 1967)

August William Kolehmainen, known in Finland as Viljami Kolehmainen, was a Finnish-American long-distance runner and track and field coach. The brother of fellow runners Hannes and Tatu, William Kolehmainen moved to the United States in 1910 and became a professional runner there, setting a long-standing marathon world best in 1912.


K. M. Munshi, Indian politician, writer and educationist, founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (died 1971)

Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, popularly known by his pen name Ghanshyam Vyas, was an Indian independence movement activist, politician, writer from Gujarat state. A lawyer by profession, he later turned to author and politician. He is a well-known name in Gujarati literature. He founded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, an educational trust, in 1938.


30/12/1886

Austin Osman Spare, English artist and occultist (died 1956)

Austin Osman Spare was an English artist and occultist who worked as a draughtsman, writer and painter. Influenced by symbolism and Art Nouveau, his art was known for its clear use of line and its depiction of monstrous and sexual imagery. In an occult capacity, he developed magical techniques including automatic writing, automatic drawing and sigilization based on his theories of the relationship between the conscious and unconscious self.


30/12/1884

Hideki Tōjō, Japanese general and politician, 40th Prime Minister of Japan (died 1948)

Hideki Tojo was a Japanese military officer and politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1941 to 1944 during World War II. His leadership was marked by widespread state violence and mass killings perpetrated in the name of Japanese nationalism.


30/12/1883

Archer Baldwin, American-English farmer and politician (died 1966)

Sir Archer Ernest Baldwin MC was a farmer and British Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP).


Lester Patrick, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (died 1960)

Curtis Lester Patrick was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with his brother Frank Patrick and father Joseph Patrick, he founded the PCHA and helped develop several rules for the game of hockey. Patrick won the Stanley Cup six times as a player, coach and manager.


30/12/1879

Ramana Maharshi, Indian guru and philosopher (died 1950)

Ramana Maharshi was an Indian Hindu sage widely regarded by his followers and by "most advocates of Advaita" as a jivanmukta. He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is mostly known by the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.


30/12/1878

William Aberhart, Canadian evangelist and politician, seventh Premier of Alberta (died 1943)

William Aberhart, also known as "Bible Bill" for his radio sermons about the Bible, was a Canadian politician and the seventh premier of Alberta from 1935 to his death in 1943. He was the founder and first leader of the Alberta Social Credit Party, which believed the Great Depression was caused by ordinary people not having enough to spend. Therefore, Aberhart argued that the government should give each Albertan $25 per month to spend to stimulate the economy, by providing needed purchasing power to allow needy customers to buy from waiting businesses.


30/12/1873

Al Smith, American lawyer and politician, 42nd Governor of New York (died 1944)

Alfred Emanuel Smith was an American politician who served as the 42nd governor of New York from 1919 to 1920 and again from 1923 to 1928. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's presidential nominee in the 1928 presidential election, losing to Republican nominee Herbert Hoover in a landslide.


30/12/1869

Stephen Leacock, English-Canadian political scientist and author (died 1944)

Stephen Butler Leacock was a Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humourist. From 1915 to 1925, he was the best-known English-speaking humourist in the world.


Ōzutsu Man'emon, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 18th Yokozuna (died 1918)

Ōzutsu Man'emon was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture. He was the sport's 18th yokozuna.


30/12/1865

Rudyard Kipling, Indian-English author and poet, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1936)

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English journalist, novelist, poet and short-story writer. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work.


30/12/1857

Sylvio Lazzari, French-Austrian composer (died 1944)

Sylvio Lazzari was a French composer of Austrian and Italian origin.


30/12/1853

André Messager, French pianist, composer, and conductor (died 1929)

André Charles Prosper Messager was a French composer, organist, pianist and conductor. His compositions include eight ballets and thirty opéras comiques, opérettes and other stage works, among which his ballet Les Deux Pigeons (1886) and opéra comique Véronique (1898) have had lasting success; Les p'tites Michu (1897) and Monsieur Beaucaire (1919) were also popular internationally.


30/12/1851

Asa Griggs Candler, American businessman and politician, 44th Mayor of Atlanta (died 1929)

Asa Griggs Candler Sr. was an American business magnate and politician who in 1888 purchased the Coca-Cola recipe for $2300 from chemist John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. Candler founded the Coca-Cola Company in 1892 and developed it as a major company.


30/12/1849

John Milne, English seismologist and geologist (died 1913)

John Milne was a British geologist and mining engineer who worked on a horizontal seismograph.


30/12/1842

Osman Hamdi Bey, Ottoman administrator, intellectual, art expert and painter (died 1910)

Osman Hamdi Bey was an Ottoman Greek administrator, intellectual, art expert and also a prominent and pioneering painter. He was the Ottoman Empire's first archaeologist and first museologist and he is regarded as the founding father of museology, archaeology, fine arts education and museum curator's professions in Turkey.


30/12/1825

Samuel Newitt Wood, American lawyer and politician (died 1891)

Samuel Newitt Wood was an American attorney, newspaper editor, and member of the Kansas House of Representatives. He was also a Free State advocate in Kansas and an early supporter of Women's Suffrage. Wood was a speaker at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Convention in 1856 that established the Republican party. He was assassinated in 1891 in a bitter fight over the naming of a new county seat in the state's southwestern corner.


30/12/1819

Theodor Fontane, German author and poet (died 1898)

Theodor Fontane was a German novelist and poet, regarded by many as the most important 19th-century German-language realist author. He published the first of his novels, for which he is best known today, only at age 58 after a career as a journalist. Many of his novels delve into topics that were more or less taboo for discussion in the polite society of Fontane's day, including marital infidelity, class differences, urban vs. rural differences, abandonment of children, and suicide. His novels sold well during his lifetime and several have been adapted for film or audio works.


John W. Geary, American lawyer and politician, 16th Governor of Pennsylvania (died 1873)

John White Geary was an American lawyer, politician, Freemason, and a Union general in the American Civil War. He was the final alcalde and first mayor of San Francisco, a governor of the Kansas Territory, and the 16th governor of Pennsylvania.


30/12/1792

Sylvester Jordan, German lawyer and politician (died 1861)

Franz Sylvester Jordan (1792–1861) was a German politician and lawyer.


30/12/1760

Charles Sapinaud de La Rairie, French general (died 1829)

Charles Henri Félicité Sapinaud de la Rairie was a French soldier and Vendéen general during the war in the Vendée.


30/12/1757

Sebastián Kindelán y O'Regan, colonial governor of East Florida, Santo Domingo and Cuba (died 1826)

Sebastian Kindelán y O'Regan, also called Sebastián de Kindelán y Oregón, was a colonel in the Spanish Army who served as governor of East Florida and of Santo Domingo during the Second Spanish period (1818–1821), as well as provisional governor of Cuba (1822–1823).


30/12/1724

Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée, French painter and educator (died 1805)

Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée was a French rococo painter and student of Carle van Loo. He won the Grand Prix de Rome for painting in 1749 and was elected a member of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1755. His younger brother Jean-Jacques Lagrenée was also a painter.


30/12/1722

Charles Yorke, English lawyer and politician, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain (died 1770)

Charles Yorke PC was a British lawyer and politician who briefly served as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. His father was also Lord Chancellor, and he began his career as a Member of Parliament. He served successively as Solicitor-General and Attorney-General for several governments, during which he was best known for writing what became the Quebec Act. He was appointed Lord Chancellor over his objections, but he committed suicide only three days after taking the post.


30/12/1678

William Croft, English organist and composer (died 1727)

William Croft was an English composer and organist.


30/12/1673

Ahmed III, Ottoman sultan (died 1736)

Ahmed III was sultan of the Ottoman Empire and a son of sultan Mehmed IV. His mother was Gülnuş Sultan, originally named Evmania Voria, who was an ethnic Greek. He was born at Hacıoğlu Pazarcık, in Dobruja. He succeeded to the throne in 1703 on the abdication of his brother Mustafa II (1695–1703). Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha and the Sultan's daughter, Fatma Sultan directed the government from 1718 to 1730, a period referred to as the Tulip Era.


30/12/1642

Vincenzo da Filicaja, Italian poet (died 1707)

Vincenzo da Filicaja was a poet and politician, citizen of Grand Duchy of Tuscany. His poetry was compared to that of Petrarch, and his association with the Accademia della Crusca gave him access to royal patronage. He served as governor of Volterra and Pisa, successively, and finally in the Tuscan Senate.


30/12/1578

Ulrik of Denmark, Danish prince-bishop (died 1624)

Prince Ulrik John of Denmark, was a son of King Frederick II of Denmark and his consort, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. As the second-born son he bore the merely titular rank of Duke of Holstein and Schleswig, Stormarn and Ditmarsh and had no share in the royal-ducal condominial rule of Holstein and Schleswig, wielded by the heads of the houses of Oldenburg (royal) and its cadet branch Holstein-Gottorp (ducal). Since 1602 he held the religiously defunct position of Bishop of Schleswig, enjoying the revenues of the implied estates and manor. The year after he succeeded his grandfather as Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin, holding both posts until his death.


30/12/1548

David Pareus, German theologian (died 1622)

David Pareus was a German Reformed Protestant theologian and reformer.


30/12/1490

Ebussuud Efendi, Ottoman lawyer and jurist (died 1574)

Ebussuud Efendi, was a Hanafi Maturidi Ottoman jurist and Quran exegete, served as the Qadi (judge) of Istanbul from 1533 to 1537, and the Shaykh al-Islām of the Ottoman Empire from 1545 to 1574. He was also called "El-İmâdî" because his family hailed from Imâd, a village near İskilip.


30/12/1371

Vasily I of Moscow (died 1425)

Vasily I Dmitriyevich was Grand Prince of Vladimir and Moscow from 1389. He was the heir of Dmitry Donskoy, who reigned from 1359 to 1389.


30/12/1204

Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi, ruler of Minorca (died 1282)

Abû ‘Uthman Sa’îd ibn Hakam al-Qurashi was the first Ra’îs of Manûrqa from 1234 to 1282.


30/12/0159

Empress Dowager Bian, second wife of Cao Cao, mother of Cao Wei's first emperor, Cao Pi (died 230)

Lady Bian, also known as Empress Dowager Bian or Grand Empress Dowager Bian, formally known as Empress Wuxuan, was an empress dowager and later grand empress dowager of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. She was the wife of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power in the late Eastern Han dynasty and laid the foundation of Wei. She bore Cao Cao's successor, Cao Pi, who ended the Han dynasty and founded Wei in 220 after his father's death.


30/12/0039

Titus, Roman emperor (probable) (died 81)

AD 39 (XXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Caesianus. The denomination AD 39 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.


Lives Remembered on 30th December

On 30th December, 105 remarkable people passed away — from 274 to 2025. Remember the lives and legacies of those we lost on this day.

30/12/2025

Khaleda Zia, Bangladeshi Politician, Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Begum Khaleda Zia was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the prime minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. She was the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and the second female prime minister in the Muslim world after Benazir Bhutto. She was the wife of the former president of Bangladesh and army chief, Ziaur Rahman. She was the longest serving chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) from 1984 until her death in 2025.


30/12/2023

Bryan Ansell, British role-playing and wargame designer (born 1955)

Bryan Charles Ansell was a British role-playing and wargame designer. In 1985, he became managing director of Games Workshop, and eventually bought the company from Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. Ansell moved Games Workshop from London to Nottingham and refocused the company from role-playing games to Warhammer wargame and miniature products, which became very popular.


Tom Wilkinson, English actor (born 1948)

Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson was an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and two Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2005, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).


Aki Yashiro, Japanese singer (born 1950)

Aki Yashiro , real name Akiyo Masuda , née Hashimoto , was a Japanese enka singer and painter. Her stage name "Yashiro" was adopted from her hometown Yatsushiro.


30/12/2022

Barbara Walters, American journalist, producer, and author (born 1929)

Barbara Jill Walters was an American broadcast journalist and television personality. Known for her interviewing ability and popularity with viewers, she appeared as a host of numerous television programs, including Today, the ABC Evening News, 20/20, and The View. Walters was a working journalist from 1951 until her retirement in 2014. Walters was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NATAS in 2000 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.


30/12/2020

Dawn Wells, American actress, (born 1938)

Dawn Elberta Wells was an American actress. She was best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers in the sitcom Gilligan's Island.


30/12/2017

Erica Garner, American civil rights activist (born 1990)

Erica Garner-Snipes was an American activist who advocated for police reform, particularly in the use of force during arrests. Garner became involved in activism following the 2014 killing of her father, Eric Garner, after a New York City police officer placed him in a lethal chokehold during an arrest.


30/12/2015

Doug Atkins, American football player (born 1930)

Douglas Leon Atkins was an American professional football defensive end who played for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers under head coach Robert Neyland. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Atkins was also drafted to the NBA in the 17th round by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1953 NBA draft.


Howard Davis, Jr., American boxer and trainer (born 1956)

Howard Edward Davis Jr. was an American professional boxer. Growing up on Long Island as the eldest of 10 children, Davis first learned boxing from his father. After being inspired by a movie about Muhammad Ali, Davis embarked on his amateur career. He won the 1976 Olympic gold medal one week after his mother died. He was also awarded the Val Barker Trophy at the Olympics, beating out such boxers as Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks.


Mangesh Padgaonkar, Indian poet, playwright, and translator (born 1929)

Mangesh Keshav Padgaoankar was a legendary Marathi poet from Maharashtra, India.


Howard Pawley, Canadian lawyer and politician, 18th Premier of Manitoba (born 1934)

Howard Russell Pawley was a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988. Prior to his premiership, Pawley served in various ministerial positions.


30/12/2014

Terry Becker, American actor, director, and producer (born 1921)

Terry Becker was an American film and television actor, director and producer.


Jim Galloway, Scottish-Canadian clarinet player and saxophonist (born 1936)

James Braidie Galloway was a jazz clarinet and saxophone player. He based his career in Canada after emigrating from Scotland in the mid-1960s.


Luise Rainer, German-born American-British actress (born 1910)

Luise Rainer was a German-born film actress. She was the first thespian to win multiple Academy Awards, and the first to win back-to-back; at the time of her death, thirteen days shy of her 105th birthday, she was the longest-lived Oscar recipient, a superlative that has not been exceeded, as of 2026.


30/12/2013

Kinnaird R. McKee, American admiral (born 1929)

Kinnaird Rowe McKee was an American United States Navy four star admiral who served as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion from 1982 to 1988. He also served as Superintendent, United States Naval Academy from 1975 to 1978.


José María Maguregui, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1934)

José María Maguregui Ibarguchi was a Spanish football midfielder and coach.


Eiichi Ohtaki, Japanese singer-songwriter and producer (born 1948)

Eiichi Ohtaki was a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He first became known as a member of the rock band Happy End, but was better known for his solo work which began in 1972. In 2003, Ohtaki was ranked by HMV at number 9 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. Patrick Macias referred to Ohtaki as Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, George Martin and Joe Meek "synthesized into a single human being," and called his work "an encyclopedia of everything that was great about pop music in the 20th century."


Johnny Orr, American basketball player and coach (born 1927)

John Michael Orr was an American basketball player and coach, best known as the head coach of men's basketball at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Michigan, and at Iowa State University. In the 1975–76 season, Orr was named National Coach of the Year.


Paul Sally, American mathematician and academic (born 1933)

Paul Joseph Sally, Jr. was a professor of mathematics at the University of Chicago, where he was the director of undergraduate studies for 30 years. His research areas were p-adic analysis and representation theory.


30/12/2012

Philip Coppens, Belgian-American journalist and author (born 1971)

Philip Coppens was a Belgian author, radio host, and commentator whose writings, speeches and television appearances focused on areas of fringe science and alternative history.


Beate Sirota Gordon, Austrian-American director and producer (born 1923)

Beate Sirota Gordon was an Austrian and American performing arts presenter and women's rights advocate. Born in Vienna, Austria, she moved to the Empire of Japan in 1929 with her father, the pianist Leo Sirota. After graduating from the American School in Japan, she moved to Oakland, California, where she enrolled at Mills College. Being one of the few people not of Japanese descent who was fluent in Japanese, she obtained work at the Office of War Information in the Foreign Broadcast Information Service of the Federal Communications Commission.


Rita Levi-Montalcini, Italian neurologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1909)

Rita Levi-Montalcini was an Italian neurobiologist. She was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with colleague Stanley Cohen for the discovery of nerve growth factor (NGF).


Carl Woese, American microbiologist and biophysicist (born 1928)

Carl Richard Woese was an American microbiologist and biophysicist. Woese is famous for defining the Archaea in 1977 through a pioneering phylogenetic taxonomy of 16S ribosomal RNA, a technique that has revolutionized microbiology. He also originated the RNA world hypothesis in 1967, although not by that name. Woese held the Stanley O. Ikenberry Chair and was professor of microbiology at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.


Dennis Ferguson, Australian sex offender (born 1948)

Dennis Raymond Ferguson was an Australian sex offender convicted of child sexual abuse. In 1988, he kidnapped and sexually abused three children, and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Ferguson was forced by public hostility and news media attention to relocate his residence on numerous occasions, from various locations in New South Wales and Queensland.


30/12/2011

Ronald Searle, English-French cartoonist (born 1920)

Ronald William Fordham Searle was an English artist and satirical cartoonist, comics artist, sculptor, medal designer and illustrator. He is perhaps best remembered as the creator of St Trinian's School and for his collaboration with Geoffrey Willans on the Molesworth series.


30/12/2010

Bobby Farrell, Dutch dancer and performer from Aruba (born 1949)

Roberto Alfonso "Bobby" Farrell was an Aruban dancer, singer and DJ. He was a member of the 1970s and 1980s disco group Boney M.


30/12/2009

Rowland S. Howard, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1959)

Rowland Stuart Howard was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with the post-punk group The Birthday Party and his subsequent solo career.


Abdurrahman Wahid, Indonesian journalist and politician, fourth President of Indonesia (born 1940)

Abdurrahman Wahid, more colloquially known as Gus Dur, was an Indonesian politician and Islamic religious leader who served as the fourth president of Indonesia, from his election in 1999 until he was removed from office in 2001. A long time leader within the Nahdlatul Ulama organization, he was the founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB). He also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his services to democratization and human rights in Indonesia. He was the son of former Minister of Religious Affairs Wahid Hasyim, and the grandson of Nahdatul Ulama founder Hasyim Asy'ari. Due to a visual impairment caused by glaucoma, he was blind in the left eye and roughly 80% blind in his right eye. He was the first president of Indonesia to have had physical disabilities.


30/12/2006

Saddam Hussein, Iraqi general and politician, fifth President of Iraq (born 1937)

Saddam Hussein was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until his overthrow in 2003 during the United States-led invasion of Iraq. He previously served as the vice president from 1968 to 1979 and also as the prime minister from 1979 to 1991 and later from 1994 to 2003. A leading member of the Iraqi Ba'ath Party, he was a proponent of Ba'athism, a mix of Arab nationalism and Arab socialism. The policies and ideologies he championed are collectively known as Saddamism, a right-wing variant of Ba'athism.


Terry Peck, Falkland Islander police officer and spy (born 1938)

Terence John Peck was a member of the Falkland Islands Defence Force who during the 1982 Falklands War became a war hero by spying on the Argentine invaders, subsequently escaping to British lines, acting as a scout for 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, and taking part in the fighting for Mount Longdon. A fiercely patriotic Islander, he vehemently opposed Argentina's claim to the Islands. He later met and befriended an Argentine conscript who served during the war.


Michel Plasse, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1948)

Michel Pierre Plasse was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League from 1970 to 1982. He was selected first overall in the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.


30/12/2005

Eddie Barlow, South African cricketer and coach (born 1940)

Edgar John Barlow was a South African cricketer. Barlow was born in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa, and played first-class cricket for Transvaal and Eastern Province from 1959–60 to 1967–68 before moving to Western Province for the seasons from 1968–69 to 1980–81. During this time he also played three seasons with Derbyshire in the English County Championship from 1976 – 1978. He completed his first-class career in Boland in 1982–83. Barlow was named as one of the six South African Cricket Annual players of the year in 1962.


Rona Jaffe, American novelist (born 1932)

Rona Jaffe was an American novelist who published numerous works from 1958 to 2003. During the 1960s, she also wrote cultural pieces for Cosmopolitan.


30/12/2004

Artie Shaw, American clarinet player, composer, and bandleader (born 1910)

Artie Shaw was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and author of both fiction and non-fiction.


30/12/2003

John Gregory Dunne, American novelist, screenwriter, and critic (born 1932)

John Gregory Dunne was an American writer. He began his career as a journalist for Time magazine before expanding into writing criticism, essays, novels, and screenplays. He often collaborated with his wife, Joan Didion.


30/12/2002

Mary Brian, American actress (born 1906)

Mary Brian was an American actress who made the transition from silent films to sound films.


Eleanor J. Gibson, American psychologist and academic (born 1910)

Eleanor Jack Gibson was an American psychologist who focused on reading development and perceptual learning in infants. Gibson began her career at Smith College as an instructor in 1932, publishing her first works on research conducted as an undergraduate student. Gibson was able to circumvent the many obstacles she faced due to the Great Depression and gender discrimination, by finding research opportunities that she could meld with her own interests.


Mary Wesley, English author (born 1912)

Mary Aline Siepmann CBE, known by the pen name Mary Wesley, was an English novelist. During her career, she was one of Britain's most successful novelists, selling three million copies of her books, including ten bestsellers in the last twenty years of her life.


30/12/2000

Julius J. Epstein, American screenwriter and producer (born 1909)

Julius J. Epstein was an American screenwriter, who had a long career, best remembered for his screenplay, written with his twin brother, Philip, and Howard E. Koch, of the film Casablanca (1942), for which the writers won an Academy Award. It was adapted from an unpublished play, Everybody Comes to Rick's, written by Murray Bennett and Joan Alison.


30/12/1999

Joff Ellen, Australian comedian and actor (born 1915)

Joff Ellen, was an Australian entertainer, TV pioneer, actor and comedian.


Fritz Leonhardt, German engineer, co-designed the Cologne Rodenkirchen Bridge and Fernsehturm Stuttgart (born 1909)

Fritz Leonhardt was a German structural engineer who made major contributions to 20th-century bridge engineering, especially in the development of cable-stayed bridges. His book Bridges: Aesthetics and Design is well known throughout the bridge engineering community.


Des Renford, Australian swimmer (born 1927)

Desmond Robert Renford MBE was an Australian long-distance swimmer who swam the English Channel 19 times from 19 attempts. This was a record for successful crossings by an Australian until it was overtaken by Chloe McCardel in 2016. From 1975 to 1979 and for a period in 1980 he held the title of King of the Channel. At the time of his death, only two other people had swum the Channel more often, Alison Streeter and Michael Read.


Sarah Knauss, American supercentenarian (born 1880)

Sarah DeRemer Knauss was an American supercentenarian. She is the oldest person ever from the United States and, on April 16, 1998, became the world's oldest living person. She is the third-oldest verified person ever, living to the age of 119 years and 97 days. Her birthdate has been independently verified through numerous census and other records.


30/12/1998

Sam Muchnick, American wrestling promoter, co-founded the National Wrestling Alliance (born 1905)

Samuel Muchnick was an American professional wrestling promoter, long based in St. Louis, Missouri. He is often regarded as wrestling's equivalent of Pete Rozelle, and he was instrumental in establishing the National Wrestling Alliance, which became the industry's top governing body, in 1948. Muchnick served as the NWA's president from 1950 to 1960 and again from 1963 to 1975. He operated the St. Louis Wrestling Club, one of the primary members of the NWA, based in St. Louis.


30/12/1997

Shinichi Hoshi, Japanese author and illustrator (born 1926)

Shin’ichi Hoshi was a Japanese novelist and science fiction writer best known for his "short-short" science fiction stories, often no more than three or four pages in length, of which he wrote over 1000. He also wrote mysteries and won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Mōsō Ginkō in 1968.


30/12/1996

Lew Ayres, American actor (born 1908)

Lewis Frederick Ayres III was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) and for playing Dr. Kildare in nine films. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Johnny Belinda (1948).


30/12/1995

Ralph Flanagan, American pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1914)

Ralph Elias Flenniken, known professionally as Ralph Flanagan, was an American big band leader, pianist, composer, and arranger for the orchestras of Hal McIntyre, Sammy Kaye, Blue Barron, Charlie Barnet, and Alvino Rey.


Doris Grau, American voice actor and script supervisor (born 1924)

Doris Grau was an American actress and script supervisor from Brooklyn. After moving to Hollywood in 1940, she began her career supervising film and television scripts. She continued to do this until the 1990s and worked on films such as Point Blank and King Kong and television shows such as Cheers and The Tracey Ullman Show. Grau did some acting in her later years, playing live-action and animated roles. On the sitcom The Simpsons, she worked as a script supervisor and provided the voice of Lunchlady Doris and other minor characters.


30/12/1994

Dmitri Ivanenko, Ukrainian-Russian physicist and academic (born 1904)

Dmitri Dmitrievich Ivanenko was a Soviet theoretical physicist of Ukrainian origin who made great contributions to the physical science of the twentieth century, especially to nuclear physics, field theory, and gravitation theory. He worked in the Poltava Gravimetric Observatory of the Institute of Geophysics of NAS of Ukraine, was the head of the Theoretical Department Ukrainian Physico-Technical Institute in Kharkiv, Head of the Department of Theoretical Physics of the Kharkiv Institute of Mechanical Engineering. Professor of University of Kharkiv, Professor of Moscow State University.


30/12/1993

İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil, Turkish lawyer and politician, 20th Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1908)

İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil was a Turkish politician and diplomat who served as Acting President of Turkey in 1980, from the Justice Party. He also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs three times in the 1960s and 1970s.


Irving "Swifty" Lazar, American talent agent (born 1907)

Irving Paul "Swifty" Lazar was an American lawyer, talent agent and dealmaker, representing both movie stars and authors.


Giuseppe Occhialini, Italian-French physicist and academic (born 1907)

Giuseppe Paolo Stanislao "Beppo" Occhialini was an Italian experimental physicist who contributed to the discovery of the pion or pi-meson decay in 1947 with César Lattes and Cecil Powell, the latter winning the Nobel Prize in Physics for this work. At the time of this discovery, they were all working in the H. H. Wills Laboratory at the University of Bristol.


30/12/1992

Romeo Muller, American actor, screenwriter, for screenplays like the 1964, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special) (born 1928)

Romeo Earl Muller, Jr. was an American screenwriter and actor most remembered for his screenplays for the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.


30/12/1990

Raghuvir Sahay, Indian author, poet, and critic (born 1929)

Raghuvir Sahay was an Indian Hindi poet, short-story writer, essayist, literary critic, translator, and journalist. He remained the chief-editor of the political-social Hindi weekly, Dinmaan, 1969–82. He obtained a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Lucknow in 1951.


30/12/1988

Yuli Daniel, Russian author and poet (born 1925)

Yuli Markovich Daniel was a Russian writer and Soviet dissident known as a defendant in the Sinyavsky–Daniel trial in 1966.


Isamu Noguchi, American sculptor and landscaper (born 1904)

Isamu Noguchi was an American artist, furniture designer and landscape architect whose career spanned six decades from the 1920s. Known for his sculpture and public artworks, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, Akari light sculptures, and furniture pieces, many of which are still manufactured and sold. His work is displayed at the Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum in New York City as well as many other museums.


30/12/1986

Era Bell Thompson, American journalist (born 1905)

Era Bell Thompson was an American writer and editor.


30/12/1983

Violette Cordery, English race car driver (born 1900)

Violette Cordery was a British racing driver and long distance record breaker.


30/12/1982

Alberto Vargas, Peruvian-American painter and illustrator (born 1896)

Joaquin Alberto Vargas y Chávez was a Peruvian-American painter of pin-up girls. These pin-ups are sometimes known as Vargas girls. He is often considered one of the most famous of the pin-up artists and one of the pioneers of airbrush art. Numerous Vargas paintings have sold and continue to sell for tens of thousands of dollars around the world.


30/12/1979

Richard Rodgers, American playwright and composer (born 1902)

Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the best-known American composers of the 20th century, and his work significantly influenced popular music.


30/12/1971

Jo Cals, Dutch lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (born 1914)

Jozef Maria Laurens Theo "Jo" Cals was a Dutch politician of the Catholic People's Party (KVP) and jurist who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 14 April 1965 until 22 November 1966.


Vikram Sarabhai, Indian physicist and academic (born 1919)

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped to develop nuclear power in India. Often regarded as the "Father of Indian space program", Sarabhai was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.


30/12/1970

Sonny Liston, American boxer (born 1932)

Charles L. "Sonny" Liston, nicknamed "the Big Bear", was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 until his death in 1970. A dominant contender of his era, he became the undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1962 after knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the knockout the following year in defense of the title; in the latter fight he also became the inaugural WBC heavyweight champion. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Liston is known for his immense strength, formidable jab, long reach, toughness, and is widely regarded as one of the most intimidating men in boxing history.


30/12/1968

Trygve Lie, Norwegian journalist and politician, first Secretary-General of the United Nations (born 1896)

Trygve Halvdan Lie was a Norwegian politician, labour leader, government official and author. He served as Norwegian foreign minister during the critical years of the Norwegian government in exile in London from 1940 to 1945. He was the first secretary-general of the United Nations.


30/12/1967

Vincent Massey, Canadian lawyer and politician, 18th Governor General of Canada (born 1887)

Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian diplomat and statesman who served as the 18th governor general of Canada from 1952 to 1959. Massey was the first governor general of Canada to be born in Canada.


30/12/1955

Rex Ingamells, Australian poet and author (born 1913)

Reginald Charles (Rex) Ingamells was an Australian poet, generally credited with being the leading light of the Jindyworobak Movement.


30/12/1954

Archduke Eugen of Austria (born 1863)

Archduke Eugen Ferdinand Pius Bernhard Felix Maria of Austria-Teschen was an Archduke of Austria and a Prince of Hungary and Bohemia. He was the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from the Habsburg dynasty.


30/12/1947

Han van Meegeren, Dutch painter (born 1889)

Henricus Antonius "Han" van Meegeren was a Dutch painter and portraitist, considered one of the most ingenious art forgers of the 20th century. Van Meegeren became a national hero after World War II when it was revealed that he had sold a forged painting to Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.


Alfred North Whitehead, English-American mathematician and philosopher (born 1861)

Alfred North Whitehead was an English mathematician and philosopher. He created the philosophical school known as process philosophy, which has been applied in a wide variety of disciplines, including ecology, theology, education, physics, biology, economics, and psychology.


30/12/1945

Song Jin-woo, South Korean journalist and politician (born 1889)

Song Jin-woo was a Korean independence activist, journalist, and politician. His art name was Goha. He was the 3rd, 6th and 8th CEO of the Dong-a Ilbo and the founding leader of the Korea Democratic Party.


30/12/1944

Romain Rolland, French author and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1866)

Romain Rolland was a French dramatist, novelist, essayist, art historian and mystic who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1915 "as a tribute to the lofty idealism of his literary production and to the sympathy and love of truth with which he has described different types of human beings".


30/12/1941

El Lissitzky, Russian photographer and architect (born 1890)

El Lissitzky was a Russian and Soviet artist, active as a painter, illustrator, designer, printmaker, photographer, and architect. He was an important figure of the avant-garde, helping develop suprematism with his mentor, Kazimir Malevich, and designing numerous exhibition displays and propaganda works for the Soviet Union.


30/12/1940

Childe Wills, American engineer (born 1878)

Childe Harold Wills was an American engineer and businessman. He was an early associate of Henry Ford, one of the first employees of the Ford Motor Company, and the chief contributor to the design of the Model T. After leaving Ford, he began his own automobile company, Wills Sainte Claire.


30/12/1937

Hans Niels Andersen, Danish businessman, founded the East Asiatic Company (born 1852)

Hans Niels Andersen was a Danish shipping magnate, businessman, diplomat and founder of the East Asiatic Company.


30/12/1928

Jean Collas, French rugby player and tug of war competitor (born 1874)

Jean Collas was a French rugby union player and tug of war competitor, who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the French rugby union team, which won the gold medal. He also participated in the tug of war competition and won a silver medal as a member of the French team.


30/12/1916

Grigori Rasputin, Russian mystic (born 1869)

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian mystic and faith healer. He is best known for having befriended the imperial family of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, through whom he gained considerable influence in the final years of the Russian Empire.


30/12/1908

Thomas-Alfred Bernier, Canadian journalist, lawyer, and politician (born 1844)

Thomas-Alfred Bernier was a Canadian journalist, lawyer, and politician.


30/12/1906

Josephine Butler, English feminist and social reformer (born 1828)

Josephine Elizabeth Butler was an English feminist and social reformer in the Victorian era. She campaigned for women's suffrage, the right of women to better education, the end of coverture in British law, the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, the abolition of child prostitution and an end to human trafficking of young women and children into European prostitution.


30/12/1896

José Rizal, Filipino ophthalmologist, journalist, and author (born 1861)

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is popularly considered a national hero of the Philippines, although no official proclamation formally declares him as such. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal became a writer and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement in the 1880s, which advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain.


30/12/1885

Martha Darley Mutrie, British painter (born 1824)

Martha Darley Mutrie was a British painter. Her paintings consisted mostly of fruit and flowers. She grew up in Manchester, England, and studied at the Manchester School of Design. Mutrie's works were shown at the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Manchester Institution and other national and international exhibitions. Her works are among the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum.


30/12/1879

Manuel de Araújo Porto-Alegre, Baron of Santo Ângelo, Brazilian poet and painter (born 1806)

Manuel José de Araújo Porto-Alegre, Baron of Santo Ângelo, was a Brazilian Romantic writer, painter, architect, diplomat and professor, considered to be one of the first Brazilian editorial cartoonists ever. He is the patron of the 32nd chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters.


30/12/1803

Francis Lewis, Welsh-American merchant and politician (born 1713)

Francis Lewis was an American merchant and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation as a representative of New York in the Continental Congress.


30/12/1788

Francesco Zuccarelli, Italian painter and academic (born 1702)

Giacomo Francesco Zuccarelli was an Italian artist of the late Baroque or Rococo period. He is considered to be the most important landscape painter to have emerged from his adopted city of Venice during the mid-eighteenth century, and his Arcadian views became popular throughout Europe and especially in England where he resided for two extended periods. His patronage extended to the nobility, and he often collaborated with other artists such as Antonio Visentini and Bernardo Bellotto.


30/12/1777

Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria (born 1727)

Maximilian III Joseph, also known by his epithet "the much beloved" was a Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Bavaria from 1745 to 1777. He was the last of the Bavarian branch of the House of Wittelsbach and because of his death, the War of Bavarian Succession broke out.


30/12/1769

Nicholas Taaffe, 6th Viscount Taaffe, Irish-Austrian soldier and courtier (born 1685)

Feldmarschall Nicholas Taaffe, Graf von Taaffe, 6th Viscount Taaffe and 6th Baron of Ballymote, was an Irish-born courtier and soldier who served the Habsburgs in Lorraine and Austria.


30/12/1662

Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria (born 1628)

Ferdinand Charles was the Archduke of Further Austria, including Tyrol, from 1632 to 1662. He was the firstborn son of Archduke Leopold V of Further Austria and Claudia de' Medici. Until 1646, his mother Claudia served as regent and de facto ruler. Ferdinand Charles was a patron of the arts with Italian opera performed at his court. Despite this, he was a poor ruler and lived an extravagant lifestyle, drained the treasury, and held illegal executions.


30/12/1644

Jan Baptist van Helmont, Flemish chemist, physiologist, and physician (born 1577)

Jan Baptist van Helmont was a chemist, physiologist, and physician from Brussels. He worked during the years just after Paracelsus and the rise of iatrochemistry, and is sometimes considered to be "the founder of pneumatic chemistry". Van Helmont is remembered today largely for his 5-year willow tree experiment, his introduction of the word "gas" into the vocabulary of science, and his ideas on spontaneous generation.


30/12/1643

Giovanni Baglione, Italian painter and historian of art (born 1566)

Giovanni Baglione was an Italian Late Mannerist and Early Baroque painter and art historian. Although a prolific painter, Baglione is best remembered for his encyclopedic collection of biographies of the other artists working in Rome during his lifetime, and particularly his acrimonious relationship with the slightly younger artist Caravaggio through his art and writings.


30/12/1640

John Francis Regis, French priest and saint (born 1597)

John Francis Regis, SJ, commonly known Saint Regis, was a French Jesuit priest who was canonized in 1737. A tireless preacher and social reformer, Regis is best known for his work with at-risk women and orphans.


30/12/1621

Job of Manyava, Ukrainian monk and saint (born 1550)

Job of Maniava, born Ivan Knyahynytskyi and named as a monk Ezekiel, was a Ukrainian Orthodox saint and an Orthodox clerical activist. He was a founder of Manyava Skete, a famous cell monastery in Ukraine.


30/12/1606

Heinrich Bünting, German priest and cartographer (born 1545)

Heinrich Bünting was a German Protestant pastor and theologian. He is best known for his book of woodcut maps titled Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae first published in 1581.


30/12/1591

Pope Innocent IX (born 1519)

Pope Innocent IX, born Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 October to 30 December 1591.


30/12/1573

Giovanni Battista Giraldi, Italian author and poet (born 1504)

Giovanni Battista Giraldi was an Italian novelist and poet. He appended the nickname Cinthio to his name and is commonly referred to by that name.


30/12/1572

Galeazzo Alessi, Italian architect, designed the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (born 1512)

Galeazzo Alessi was an Italian architect from Perugia, known throughout Europe for his distinctive style based on his enthusiasm for ancient architecture. He studied drawing for civil and military architecture under the direction of Giovanni Battista Caporali.


30/12/1525

Jakob Fugger, German banker and businessman (born 1459)

Jakob Fugger of the Lily, also known as Jakob Fugger the Rich or Jakob II, was a major German merchant, mining entrepreneur, and banker. He was a descendant of the Fugger merchant family located in the Free Imperial City of Augsburg. He was born and later also elevated through marriage to Grand Burgher of Augsburg. Within a few decades, he expanded the family firm to a business operating in all of Europe. He began his education at the age of 14 in Venice, which also remained his main residence until 1487. At the same time, he was a cleric and held several prebends. American journalist Greg Steinmetz has estimated his overall wealth to be around 2% of the GDP of Europe at that time, the equivalent of around $400 billion adjusted to 2015.


30/12/1460

Edmund, Earl of Rutland, Irish politician, Lord Chancellor of Ireland (born 1443)

Edmund, Earl of Rutland, was the fourth child and second surviving son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville. He was a younger brother of Edward, Earl of March, the future King Edward IV who came to the throne in 1461, the year after Edmund's death. He was born in Rouen, then the capital of English-occupied France and his father held the office of Lieutenant of France. He was killed at the age of 17 either during or shortly after the Battle of Wakefield, during the Wars of the Roses.


Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York (born 1411)

Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, also named Richard Plantagenet, was a leading English magnate and claimant to the throne during the Wars of the Roses. He was a member of the ruling House of Plantagenet by virtue of being a direct male-line descendant of Edmund of Langley, King Edward III's fourth surviving son. However, it was through his mother, Anne Mortimer, a descendant of Edward III's second surviving son, Lionel of Antwerp, that Richard inherited his strongest claim to the throne, as the opposing House of Lancaster was descended from John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the third surviving son of Edward III. He also inherited vast estates and served in various offices of state in Ireland, France and England, a country he ultimately governed as Lord Protector due to the mental instability of King Henry VI.


30/12/1436

Louis III, Elector Palatine (born 1378)

Louis III, was an Elector Palatine of the Rhine from the house of Wittelsbach in 1410–1436.


30/12/1435

Bonne of Berry, Regent of Savoy (born 1362)

Bonne of Berry was a French countess. She was Countess of Savoy by marriage to Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy. When she was widowed, she unsuccessfully claimed the regency during her son's minority against her mother-in-law in 1391–93. As niece of King Charles V of France, she played a key role in French diplomatic maneuvers intended to consolidate the alliances of the kingdom of France.


30/12/1331

Bernard Gui, inquisitor (born 1261 or 1262)

Bernard Gui, also known as Bernardo Gui or Bernardus Guidonis, was a Limousin Dominican friar, Bishop of Lodève, and a papal inquisitor during the later stages of the Medieval Inquisition.


30/12/1115

Theodoric II, Duke of Lorraine

Theodoric II, called the Valiant, was the Duke of Lorraine from 1070 to his death. He was the son and successor of Gerhard and Hedwige of Namur. He is sometimes numbered Theodoric I if the Dukes of the House of Ardennes, who ruled in Upper Lorraine from 959 to 1033, are ignored in favour of the dukes of Lower Lorraine as predecessors of the later Dukes of Lorraine.


30/12/0925

Wang Shenzhi, founder of Min (born 862)

Wang Shenzhi, courtesy name Xintong (信通) or Xiangqing (詳卿), posthumous name Prince Zhongyi of Min (閩忠懿王) and also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Min (閩太祖), was the founding monarch of Min during China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning as prince but posthumously promoted to the rank of emperor. He was from Gushi in modern-day Henan.


30/12/0903

Tian Jun, Chinese warlord (born 858)

Tian Jun, courtesy name Dechen (德臣), was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord during the late medieval Tang dynasty, who ruled Ningguo Circuit at its military governor (jiedushi) from 892 to his death in 903. He was a childhood friend of the major warlord Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit, served under Yang during various campaigns, and continued to be Yang's vassal after he became a military governor. However, he eventually became angry at Yang's refusal to support him in his own campaigns of expansion. In 903, he rebelled against Yang in conjunction with An Renyi (安仁義) the military prefect of Run Prefecture and, for some time, posed a major threat to Yang's continued rule of Huainan, but was soon defeated by Yang's officer Tai Meng (臺濛) and killed in battle.


30/12/0717

Egwin of Evesham, bishop of Worcester

Egwin of Evesham was a Benedictine monk and, later, the third Bishop of Worcester in England. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.


30/12/0274

Pope Felix I

Pope Felix I was the bishop of Rome from 5 January 269 to his death on 30 December 274. Born in Rome, he succeeded Pope Dionysius and is noted for his theological contributions, particularly a significant dogmatic letter addressing the unity of Christ’s person. During his papacy, Felix I confronted the heresy of Paul of Samosata, who denied the divinity of Christ. The intervention of Emperor Aurelian, prompted by Felix, led to Paul’s deposition from the bishopric of Antioch, reinforcing orthodox Christological doctrine.


Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 30th December

Christian feast day: Abraham the Writer

Abraham the Writer is a saint of the Syriac Orthodox Church. His feast day is 30 December.


Christian feast day: Anysia of Salonika

Saint Anysia of Thessalonica was a Christian virgin and martyr of the 4th century. She was born of pious and affluent parents who "raised her in Christian piety". They died when Anysia was young, leaving her their wealth, which she distributed to the poor, choosing to live "a strict life of fasting, vigil, and prayer".


Christian feast day: Egwin of Evesham

Egwin of Evesham was a Benedictine monk and, later, the third Bishop of Worcester in England. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.


Christian feast day: Frances Joseph-Gaudet (Episcopal Church)

Frances Joseph-Gaudet was an American educator, social worker and prison


Christian feast day: Liberius of Ravenna

Liberius I was Bishop of Ravenna. He is regarded as the founder of the see of Ravenna and was one of its first bishops. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. His feast day is 30 December.


Christian feast day: Pope Felix I

Pope Felix I was the bishop of Rome from 5 January 269 to his death on 30 December 274. Born in Rome, he succeeded Pope Dionysius and is noted for his theological contributions, particularly a significant dogmatic letter addressing the unity of Christ’s person. During his papacy, Felix I confronted the heresy of Paul of Samosata, who denied the divinity of Christ. The intervention of Emperor Aurelian, prompted by Felix, led to Paul’s deposition from the bishopric of Antioch, reinforcing orthodox Christological doctrine.


Christian feast day: Ralph of Vaucelles

Raoul, founder of Vaucelles Abbey or Saint Raoul is a saint of the Catholic Church who founded the famous monastery of Vaucelles in France. Raoul was an English Benedictine monk who became a follower of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.


Christian feast day: Roger of Cannae

Saint Roger of Cannae was an Italian bishop. The Catholic Church honours him as a saint.


Christian feast day: December 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

December 29 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - December 31


Day of the Declaration of Slovakia as an Independent Ecclesiastic Province (Slovakia)

Remembrance Days in Slovakia are working days.


Rizal Day (Philippines)

Rizal Day is a Philippine national holiday commemorating life and works of José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines. It is celebrated every December 30, the anniversary of Rizal's 1896 execution at Bagumbayan in Manila.


The fifth day of Kwanzaa (United States)

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on Karenga's research of African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, and Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966. A 2009 estimate placed the number of Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa between 500,000 and 2,000,000.


The sixth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)

The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Twelve Days of Christmastide, is the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus. In Western Christianity it begins with Christmas Day and includes Saint Stephen's Day, the Feast of Saint John the Apostle, Childermas, New Year's Eve or Saint Sylvester's Day, New Year's Day or the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, and the Feast of the Holy Family. It ends with Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve.


What Happened on 30th December?

48 significant events took place on Saturday, 30th December — stretching from 534 to 2020. Explore the moments that shaped history on this day.

30/12/2020

A large explosion at the airport in the southern Yemeni city of Aden kills at least 22 people and wounds 50.

On 30 December 2020, a plane carrying members of the recently formed Yemeni government landed at Aden International Airport in the southwest of Yemen. As passengers disembarked, there were explosions and gunfire, leaving 28 people dead and 107 others injured. None of the passengers were hurt in the attack and the Yemeni cabinet members were quickly transported to Mashiq Palace for safety.


30/12/2013

More than 100 people are killed when anti-government forces attack key buildings in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Attacks in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were launched by supporters of religious leader Paul Joseph Mukungubila against television studios, the airport and a military base in the capital on 30 December 2013. The state security forces responded, killing around 54 of the attackers. An additional 47 of Mukungubila's supporters were killed in separate clashes in the cities of Lubumbashi and Kolwezi and around 100 people were arrested.


30/12/2009

A segment of the Lanzhou–Zhengzhou–Changsha pipeline ruptures in Shaanxi, China, and approximately 150,000 L (40,000 US gal) of diesel oil flows down the Wei River before finally reaching the Yellow River.

The Lanzhou–Zhengzhou–Changsha product oil pipeline is a pipeline carrying diesel and other oil products from the northwest to the central regions of China. The 2,070-kilometre (1,290 mi) pipeline starts in Lanzhou in Gansu, and runs through Zhengzhou in Henan to Changsha in Hunan. In Zhengzhou, it is linked with Jinzhou–Zhengzhou product pipeline running from Jinzhou in Liaoning to Zhengzhou.


A suicide bomber kills nine people at Forward Operating Base Chapman, a key facility of the Central Intelligence Agency in Afghanistan.

The Camp Chapman attack was a suicide attack by Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi against the Central Intelligence Agency facility inside Forward Operating Base Chapman in Afghanistan on December 30, 2009. One of the main tasks of the CIA personnel stationed at the base was to provide intelligence supporting drone attacks in Pakistan. Seven American CIA officers and contractors, a Jordanian intelligence officer, and an Afghan working for the CIA were killed when al-Balawi detonated a bomb sewn into a vest he was wearing. Six other American CIA officers were wounded. The bombing was the most lethal attack against the CIA in more than 25 years.


30/12/2006

Madrid–Barajas Airport is bombed.

Madrid–Barajas Airport is the main international airport serving Madrid, the capital of Spain, and its metropolitan area. At 3,050 ha in area, it is the second-largest airport in Europe by physical size behind Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. In 2025, 68.1 million passengers travelled through Madrid–Barajas, making it the country's busiest airport as well as Europe's fifth-busiest.


The Indonesian passenger ferry MV Senopati Nusantara sinks in a storm, resulting in at least 400 deaths.

The MV Senopati Nusantara was an Indonesian ferry that sank in a storm on December 30, 2006. The Japanese-made ship was a scheduled passenger liner from the port of Kumai in Central Kalimantan (Borneo) to Tanjung Emas port in Semarang, Central Java. About 40 km (25 mi) off Mandalika Island, the ship sank during a violent storm in the Java Sea. At least 400–500 people are thought to have drowned, with only 224 surviving.


Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein is executed.

The president of the Republic of Iraq is the head of state of Iraq. Since the mid-2000s, the presidency is primarily a symbolic office, as the position does not possess significant power within the country according to the constitution adopted in October 2005.


30/12/2005

Tropical Storm Zeta forms in the open Atlantic Ocean, tying the record for the latest tropical cyclone ever to form in the North Atlantic basin.

Tropical Storm Zeta was a very late-developing tropical storm that formed in the central Atlantic Ocean during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, forming one month after the season's official end. Becoming a tropical depression on December 30, and intensifying the following day into the season's 28th storm, Zeta continued into January 2006. It was one of only two Atlantic tropical cyclones to span two calendar years.


30/12/2004

A fire in the República Cromagnon nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, kills 194.

On 30 December 2004, a fire broke out in the crowded República Cromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 194 people and leaving at least 1,492 injured. The direct cause was the indoor pyrotechnics igniting the ceiling.


30/12/2000

Rizal Day bombings: A series of bombs explode in various places in Metro Manila, Philippines within a period of a few hours, killing 22 and injuring about a hundred.

The Rizal Day bombings, also referred to as the December 30 bombings, were a series of bombings that occurred around Metro Manila in the Philippines on December 30, 2000. The explosions occurred within a span of a few hours, killing 22 people and injuring over 100 others.


30/12/1997

In the worst incident in Algeria's insurgency, the Wilaya of Relizane massacres, 400 people from four villages are killed.

Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Spanning over 2,381,741 square kilometres (919,595 sq mi), it is the largest country in Africa and the tenth largest in the world. It is bordered to the northeast by Tunisia; to the east by Libya; to the southeast by Niger; to the southwest by Mali, Mauritania, and Western Sahara; to the west by Morocco; and to the north by the Mediterranean Sea. With a population of over 47 million, Algeria is the tenth-most populous country in Africa. Its capital and largest city is Algiers.


30/12/1996

Proposed budget cuts by Benjamin Netanyahu spark protests from 250,000 workers who shut down services across Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu, nicknamed "Bibi", is an Israeli politician and diplomat who has served as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022. Having previously held office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister.


30/12/1993

Israel establishes diplomatic relations with Vatican City and also upgrades to full diplomatic relations with Ireland.

Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral declarative political act of a state that acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state. Recognition can be accorded either on a de facto or de jure basis. Partial recognition can occur if many sovereign states refuse to recognize an entity as a peer. Recognition can be a declaration to that effect by the recognizing government or may be implied from an act of recognition, such as entering into a treaty with the other state or making a state visit. Recognition may, but need not, have domestic and international legal consequences. If sufficient countries recognize a particular entity as a state, that state may have a right to membership in international organizations, while treaties may require all existing member countries unanimously agreeing to the admission of a new member.


30/12/1987

Stella Sigcau, Prime minister of the South African Bantustan of Transkei, is ousted from power in a bloodless military coup led by General Bantu Holomisa.

Stella Nomzamo Sigcau was a South African politician. Sigcau was also the first female Prime Minister of the bantustan of Transkei before being deposed in a military coup in 1987. After Transkei was merged into South Africa following the end of apartheid, Sigcau became a minister in the cabinets of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki until her death.


30/12/1972

Vietnam War: Operation Linebacker II ends.

Operation Linebacker II, sometimes referred to as the Christmas bombings and, in Vietnam, the Twelve days and nights, or Điện Biên Phủ of the Sky, was a strategic bombing campaign conducted by the United States against military and industrial areas of North Vietnam from 18 December to 29 December 1972, during the Vietnam War. More than 20,000 tons of ordnance was dropped, primarily targeting Hanoi and Haiphong, and at least 1,624 civilians were killed. The operation was the final major military operation carried out by the U.S. during the conflict, and the largest bombing campaign involving heavy bombers since World War II.


30/12/1970

Hurricane Creek mine disaster, near Hyden, Kentucky

The Hurricane Creek mine disaster occurred at the Finley Mine near Hyden, Kentucky, USA, on December 30, 1970, shortly after noon and resulted in the deaths of 38 men. As was often pointed out in coverage of the disaster, it occurred a year to the day after the passage of the Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969. Recovery was complicated by the fact that a foot of snow fell on the rural mountain roads at the time of the accident.


30/12/1967

Aeroflot Flight L-51 crashes near Liepāja International Airport in Liepāja, Latvia, killing 43.

Aeroflot Flight L-51 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by an Antonov An-24 that crashed on approach to Liepāja International Airport on 30 December 1967, resulting in the death of 43 of the 51 people on board. To date, it is the deadliest aviation accident in Latvian history. The investigation revealed the cause of the accident to be pilot error.


30/12/1958

The Guatemalan Air Force sinks several Mexican fishing boats alleged to have breached maritime borders, killing three and sparking international tension.

The Guatemalan Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of Guatemala. The FAG is a subordinate to the Guatemalan Military and its commanding officer reports to the Defence Minister.


30/12/1954

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation is established to consolidate criminal investigation and intelligence into a single agency.

The National Bureau of Investigation is a national law enforcement agency of the Finnish Police and the principal criminal investigation and criminal intelligence organization of Finland. The Bureau's main tasks are to counter and investigate organized crime, provide expert services, and develop methods for criminal investigation. NBI is also responsible for financial intelligence (FININT), such as preventing money laundering and terrorism financing. NBI headquarters has been situated in the city of Vantaa within the Capital Region since 1994 with field offices in Tampere, Turku, Mariehamn, Joensuu, Oulu and Rovaniemi. It is subordinate to the National Police Board under the jurisdiction of the Interior Ministry.


30/12/1952

An RAF Avro Lancaster bomber crashes in Luqa, Malta after an engine failure, killing three crew members and a civilian on the ground.

The Avro Lancaster, commonly known as the Lancaster Bomber, is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engine heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same era.


30/12/1947

Cold War: King Michael I of Romania is forced to abdicate by the Soviet Union-backed Communist government of Romania.

The Cold War was a period of international geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc. It began in the aftermath of the Second World War and ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The term cold war is used because there was no direct fighting between the two superpowers, though each supported opposing sides in regional conflicts known as proxy wars. In addition to the struggle for ideological and economic influence and an arms race in both conventional and nuclear weapons, the Cold War was expressed through technological rivalries such as the Space Race, espionage, propaganda campaigns, embargoes, and sports diplomacy.


30/12/1944

King George II of Greece declares a regency, leaving the throne vacant.

George II was King of Greece from 27 September 1922 until 25 March 1924, and again from 25 November 1935 until his death on 1 April 1947.


30/12/1943

Subhas Chandra Bose raises the flag of Indian independence at Port Blair.

Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist whose defiance of British authority in India made him a hero among many Indians, but his wartime alliances with Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan left a legacy vexed by authoritarianism, antisemitism, and military failure. The honorific Netaji was first applied to Bose in Germany in early 1942—by the Indian soldiers of the Indische Legion and by the German and Indian officials in the Special Bureau for India in Berlin. It is now used throughout India.


30/12/1936

The Flint sit-down strike hits General Motors.

The 1936–1937 Flint sit-down strike, also known as the General Motors sit-down strike, or the great GM sit-down strike, was a sitdown strike at the General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan, United States. It changed the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from a collection of isolated local unions on the fringes of the industry into a major labor union and led to the unionization of the American automobile industry.


30/12/1935

The Italian Air Force bombs a Swedish Red Cross hospital during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.

On 30 December 1935, a Swedish Red Cross field hospital was destroyed in an airstrike by the Regia Aeronautica in Dolo, Ethiopia, killing between 22 and 30 people, mostly Ethiopians. The attack was reportedly part of an Italian reprisal for the earlier execution of an Italian prisoner of war by Ethiopian troops or civilians.


30/12/1927

The Ginza Line, the first subway line in Asia, opens in Tokyo, Japan.

The Ginza Line , officially designated as Line 3 Ginza Line , is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by Tokyo Metro. The line spans 14.3 km and serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chūō, Chiyoda, and Taitō.


30/12/1922

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is formed.

The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. It was the world's third-most populous country, the largest by area, and bordered twelve countries. A diverse multinational state, it was organized as a federal union of national republics, with the largest and most populous being the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (SFSR). In practice, its government and economy were highly centralized. As a one-party state governed by the Communist Party, it was the flagship communist state. Its capital and largest city was Moscow.


30/12/1916

Russian mystic and advisor to the Tsar Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is murdered by a loyalist group led by Prince Felix Yusupov. His frozen, partially-trussed body was discovered in a Petrograd river three days later.

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian mystic and faith healer. He is best known for having befriended the imperial family of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, through whom he gained considerable influence in the final years of the Russian Empire.


The last coronation in Hungary is performed for King Charles IV and Queen Zita.

The coronation of the Hungarian monarch was a ceremony in which the king or queen of the Kingdom of Hungary was formally crowned and invested with regalia. It corresponded to the coronation ceremonies in other European monarchies. While in countries like France and England the king's reign began immediately upon the death of his predecessor, in Hungary the coronation was absolutely indispensable: if it were not properly executed, the Kingdom stayed "orphaned". All monarchs had to be crowned as King of Hungary in order to promulgate laws and exercise his royal prerogatives in the Kingdom of Hungary. Starting from the Golden Bull of 1222, all new Hungarian monarchs had to take a coronation oath, by which they had to agree to uphold the constitutional arrangements of the country, and to preserve the liberties of their subjects and the territorial integrity of the realm.


30/12/1906

The All-India Muslim League is founded in Dacca, East Bengal, British India (later Dhaka, Bangladesh).

The All-India Muslim League was a political party in the British India active between 1906 and 1947 that advocated for Muslim interests. The party emerged from the Aligarh Movement and the broader Islamic modernist and communalist traditions, which sought to preserve the distinct social and political identity of Muslims against the more secular policies of the Indian National Congress. In December 1906, following the successful Simla Deputation in October, the All-India Muslim League was founded in the 20th session of the All-India Muhammadan Educational Conference in Dacca. It created and spearheaded the movement for the creation of Pakistan based upon the two-nation theory of the Indian scholar Syed Ahmad Khan.


30/12/1905

Former Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg is assassinated at the front gate of his home in Caldwell.

Idaho is a landlocked state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington and Oregon to the west; the state shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border to the north with the Canadian province of British Columbia. Idaho's state capital and largest city is Boise. With an area of 83,569 square miles (216,440 km2), Idaho is the 14th-largest state by land area. The state has a population of approximately two million people; it ranks as the 13th-least populous and the seventh-least densely populated of the 50 U.S. states.


30/12/1903

A fire at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, Illinois kills at least 605.

The Iroquois Theatre fire was a catastrophic building fire in Chicago, Illinois, that broke out on December 30, 1903, during a performance attended by 1,700 people. The fire caused 602 deaths and 250 non-fatal injuries. It ranks as the worst theater fire in the United States, surpassing the carnage of the Brooklyn Theatre fire of 1876, which claimed at least 278 lives.


30/12/1902

The Discovery Expedition under Robert Falcon Scott attains a Farthest South at 82°17′S in Antarctica.

The Discovery Expedition of 1901–1904, known officially as the British National Antarctic Expedition, was the first official British exploration of the Antarctic regions since the voyage of James Clark Ross sixty years earlier (1839–1843). Organized on a large scale under a joint committee of the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), the new expedition carried out scientific research and geographical exploration in what was then largely an untouched continent. It launched the Antarctic careers of many who would become leading figures in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, including Robert Falcon Scott who led the expedition, Ernest Shackleton, Edward Wilson, Frank Wild, Tom Crean and William Lashly.


30/12/1897

The British Colony of Natal annexes Zululand.

The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on 4 May 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its provinces. It is now the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.


30/12/1896

Filipino patriot and reform advocate José Rizal is executed by a Spanish firing squad in Manila.

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is popularly considered a national hero of the Philippines, although no official proclamation formally declares him as such. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal became a writer and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement in the 1880s, which advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain.


Canadian ice hockey player Ernie McLea scores the first hat-trick in Stanley Cup play, and the Cup-winning goal as the Montreal Victorias defeat the Winnipeg Victorias 6–5.

Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in North America and parts of Europe, is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. The two opposing teams score by using their sticks to control and advance a vulcanized rubber hockey puck, and then shooting it into the net of the other team. Each goal is worth one point. The team with the highest score after an hour of gameplay, broken down into three 20-minute periods, is declared the winner; ties are broken in overtime or a shootout. In a formal game, each team has six skaters on the ice at a time, barring any penalties, including a goaltender. It is a full contact game and one of the more physically demanding team sports.


30/12/1890

Following the Wounded Knee Massacre, the United States Army and Lakota warriors face off in the Drexel Mission Fight.

The Wounded Knee Massacre, also known as the Battle of Wounded Knee, was an 1890 armed conflict between Native Americans and the United States Army. It was part of the U.S. Army’s Pine Ridge Campaign. Between 250 and 300 Lakota people were killed, and 51 were wounded. Twenty-five U.S. soldiers were killed and 39 were wounded. Nineteen soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor specifically for Wounded Knee, and 31 overall for the campaign.


30/12/1853

Gadsden Purchase: The United States buys land from Mexico to facilitate railroad building in the Southwest.

The Gadsden Purchase, also known as the Treaty of Mesilla, is a 29,640-square-mile (76,800 km2) region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico that the United States acquired from Mexico. The first draft was signed on December 31, 1853, by James Gadsden, US Minister to Mexico, and by Antonio López de Santa Anna, president of Mexico. The treaty took effect on June 8, 1854.


30/12/1825

The Treaty of St. Louis between the United States and the Shawnee Nation is proclaimed.

The Treaty of St. Louis is the name of a series of treaties signed between the United States and various Native American tribes from 1804 through 1824. The fourteen treaties were all signed in the St. Louis, Missouri area.


30/12/1816

The Treaty of St. Louis between the United States and the united Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi Indian tribes is proclaimed.

The Treaty of St. Louis of 1816 was treaty signed by Ninian Edwards, William Clark, and Auguste Chouteau for the United States and representatives of the Council of Three Fires residing on the Illinois and Milwaukee rivers, signed on August 24, 1816, and proclaimed on December 30, 1816. Despite the name, the treaty was conducted at Portage des Sioux, Missouri, located immediately north of St. Louis, Missouri.


30/12/1813

War of 1812: British soldiers burn Buffalo, New York.

The War of 1812 was a conflict initiated by the United States against the United Kingdom and its allies fought mainly in North America and at sea during the wider Napoleonic Wars. The United States declared war on Britain on 18 June 1812. Although peace terms were agreed upon in the December 1814 Treaty of Ghent, the war did not officially end until the peace treaty was ratified by the United States Senate on 17 February 1815.


30/12/1702

Queen Anne's War: James Moore, Governor of the Province of Carolina, abandons the Siege of St. Augustine.

Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought in North America involving the colonial empires of Great Britain, France, and Spain. In the United States, it is regarded as a standalone conflict. Elsewhere it is viewed as the American theater of the War of the Spanish Succession. It is also known as the Third Indian War. In France it was known as the Second Intercolonial War.


30/12/1641

Reapers' War: Louis XIII of France swears the Catalan constitutions, being appointed Count of Barcelona and thus establishing the personal union of the Principality of Catalonia with the Kingdom of France.

The Reapers' War, also known as the Catalan Revolt or Catalan Revolution, was a conflict that affected the Principality of Catalonia between 1640 and 1659, in the context of the Franco-Spanish War of 1635–1659. Incited by an unrest among the Catalan peasantry and institutions, as well as French diplomatic movements, the war resulted in the establishment of the short-lived Catalan Republic and the subsequent clash of Spanish and French armies on Catalan soil for over a decade.


30/12/1460

Wars of the Roses: Lancastrians kill the 3rd Duke of York and win the Battle of Wakefield.

The Wars of the Roses, known at the time and in following centuries as the Civil Wars, were a series of armed confrontations, machinations, battles and campaigns fought for control of the English throne from 1455 to 1487. The conflict was fought between supporters of the House of Lancaster and House of York, two rival cadet branches of the royal House of Plantagenet. The conflict resulted in the end of Lancaster's male line in 1471, leaving the Tudor family to inherit, through the female line, the Lancaster claim to the throne. Conflict was largely brought to an end upon the union of the two houses through marriage, creating the Tudor dynasty that would subsequently rule England.


30/12/1419

Hundred Years' War: Battle of La Rochelle.

The Lancastrian War was the third and final phase of the Hundred Years' War between England and France. It lasted from 1415, when Henry V of England invaded Normandy, to 1453, when the English were definitively defeated in Aquitaine. It followed a long period of peace from the end of the Caroline War in 1389. The phase is named after the House of Lancaster, the ruling house of the Kingdom of England, to which Henry V belonged. The early years of the Lancastrian War were dominated by the forces of the House of Plantagenet, who held the English throne and also claimed that of France. Initial English successes, notably at the Battle of Agincourt, coupled with divisions among the French ruling class, allowed Henry V to win the allegiance of large parts of France. Under the terms of the Treaty of Troyes of 1420, Henry V married the French princess Catherine of Valois and was made regent of the kingdom and heir to the throne of France. A victory on paper was thus achieved by the English, with their claims now having legal standing. Some of the French nobility refused to recognise the agreement, however, and so military conflict continued. Henry V and, after his death, his brother John, Duke of Bedford, brought the English to the height of their power in France, with a Plantagenet crowned in Paris.


30/12/1066

Granada massacre: A Muslim mob storms the royal palace in Granada, crucifies Jewish vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela and massacres most of the Jewish population of the city.

The 1066 Granada massacre took place on 30 December 1066 when a Muslim mob stormed the royal palace in Granada, in the Taifa of Granada, killed and crucified the Jewish vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela, and massacred members of the city’s Jewish community.


30/12/0999

Battle of Glenmama: The combined forces of Munster and Meath under king Brian Boru inflict a crushing defeat on the allied armies of Leinster and Dublin near Lyons Hill in Ireland.

Year 999 (CMXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.


30/12/0534

The second and final edition of the Code of Justinian comes into effect in the Byzantine Empire.

Year 534 (DXXXIV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Iustinianus and Paulinus. The denomination 534 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.