December 5

December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the
Gregorian calendar. There are 26 days remaining.

Events:

   * 1492 - Christopher Columbus discovers the island of Hispaniola.
   * 1776 - Phi Beta Kappa fraternity founded.
   * 1831 - Former President of the United States John Quincy Adams takes a
     seat in the United States House of Representatives.
   * 1933 - Prohibition ends in the United States.
   * 1945 - United States Navy flying squadron lost in Bermuda Triangle.
   * 1974 - Monty Python's Flying Circus final broadcast.

Births:

   * 1782 - Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States (+ 1862)
   * 1830 - Christina Rossetti, poet
   * 1839 - George Armstrong Custer, American general (+ 1876)
   * 1875 - Arthur Currie, soldier (+ 1933)
   * 1886 - Rose Wilder Lang, writer (+ 1968)
   * 1890 - David Bomberg, painter
   * 1890 - Fritz Lang, film director (+ 1976)
   * 1901 - Werner Karl Heisenberg, physicist (+ 1976)
   * 1901 - Walt Disney, film producer (+ 1966)
   * 1902 - Strom Thurmond, American politician
   * 1903 - Johannes Heesters, singer and actor
   * 1906 - Otto Preminger, director, producer (+ 1986)
   * 1914 - Hans Hellmut Kirst, author (+ 1989)
   * 1932 - Little Richard, singer
   * 1932 - Sheldon Lee, physicist
   * 1934 - Joan Didion, writer
   * 1935 - Calvin Trillin, writer
   * 1944 - Jeroen Krabb�, actor
   * 1946 - Jos� Carreras, singer
   * 1947 - Jim Plunkett, American football star
   * 1947 - Jim Messina, musician
   * 1968 - Margaret Cho, comedian, actress

Deaths:

   * 1791 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer
   * 1870 - Alexandre Dumas p�re, writer
   * 1926 - Claude Oscar Monet, impressionist painter
   * 1950 - Shri Aurobindo, guru
   * 2001 - Franco Rasetti, physicist
   * 2002 -
        o Einar Skinnarland, SOE agent
        o Roone Arledge, sports broadcasting pioneer

Holidays and observances:

   * The Netherlands - Saint Nicholas Eve (Sinterklaas, the predecessor of
     Santa Claus)
   * Roman Empire - Faunalia celebrated in honor of Faunus

Credit Cards - Mortgages - Wester Union - Loans - Loans