Once Upon A Time – December 20 – 1803 – French Flag Lowered In New Orleans To Mark Formal Transfer Of Louisiana Purchase From France To USA

1522 Suleiman the Magnificent accepts surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually settle in Malta and become known as the Knights of Malta.

1803 French flag lowered in New Orleans to mark the formal transfer of the Louisiana Purchase from France to USA, purchased for $15M

1812 “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” or “Children’s and Household Tales” by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm is first published

1917 Cheka formed – Soviet state security force and forerunner to the KGB, under Felix Dzerzhinsky after decree by Lenin

1960 The National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong, is officially formed in South Vietnam

Historical Events Today
Today in Film & TV
1946 Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” film, directed by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore premieres in New York

Today in Music
1823 Play “Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus” by Helmina von Chézy with incidental music by Franz Schubert premieres in Vienna

Today in Sport
1894 England beat Australia by 10 runs in the 1st six-day Test Cricket, Australia needed 177 to win, all out at 166 on 6th day

MORE FACTS…
1957 Elvis Presley receives his draft notice to join the US Army for national service

1820 Missouri imposes a $1 bachelor tax on unmarried men aged between 21 & 50

Famous Weddings
1832 Inventor William Henry Fox Talbot (32) weds Constance Mundy

1919 Actress Gloria Swanson (20) weds businessman Herbert K. Somborn (38)

1949 “Gone With The Wind” actor Clark Gable (48) weds socialite Sylvia Ashley (45)