12 History Lessons + 7 Births & 7 Deaths for December 27, 2025
Today’s History:
- 537 – The Hagia Sophia is dedicated in Constantinople, becoming one of the most influential architectural and religious monuments in world history.
- 1831 – Charles Darwin departs England aboard HMS Beagle, launching the voyage that will shape modern evolutionary science.
- 1904 – J. M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” premieres in London, introducing an enduring modern myth.
- 1932 – Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City, instantly becoming a flagship venue of American mass entertainment.
- 1945 – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) formally comes into existence as its founding agreement is ratified by the first member countries.
- 1949 – The Netherlands formally recognizes Indonesian sovereignty, finalizing the end of Dutch colonial rule after years of conflict.
- 1968 – Apollo 8 splashes down safely, completing the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon and return to Earth.
- 1979 – Soviet forces seize control in Afghanistan, a turning point that reshapes the Cold War and the region for decades.
- 1985 – Conservationist Dian Fossey is found murdered in Rwanda, a case that remains one of environmental history’s most haunting chapters.
- 2007 – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated in Rawalpindi, destabilizing Pakistani politics and drawing global condemnation.
- 2012 – U.S. federal courts convict and sentence multiple defendants in a major wave of post–financial crisis fraud and corruption prosecutions.
- 2023 – Actor Lee Sun-kyun (internationally known for Parasite) dies, prompting renewed global attention to public pressure and privacy in celebrity coverage.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1948 – Gérard Depardieu – French actor and one of Europe’s most prominent screen stars, known for a vast career spanning drama, comedy, and historical epics. (77)
- 1966 – Bill Goldberg – American professional wrestler and former NFL player, a defining powerhouse figure of late-1990s wrestling. (59)
- 1981 – Emilie de Ravin – Australian actor known for major TV roles including Lost and Once Upon a Time. (44)
- 1986 – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – Jamaican sprinter, multiple-time Olympic champion and one of the greatest women’s short-distance runners ever. (39)
- 1988 – Hayley Williams – American singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of Paramore and a key voice of modern alternative pop-rock. (37)
- 1993 – Olivia Cooke – English actor known for a range of film roles and major television work, including House of the Dragon. (32)
- 1995 – Timothée Chalamet – American actor and one of his generation’s most prominent film leads, known for both prestige dramas and major franchises. (30)
Today’s Deaths:
- 1972 – Lester B. Pearson – Canadian prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, central to modern Canadian diplomacy and institutions. (75)
- 1981 – Hoagy Carmichael – American composer and performer whose songwriting helped define the Great American Songbook. (82)
- 1982 – Jack Swigert – American astronaut (Apollo 13) whose mission became synonymous with crisis management and survival in space. (51)
- 1988 – Hal Ashby – American film director associated with landmark 1970s cinema, known for character-driven classics. (59)
- 2007 – Benazir Bhutto – Pakistani politician and former prime minister, a historic figure in global politics whose assassination shocked the world. (54)
- 2012 – Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. – American general best known for commanding coalition forces during the Gulf War. (78)
- 2016 – Carrie Fisher – American actor and writer, globally iconic as Princess Leia and widely admired for candor about mental health and addiction. (60)
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