| 1135 | | Stephen of Blois is crowned the king of England. |
| 1775 | | Esek Hopkins takes command of the Continental Navy — a total of seven ships. |
| 1807 | | Congress passes the Embargo Act, which halts all trading completely. It is hoped that the act will keep the United States out the European Wars. |
| 1829 | | The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad opens the first passenger railway line. |
| 1918 | | The last of the food restrictions, enforced because of the shortages during World War I, are lifted. |
| 1929 | | Soviet troops leave Manchuria after a truce is reached with the Chinese over the Eastern Railway dispute. |
| 1941 | | Japanese troops make an amphibious landing on the coast of Lingayen Gulf on Luzon, the Philippines. |
| 1942 | | The Soviets drive German troops back 15 miles at the Don River. |
| 1944 | | During the Battle of the Bulge, General Anthony McAuliffe responds to a German surrender request with a one word answer: "Nuts!" |
| 1945 | | The United States recognizes Tito's government in Yugoslavia. |
| 1965 | | The EF-105F Wild Weasel makes its first kill over Vietnam. |
| 1966 | | The United States announces the allocation of 900,000 tons of grain to fight the famine in India. |
| 1989 | | The Romanian government of Nicolae Ceausescu is overthrown, ending 42 years of communist rule. |