1800 The first English Christmas tree is erected at Queen’s Lodge by Queen Charlotte.
1815 In Guizhou province, China, Wang Dacai, a barber, commits suicide out of regret for his part in the sentencing to death of his son, Wang Hebao. Dacai had been caught in an act of adulterous sex and was tied to a tree awaiting the arrival of the authorities. He ordered his son to slightly cut his neck, hoping to countersue his accusers for assault. Unfortunately, his son was detected in this act of striking a father, a gross violation of Confucian filial piety, and was sentenced to death by beheading.
1818 “Silent Night” is sung for first time in Oberndorf, Austria. A local teacher and priest have collaborated to come up with a guitar arrangement in the absence of the church organ.
1826 West Point cleans up after the “Grog Mutiny” or “Eggnog Riot” — 20 cadets will be court-martialled for their part in a protest against restrictions on alcohol. The disorders were led by cadets from the southern states (including future Confederate President Jefferson Davis) who were used to a more spirited celebration of the holiday.
1837 A Seminole Indian force is defeated by American troops led by Zachary Taylor at the Battle of Okeechobee.
1846 Missouri Mounted Volunteers defeat Mexicans at the battle of El Brazito, in New Mexico. “On Christmas day, at a spot called Bracito, when the regiment after its usual march, had picketed their horses, and were gathering fuel, the advance guard reported the rapid approach of the enemy in large force. Line was formed on foot, when a black flag was received with an insolent demand. Colonel Doniphan restrained his men from shooting the bearer down. The enemy’s line, nearly half cavalry, and including a howitzer, opened fire at four hundred yards, and still advanced, and had fired three rounds, before fire was returned within effective range. Victory seems to have been decided by a charge of Captain Reid with twenty cavalry which he had managed to mount, and another charge by a dismounted company which captured the howitzer. The enemy fled, with loss of forty-three killed and one hundred and fifty wounded; our loss seven wounded, who all recovered.”
1884 Evelyn Nesbit “The Girl on the Velvet Swing” is born in Natrona, Pennsylvania. A beautiful artist’s model she will marry a mentally-unstable millionaire Harry Thaw who will murder the architect Stanford White out of a jealous rage.
1899 Englishman George O’Brien murders 3 miners on the Yukon River trail during the Klondike Gold Rush. Arrested by the Northwest Mounted Police, O’Brien will hang for his crime in 1901.
