this is the week that was
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.4 December
1154: Nicholas Breakspear becomes Adrian IV, the last English pope.
1934: UK rail fares cut to a penny a mile.
1937: First appearance of Desperate Dan in the Dandy.
1961: Contraceptive pills become available on the NHS.
1988: Lorin Maazel conducts all nine Beethoven symphonies in a single day.
5 December
1697: The new St Paul's Cathedral has its first Sunday service.
1766: James Christie holds his first auction in London.
1839: Postage rates cease to be dependent on distance as a standard charge of 4d per half-ounce is adopted.
1933: Prohibition ends in US.
1958: The Queen telephones the Lord Provost of Edinburgh to inaugurate the new STD service of direct dialling.
6 December
1557: A pig at the Commune of Saint Quentin, France, is condemned to be "buried all alive" for having devoured a child.
1774: Austria becomes the first country to introduce a state education system.
1877: Edison records "Mary had a little lamb".
1926: Mussolini approves the introduction of a tax on bachelors.
7 December
1817: Death of Captain William Bligh, once captain of the HMS Bounty.
1907: At the fight between Gunner Moir and Tommy Burns, Eugene Corrie becomes the first referee to officiate inside a boxing ring.
1911: China outlaws the pigtail.
1982: Charles Brooks Jr is the first to be executed by lethal injection in the US.
8 December
1863: Tom King becomes the first world heavyweight boxing champion, beating John Heenan for the title.
1934: The London-Australia air mail service begins.
1981: Arthur Scargill is elected President of the NUM.
9 December
1783: First executions at Newgate Prison.
1814: Death of Joseph Bramah, inventor of the beer pump.
1960: The first episode of Coronation Street is screened.
10 December
1844: "A Grand Exhibition of the Effects Produced by Inhaling Nitrous Oxide, Exhilarating or Laughing Gas" is held in Hartford, Connecticut.
1845: Robert Thompson invents pneumatic tyres.
1868: The first traffic lights come into operation off Parliament Square. Three weeks later they blow up, killing the policeman operating them.
1917: The first slogan appears on postmarks: "Buy British War Bonds Now".
1927: Greyhound racing begins at Wembley Stadium.
1928: Piccadilly Circus tube station opens.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments