2011 – Myanmar's first elected parliament in half a century convenes
The event underlined a general move towards democracy in the country.
2000 – Alaska Airlines flight 261 crashes into the sea
The MD-83 experienced horizontal stabilizer problems before descending into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 88 on board.
1996 – A suicide bombing in Sri Lanka kills 91 people
Separatist Tamil Tigers detonated a truck loaded with explosives in front of the central bank in Colombo.
1961 – Ham the Chimp travels into outer space
The chimpanzee survived the US Mercury Program test flight with just a bruised nose.
1865 – The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed
The Amendment, which officially abolished slavery, was adopted on December 6, 1865.
1982 – Elena Paparizou
Greek/Swedish singer-songwriter
1975 – Preity Zinta
Indian actress
1937 – Philip Glass
American composer
1919 – Jackie Robinson
American baseball player
1797 – Franz Schubert
Austrian composer
1969 – Meher Baba
Indian mystic
1956 – A. A. Milne
English author
1954 – Edwin Armstrong
American engineer, invented FM radio
1888 – John Bosco
Italian priest, educator
1606 – Guy Fawkes
English soldier, planned the Gunpowder Plot
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