1776: Thomas Paine publishes his first “American Crisis” essay beginning “These are the times that try men’s souls” (date disputed)

1783: William Pitt the Younger becomes the youngest ever British Prime Minister at age 24

1932: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) begins transmitting overseas

1958: First radio broadcast from space, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends a Christmas message “to all mankind, America’s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere”

1984: Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration to transfer Hong Kong back to China in 1997

Source: Onthisday.com