Daily Calendar for December 22nd, 2017

The Old Farmer's Almanac daily calendar gives you quick reference for the significant events on any day throughout the year.

1770s

• 1772: Construction began for first schoolhouse west of Allegheny Mountains, in Schoenbrunn, Ohio

• 1775: Continental Fleet was organized by the rebellious American colonies under the command of Esek Hopkins

1850s

• Born 1858: Giacomo Puccini (composer)

1860s

• Born 1869: Edwin Arlington Robinson (poet)

1870s

• 1877: American Bicycling Journal first published

1880s

• Died 1880: George Eliot (writer)

• 1882: Edward Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison, created the first string of Christmas tree lights

• Died 1887: Ferdinand V. Hayden (geologist)

1910s

• Born 1911: Grote Reber (American astronomer)

• Born 1912: Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (U.S. First Lady)

1940s

• Died 1943: Beatrix Potter (author)

• Born 1945: Diane Sawyer (journalist)

1960s

• Born 1962: Ralph Fiennes (actor)

• Born 1968: Lauralee Bell (actress)

1980s

• Died 1989: Samuel Beckett (writer)

• Born 1989: Jordin Sparks (singer; season 6 American Idol winner)

2000s

• Died 2002: Joe Strummer (singer)

• 2003: A magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit the central California coast