December 20th

Queen Elizabeth becomes the longest-living British monarch. The previous longest living monarch - Queen Victoria - died on Jan 22, 1901, when she was 81 years, 7 months, and 29 days old. Queen Elizabeth, who was born on 21 April 1926, turned 81 years, 7 months and 30 days on this day.

Portuguese transfer sovereignty of Macau to China. Portugal ruled over the special administrative region of China from the mid-16th century to 1999. Macau has a high degree of independence from China, and has control over its legal system, monetary system, and immigration policy.

Astronomer Carl Sagan died at age 62.

The United States invaded Panama and installed a new government but failed to capture General Manuel Antonio Noriega.

Spanish Prime Minister Carrero Blanco assassinated. A confidant of dictator Francisco Franco, Blanco was assassinated by the Basque nationalist and separatist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or ETA.

Author John Steinbeck died at age 66.

Cheka formed - Soviet state security force and forerunner to the KGB, under Felix Dzerzhinsky after decree by Lenin.

South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.

'Grimm's Fairy Tales' by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm is published.

French flag lowered in New Orleans to mark formal transfer of Louisiana Purchase from France to US for $27M.

Samuel Slater built the nation's first cotton mill in Pawtucket, R.I.

Virginia Company settlers leave London to establish Jamestown, Virginia.

Suleiman the Magnificent accepts surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. Eventually settle in Malta, become known as the Knights of Malta.