3rd January 1777: General George Washington defeats British General Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton. 1888: Birth in Glasgow of James Bridie, Scottish physician and playwright (d. 1951). 1977: Apple Computer is incorporated. 1988: Birth in Glasgow of Ikechi Anya, Scottish-Nigerian footbal...

2nd January 1833: Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. 1938: Birth in London of David Bailey, English photographer and painter. 1870: Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge across the East River, New York City. 1942: Birth in Liverpool of Ray Moore, English radio host (...

1st January 1600: First celebration of New Year in Scotland on this date (formerly on March 25). 1800: New Lanark Twist Company founded, with Robert Owen as manager. 1967: Birth in Drumchapel of Sharon Small, Scottish actress. 1969: Birth in Aberdeen of Paul Lawrie, Scottish golfer and journalist.

31st December 1830: Birth in Kilmarnock of Alexander Smith, Scottish poet and critic (d. 1867). 1941: Birth in Glasgow of Alex Ferguson, Scottish footballer and manager. 1948: Birth in Edinburgh of Sandy Jardine, Scottish footballer and manager (d. 2014). 1969: Birth in Arbroath of Dominik Diamond,...

30th December 1899: The Albion Motor Company is established (merges with Leyland in 1951). 1915: Cruiser 'Natal' explodes in Cromarty harbour, killing 405. 1925: Birth in Glasgow of Ian MacNaughton, Scottish actor, producer and director (d. 2002). 1961: Birth in Glasgow of Charlie Nicholas, Scottis...

29th December

• 1851: The first American YMCA opens in Boston, Massachusetts.
  1959: The Lisbon Metro begins operation.
  1969: Birth in Dumfries of Allan McNish, Scottish race car driver.
  1970: Birth in Bangor of Aled Jones, Welsh singer and television host.

28th December 1795: Construction begins in Toronto of Yonge Street, once the longest street in the world. 1798: Birth in Dundee of Thomas Henderson, Scottish astronomer and mathematician (d. 1844). 1906: Rail disaster at Elliott Junction, near Arbroath, kills 22. 1939: Birth in Glasgow of Frank McL...

27th December 1822: Birth in Dole, France of Louis Pasteur, French chemist and microbiologist (d. 1895). 1831: Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle. 1952: Birth in Glasgow of David Knopfler, Scottish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. 1991: Birth in Livingston of Dan...

26th December 1871: Gilbert and Sullivan collaborate for the first time, on their lost opera (Thespis). 1914: Birth in Minnisota of Richard Widmark, American film, stage and television actor (d. 2008). 1939: Birth in New York of Phil Spector, American singer-songwriter and producer. 1982: Birth in ...

25th December

• 1745: The Jacobite army reached Glasgow.
  1944: Birth in Liverpool of Kenny Everett, English comedian, actor, and radio host (d. 1995).
  1950: Four young Scots retrieve the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey.
  1971: Birth in London of Dido, English singer-songwriter.

24th December 1724: General George Wade appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British army in Scotland. 1818: The first performance of Silent Night takes place in Oberndorf, Austria. 1905: Birth in Texas of Howard Hughes, American businessman, engineer, and pilot (d. 1976). 1969: Birth in Coatbridge ...

23rd December

• 1893: The opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck is first performed.
  1953: Birth in London of Belinda Lang, English actress.
  1955: Birth in Glasgow of Carol Ann Duffy, Scottish poet and playwright.
  1979: Birth in Edinburgh of Kenny Miller, Scottish footballer.