The Mary Celeste, an American ship that mysteriously disappeared, is discovered adrift and deserted in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores Islands on December 4, 1872. Neither the Captain, his family, or the crew of the vessel were ever found and the reason for the abandonment of the Mary Celeste remains a mystery. More
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On This Day in History: December 5
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on December 5th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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A catastrophic fire at the Brooklyn theater in Brooklyn, New York breaks out on the evening of December 5, 1876. The fire started when a piece of scenery caught fire, fell on the stage and quickly got out of control.
As the fire continued to spread, the people panicked and clogged the stairwells trampling others as they attempted to flee the spreading flames. It is estimated that at least 285 perished. More
German physicist Albert Einstein is granted a visa to enter the United States, fleeing Nazi Germany.
The 21st Amendment is passed, ending the prohibition of alcohol in America by repealing the 18th amendment which had been as passed thus becoming Prohibition, the only Constitutional amendment to be repealed in United States history.
Flight 19, a Navy Aircraft squadron disappears in the Bermuda Triangle. The squadron, led by Lt. Charles C. Taylor, consisted of five TBM Avenger torpedo bombers which departed the U.S. Naval Air Station at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a routine navigational training.
All 14 Naval Aviators on the flight were lost, as were all 13 crew members of a Martin PBM Mariner flying boat that subsequently launched from Naval Air Station Banana River to search for Flight 19. More
Lethal smog covers the city of London for five days. It was caused by a combination of industrial pollution and high-pressure weather conditions bringing London to a near standstill and resulting in thousands of deaths.
Four years later, the UK Parliament passed the Clean Air Act marking a turning point in the history of environmentalism. More
Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid icon, died on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95. He passed away at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, surrounded by his family.