december

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Denzel Washington Age: 57 Occupation: Actor Known For: A six-year stint on ‘St. Elsewhere,’ Oscar-winning performances in the movies ‘Glory’ and ‘Training Day,’ serving as the national spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and deservedly being named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1996

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1065 – Westminster Abbey is consecrated (More info) 1832 – John C. Calhoun becomes the first Vice President of the United States to resign (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1831 – Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate the theory of evolution (More info) 1900 – Prohibitionist Carry Nation smashes up her first saloon, causing several thousand dollars in damage and landing in jail (More info)

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Gérard Depardieu Age: 63 Occupation: Actor Known For: His Golden Globe-winning role in ‘Green Card,’ his Oscar-nominated work in ‘Cyrano de Bergerac,’ and a recent incident in which he drunkenly used the aisle of an Air France plane as a urinal

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Susan Lucci Age: 65 Occupation: Actress Known For: Playing Erica Kane on the daytime drama ‘All My Children’ from 1970 until the show went off the air in 2011, being famously nominated for 18 Emmys before her first win, and her successful line of lingerie and personal products

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1823 – ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ more commonly known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,’ is published anonymously (More info) 1888 – Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor (More info)

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Ralph Fiennes Age: 49 Occupation: Actor Known For: Playing Lord Voldemort in the ‘Harry Potter’ film series, giving Oscar-nominated performances in ‘The English Patient’ and ‘Schindler’s List,’ and a 2007 incident in which he joined the Mile High Club with a Qantas flight attendant

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1807 – At the urging of President Thomas Jefferson, Congress passes the Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries (More info) 1941 – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives in Washington, DC for a series of meetings with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on a unified Anglo-American war strate

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1620 – William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts (More info) 1898 – Pierre and Marie Curie discover radium (More info)

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Samuel L. Jackson Age: 63 Occupation: Actor Known For: Appearing in more than 100 movies, most notably ‘Pulp Fiction,’ the ‘Star Wars’ prequel trilogy, and ‘Snakes on a Plane,’ being an avid golfer, and his hilariously and famously foul mouth

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: David Cook Age: 29 Occupation: Singer and Songwriter Known For: Winning the seventh season of ‘American Idol,’ his platinum-selling debut album, hit songs like ‘The Time of My Life’ and ‘Light On,’ and helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research after his brother tragically died of a brain tumor

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1803 – The Louisiana Purchase is completed at a ceremony in New Orleans (More info) 1860 – South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the United States (More info)