On This Day: 11 December

11 December in Indian history

• 1936Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII's abdication as King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India, becomes effective.India

11 December in world history

• 2006The first action in the Mexican drug war began as President Felipe Calderón ordered Mexican soldiers and Federal Police units into the state of Michoacán.
• 2006Criticized worldwide as a "meeting of Holocaust deniers", the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust opened in Tehran.
• 1993A block of the Highland Towers condominium complex collapses following a landslide caused by heavy rain and water flowing from a construction site at Ampang district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 48 of its residents die, including one who died in hospital after b
• 1980The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (also known as Superfund) is enacted by the U.S. Congress.
• 1972Apollo 17, the last Apollo mission, landed on the Moon.
• 1958French Upper Volta and French Dahomey gain self-government from France, becoming the Republic of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and the Republic of Dahomey (now Benin), respectively, and joining the French Community.
• 1941World War II: Germany and Italy declare war on the United States, following the Americans' declaration of war on the Empire of Japan in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States, in turn, declares war on them.
• 1931Statute of Westminster 1931: The British Parliament establishes legislative equality between the UK and the Dominions of the Commonwealth—Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland.
• 1925Roman Catholic papal encyclical Quas primas introduces the Feast of Christ the King.
• 1920Irish War of Independence: Following an Irish Republican Army ambush of an Auxiliary patrol, British forces burned and looted numerous buildings in Cork.
• 1913More than two years after it was stolen from the Louvre, Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa is recovered in Florence, Italy. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, is immediately arrested.
• 1907The original Parliament House in Wellington, New Zealand, was destroyed by fire.
• 1899Second Boer War: In the Battle of Magersfontein, Boers defeated British forces trying to relieve the Siege of Kimberley.
• 1868Paraguayan War: Brazilian troops defeat the Paraguayan Army at the Battle of Avay.
• 1862American Civil War: The Battle of Fredericksburg begins as the Army of the Potomac under Union General Ambrose Burnside crosses the Rappahannock River to clash with the Army of Northern Virginia led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Fredericksburg, Virgi
• 1640A crowd of 1,500 people presented the Root and Branch petition to the Long Parliament, calling for abolishing the episcopacy of the Church of England.
• 861The Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil was assassinated by his guards, beginning the Anarchy at Samarra.

Born on 11 December

• 1988Tim Southee, New Zealand cricketer
• 1958Nikki Sixx, American bass player, songwriter, and producer
• 1935Pranab Mukherjee, Indian journalist and politician, 13th President of India (died 2020)India
• 1931Rajneesh, Indian guru, mystic, and educator (died 1990)India
• 1916Elena Garro, Mexican author and playwright (died 1998)
• 1882Subramania Bharati, Indian journalist and poet (died 1921)India

Died on 11 December

• 2013Sheikh Mussa Shariefi, Indian philosopher and scholar (born 1942)India
• 2012Ravi Shankar, Indian-American sitar player and composer (born 1920)India
• 1964Sam Cooke, American singer-songwriter (born 1931)
• 1282Michael VIII Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor (born 1225)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 11 December in history?

2006: The first action in the Mexican drug war began as President Felipe Calderón ordered Mexican soldiers and Federal Police units into the state of Michoacán. 2006: Criticized worldwide as a "meeting of Holocaust deniers", the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust opened in Tehran. 1993: A block of the Highland Towers condominium complex collapses following a landslide caused by heavy rain and water flowing from a construction site at Ampang district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 48 of its residents die, including one who died in hospital after b. 1980: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (also known as Superfund) is enacted by the U.S. Congress.

What happened on 11 December in Indian history?

1936: Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII's abdication as King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India, becomes effective.

Which famous people were born on 11 December?

Tim Southee, New Zealand cricketer (1988); Nikki Sixx, American bass player, songwriter, and producer (1958); Pranab Mukherjee, Indian journalist and politician, 13th President of India (died 2020) (1935); Rajneesh, Indian guru, mystic, and educator (died 1990) (1931).

Which day is observed on 11 December?

International Mountain Day; Establishment of Kurdish Women's Union (Iraqi Kurdistan); Indiana Day (United States); International Mountain Day; National Tango Day (Argentina).