December 10: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his contributions to songwriting.

This was the first time the prestigious prize was given to a musician, recognizing Dylan's poetic lyricism and his cultural impact over decades.

Cristina Fernandez was sworn in as Argentina’s first elected female president.

The first Lord of the Rings film installment, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” directed by Peter Jackson, premiered in London.

One of the biggest heists in Japan occurred.

Almost 3,000,000 yen was stolen in transport by a man dressed as a police officer. An investigation went on for seven years with no arrests. In 1988, the thief was relieved of the legal liability giving him a chance to tell his story without legal repercussions; however, no one came forward.

Winston Churchill was awarded the Nobel prize in Literature.

Edward VIII signed to abdicate the British throne.

Edward VIII signed his Declaration of Abdication so that he could marry Wallis Simpson – an American divorcee, a marriage which was opposed by the United Kingdom government.

Calbraith Rodgers completed the first crossing of the US by airplane in 84 days.

The First Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded to the Red Cross founder Jean Henri Dunant and peace activist Frederic Passy.

The Treaty of Paris was signed.

Signed by US President McKinley, this treaty brought an end to the Spanish-American War. It ended with the US acquiring the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was first published in the UK and Canada.

Mississippi was admitted to the Union, making it the 20th American state.

The first edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica was published.

Isaac Newton’s calculations and theories based on Kepler’s laws were read to the Royal Society in London.

Newton's manuscript, called "De motu corporum in gyrum," was read to the Royal Society by Edmond Halley after visiting Newton earlier that year. Halley encouraged Newton to continue his calculations and refine his theories, through which Newton developed many theories of physics we still use today.

Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict, demanding that he recant.

The decree, written by the Pope, threatened to excommunicate Martin Luther unless he renounced his teachings.

King Berger of Sweden celebrated Christmas with his brothers before throwing them in his dungeons to die.

The king's brothers, dukes Eric and Valdemar, had attempted to stage a coup against the king in 1310. King Berger invited his brothers to the Christmas banquet under the pretense of reconciliation. In reality, he'd planned the demise of his brothers for years. On the night of the feast, he threw Eric and Valdemar into his dungeons to starve to death.