Today In History

In 1843: Charles Dickens’ classic Yuletide tale, “A Christmas Carol,” was first published in England.

In 1732: Benjamin Franklin began publishing “Poor Richard’s Almanac.”

In 1776: Thomas Paine published his first “American Crisis” essay, in which he wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

In 1777: Gen. George Washington led his army of about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, Pa., to camp for the winter.

In 1974: Nelson Rockefeller was sworn in as the 41st vice president of the United States.

In 1984: Britain and China signed an accord returning Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.

In 1986: the Soviet Union announced it had freed dissident Andrei Sakharov from internal exile, and pardoned his wife, Yelena Bonner.