1848 – California Gold Rush: In a message to the United States Congress, U.S. President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.

In 1932, German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.

In 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.

1935 – Mary McLeod Bethune founds the National Council of Negro Women in New York City.

1955 – The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merge and form the AFL–CIO.

1955 – E. D. Nixon and Rosa Parks lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

1999 – Helen Clark is sworn in as Prime Minister of New Zealand, the second woman to hold the post and the first to be elected to the role.

2004 – The Civil Partnership Act comes into effect in the United Kingdom, and the first civil partnership is registered there.

If today is your birthday, Happy Birthday To You! You share this day with…

1782 – Martin Van Buren, American lawyer and politician, 8th President of the United States (d. 1862)

1839 – George Armstrong Custer, American general (d. 1876)

1890 – Fritz Lang, Austrian-American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1976)

1901 – Walt Disney, American animator, director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded The Walt Disney Company (d. 1966)

1901 – Milton H. Erickson, American psychiatrist and author (d. 1980)

1902 – Strom Thurmond, American educator, general, and politician, 103rd Governor of South Carolina (d. 2003)

1905 – Otto Preminger, Austrian-American actor, director, and producer (d. 1986)

1907 – Lin Biao, Chinese general and politician, 2nd Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China (d. 1971)

1911 – Władysław Szpilman, Polish pianist and composer (d. 2000)

1912 – Sonny Boy Williamson II, American singer-songwriter and harmonica player (d. 1965)

1925 – Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Nicaraguan politician, 73rd President of Nicaragua (d. 1980)

1932 – Little Richard, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actor

1934 – Joan Didion, American novelist and screenwriter

1935 – Calvin Trillin, American novelist, humorist, and journalist

1936 – James Lee Burke, American journalist, author, and academic

1938 – J. J. Cale, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2013)

1946 – José Carreras, Spanish tenor and actor

1947 – Jim Messina, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

1947 – Jim Plunkett, American football player and radio host

1949 – John Altman, English composer and conductor

1963 – Doctor Dré, American television and radio host

1968 – Margaret Cho, American comedian, actress, producer, and screenwriter

1968 – Lisa Marie, American model and actress

1980 – Ibrahim Maalouf, Lebanese-French trumpet player and composer

Almanac - Thursday 12/5/19

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