What Happened On This Day – December 13
2003 Saddam Hussein Captured
Saddam Hussein, the fifth president of Iraq, was found hiding in a camouflaged hole in the ground and was captured by American forces near Tikrit, Iraq. The military operation that led to his capture was called Operation Red Dawn. He was subsequently handed over to the interim Iraqi government. After a trial where he was found guilty of crimes against humanity, he was executed 3 years after his capture in December 2006.
2001 Attack on Indian parliament
The Indian parliament, the Sansad, was attacked by terrorists. 15 people, including the terrorists were killed during the attack.
1972 Last human landing on the Moon
Apollo 17 was the last mission of the United States' Apollo lunar landing program. It was also the sixth and the last time humans landed on the Moon.
1795 Meteorite crashes into Wold Newton in Yorkshire, England.
Major Edward Topham owned the land where the meteorite crashed. He exhibited it later, and today it is in the Natural History Museum in London.
1642 First European to Reach New Zealand
Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer and merchant, reached the coast of South Island in New Zealand, and named it Staten Landt. Tasman was also the first European in recorded history to step foot on Tasmania, an island state in Australia. Tasman claimed the island for the Dutch crown. It is named after him as well.
Births On This Day – December 13
1989 Taylor Swift
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actress
1948 Ted Nugent
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor
1936 Aga Khan IV
Swiss/French 49th Nizari Ismaili Imam
1902 Talcott Parsons
American sociologist
1818 Mary Todd Lincoln
American wife of Abraham Lincoln, 17th First Lady of the United States
Deaths On This Day – December 13
2010 Richard Holbrooke
American journalist, banker, diplomat, 22nd United States Ambassador to the United Nations
2005 Stanley Williams
American gang leader, co-founded the Crips
1944 Wassily Kandinsky
Russian/French painter
1784 Samuel Johnson
English author, lexicographer
1204 Maimonides
Spanish rabbi, philosopher