December 20
1790
Samuel Slater built the nation’s first cotton mill in Pawtucket, R.I.
1803
The United States purchased the Louisiana territory from France for $15 million.
1860
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.
1968
Author John Steinbeck died at age 66.
1989
The United States invaded Panama and installed a new government but failed to capture General Manuel Antonio Noriega.
1996
Astronomer Carl Sagan died at age 62.
Birthdays
Branch Rickey
1881–1965, American baseball executive.
Thomas Graham
chemist (1805)
Harvey Samuel Firestone
industrialist (1868)
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman
athlete (1886)
Susanne K. Langer
philosopher (1895)
Sidney Hook
philosopher (1902)
Jenny Agutter
actor (1952)
JoJo
actor, singer (1990)