The three ships carrying settlers who would later found Virginia, the first of the Thirteen Colonies, departed England.
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William Pitt the Younger became the youngest British Prime Minister ever at age 24.
The last manned lunar flight, Apollo 17, returned to Earth.
A Christmas Carol by English author Charles Dickens was published.
The US House of Representatives voted to impeach President Bill Clinton, forwarding the articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.
The US Office of Censorship was created to control info relating to World War II.