Dictator Efraín Rios Montt declared himself the president of Guatemala.
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Rock star Paul McCartney's 'Ram' album went Gold.
British explorer Matthew Flinders became the first person to successfully circumnavigate Australia.
The Church of England adopted the Book of Common Prayer.
Soviet Space Program's Vega 1, which was launched on December 15, 1984, released a space probe to enter Venus.
Robert Goddard was granted a patent for the rocket-powered aircraft.