The popular Christmas comedy movie, Elf, was released in the USA.
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The London Gazette published its first edition under the name The Oxford Gazette.
Using Johannes Kepler's predictions, French scientist Pierre Gassendi became the first person to witness Mercury's transit between the Earth and the Sun.
The English explorer Verney Cameron became the first European to cross Africa from east to west.
The opera company The Deutsche Opernhaus (now know as Deutsche Oper Berlin) was founded. They opened with a performance of The Deutsche Opernhaus.
John Austin became the last person to be publicly hanged on London's Tyburn Gallows.
