Today in History - December 29th

1170 - On this day in history, the assassination inside Canterbury Cathedral of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, took place.
1778 - English troops occupied Savannah, Georgia.
1813 - Today in history, the British burned Buffalo, NY, during the War of 1812.
1845 - President James Polk signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States.
1848 - On this day in history, President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House.
1851 - The first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized, in Boston, MA.
1852 - Today in history, Emma Snodgrass was arrested in Boston for wearing pants.

1888 - The first performance of Macbeth took place at the Lyceum Theatre.
1890 - On this day in history, The Seventh Cavalry massacred over 400 men, women and children at Wounded Knee Creek. This was the last major conflict between Indians and US troops.
1940 - During World War II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London.
1952 - Today in history, the first transistorized hearing aid was offered for sale by Sonotone.
1997 - Hong Kong began killing 1.25 million chickens, the entire population, for fear of the spread of 'bird flu.'

SPORTS - Today in History, December 29th

1934 - On this day in history and for the first regular season, a college basketball game was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. New York University defeated Notre Dame 25-18.
1937 - Babe Ruth returned to baseball as the new manager of the Class D, De Land Reds of the Florida State League. Ruth had retired from baseball in 1935.

1812 - Today in history, Beethoven's Opus 96: Violin Sonata No. 10 in G major was performed for the first time.
1955 - Barbra Streisand's first recording at age 13 "You'll Never Know" took place.
1982 - Today in history, Jamaica issued a Bob Marley commemorative stamp.

1862 - The bowling ball was invented.
1885 - On this day in history, Gottlieb Daimler patented the first bike in Germany.