Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
December 29 Tuesday, December 29, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 29 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
4
Holidays
Disaster 150 years ago
The Ashtabula River railroad disaster occurs, leaving 64 injured and 92 dead at Ashtabula, Ohio.
A passenger train plunges through a bridge into the icy Ashtabula River in Ohio, killing 92 people and injuring 64 others.
History
What happened on December 29
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1170UK history
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II; he subsequently becomes a saint and martyr in the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church.
Thomas Becket is murdered inside Canterbury Cathedral by supporters of King Henry II, later canonized as a saint in both the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church.
- 1503War
The Battle of Garigliano was fought between a Spanish army under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and a French army commanded by Ludovico II, Marquess of Saluzzo.
Spanish forces under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba defeated the French army commanded by Ludovico II, Marquess of Saluzzo, at the Battle of Garigliano in Italy.
- 1607US history
According to John Smith, Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh, successfully pleads for his life after tribal leaders attempt to execute him.
Pocahontas pleads with her father's tribal leaders to spare the life of John Smith.
- 1778War
American Revolutionary War: British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell defeat American forces under Major General Robert Howe and capture the port city of Savannah, Georgia.
British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell defeat American troops under Major General Robert Howe and capture the port city of Savannah, Georgia.
- 1812US history
USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captures HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle.
USS Constitution captures HMS Java in a three-hour battle, securing a significant victory for the young U.S. Navy.
- 1876Disaster
The Ashtabula River railroad disaster occurs, leaving 64 injured and 92 dead at Ashtabula, Ohio.
A passenger train plunges through a bridge into the icy Ashtabula River in Ohio, killing 92 people and injuring 64 others.
- 1911World history
Mongolia gains independence from the Qing dynasty, enthroning 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan of Mongolia.
Mongolia gains independence and enthrones the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as its leader.
- 1992Politics
Fernando Collor de Mello, president of Brazil, tries to resign amidst corruption charges, but is then impeached.
Fernando Collor de Mello attempts to resign amid corruption allegations but is subsequently impeached.
- 2006UK history
The UK settles its Anglo-American loan, post-WWII loan debt.
The UK repays its final installment of the post-World War II Anglo-American loan.
- 2020Disaster
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hits near the town of Petrinja in Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia, killing seven people.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes near Petrinja, killing seven people.
- 2023World history
South Africa files a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over Israeli conducts in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa submits a genocide case against Israel to the International Court of Justice regarding Israeli actions in Gaza.
- 2024Disaster
Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashes into a wall in Muan, South Korea, killing 179 of the 181 occupants. It is the worst aircraft accident on South Korean soil in history.
Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashes into a wall in Muan, South Korea, killing 179 of the 181 occupants; it is the country's deadliest aircraft accident.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 29
7 this date All birthdays
Zainul Abedin
Bangladeshi painter and academic
Zainul Abedin, the Bangladeshi painter who became renowned for his 1944 series depicting the Bengal famine during British colonial rule, was born today in 1914.
Born
1914
Died
1976
Andrew Johnson
American general and politician, 17th President of the United States
1808 – 1875
Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee
Indian barrister and first president of Indian National Congress
1844 – 1906
Mekhi Phifer
American actor
b. 1974 · 52
Jessica Andrews
American singer and songwriter
b. 1983 · 43
Juliana Huxtable
American artist
b. 1987 · 39
Rina Ikoma
Japanese singer and actress (Nogizaka46 and AKB48)
b. 1995 · 31
Music
The number one songs on December 29
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 29, 1992
"I Will Always Love You"
by Whitney Houston
#1 for 10 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 2025"XMAS"— Kylie Minogue
- 2024"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2023"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2022"Food Aid"— LadBaby
- 2021"Merry Christmas"— Ed Sheeran and Elton John
- 2020"All I Want for Christmas Is You"— Mariah Carey
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport December 29, 2013
Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher suffers a massive head injury while skiing in the French Alps.
Michael Schumacher sustains severe head injuries in a skiing accident, affecting his retirement from public life.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 29, 1972
Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashes in the Everglades, killing 101 people
The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar crashed while the crew was distracted troubleshooting a landing gear indicator light. The accident led to major changes in cockpit resource management and crew coordination training.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Constitution Day (Ireland)
International
Public holidays in Ireland are established in statute law, and there are currently ten public holidays observed each year
Independence Day (Mongolia)
International
The Independence Day of Mongolia is the main state holiday in Mongolia
The fifth day of Christmas (Western Christianity)
International
The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Twelve Days of Christmastide, is the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus
The fourth day of Kwanzaa (United States)
International
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day
❝
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
— Martin Luther King Jr. · born December 29, 1929