22 December It Happened Today

1858  Birth of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.

1895  Wilhelm Rontgen demonstrates X rays for the first time.

1943  Death of Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit and many other children’s book characters.

1949  Birth of Maurice and Robin Gibb of Bee Gees fame.

1961  First US soldier dies in the Vietnam conflict.

1989  Nicolae Ceausescu is overthrown in Romania.