December 12

1803

Gerald Griffin, the Irish novelist, poet, and playwright, was born

Ireland

Gerald Griffin (Irish: Gearóid Ó Gríofa; 12 December 1803 – 12 June 1840) was an Irish-born novelist, poet and playwright. His novel The Collegians was the basis of Dion …

1883

Peadar Kearney, composer of lyrics to Ireland National Anthem, A Soldier's Song, is born

Ireland

Peadar Kearney, 12 December 1883 – 24 November 1942) was an Irish republican and composer of numerous rebel songs. In 1907 he wrote the lyrics to “A Soldier’s …

1939

HMS Duchess, accidentally rammed by a battleship in thick fog, sunk with heavy loss of life

England

HMS Duchess was a D-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship was initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China …

1939

The Cork Opera House is destroyed by fire

Ireland

Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in Ireland. The first venue opened in 1855 on Emmet Place (then known as Nelson’s Place) to the rear of the Crawford Art …