1966 Walt Disney (65), film producer and pioneer of film animation, died of lung cancer.
1918 General election (to 28/12). Lloyd George returned as head of a coalition government. Sinn Féin secured 73 of Ireland’s 105 seats.
1911 The Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his five-man team, using dog sleds, became the first to reach the South Pole, 35 days ahead of their British rivals, led by Captain Scott.
1831 In Carrickshock, Co. Kilkenny, a large crowd clashed with armed police guarding a hired agent delivering summonses to tithe defaulters. Seventeen died, including thirteen policemen.
1955 The Republic of Ireland was admitted to the United Nations.
