February 16

The first captain of the USS Philadelphia was Stephen Decatur, Sr., father of the man who eventually burned her.

February 15

In response to the anchorage of the Maine in Havana, the Spanish placed the cruiser Vizcaya off the coast of New York City.

February 12

The rampant U-Boat activity in American waters during World War II prompted one merchant captain to suggest that "The only safe run was from St. Louis to Cincinnati."

December 7

Following the founding of the Republic of China on Taipei in 1949, ROC citizens were not allowed to travel to the mainland until 1978.

December 3

The first Grand Union Flag flown over the USS Alfred was hoisted by a young lieutenant named John Paul Jones.

December 2

Only 24 years old at the time of the Battle of Tirad Pass, Gregorio del Pilar was known as "The Boy General of the Filipinos."

December 1

At the time of Fabvier's siege in 1826, Athens was almost entirely deserted. It did not become the capital of Greece, and its population did not return, until after the war in 1833.