Timeline December 20 to 22

December 20
1192  Richard the Lion-Heart is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England after signing a treaty with Saladin ending the Third crusade.
1522  Siege of Rhodes: Suleiman the Magnificent accepts the surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually settle on Malta and become known as the Knights of Malta.
1695  John Bowne, English-born American pioneer of religious liberty, died. (b. 1627) [My 8th Great Grandfather]
1803  The Louisiana Purchase was completed as the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans.
1868  Harvey Firestone, American industrialist, was born.
1879  Thomas Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light at Menlo Park, N.J.
1901  Robert Van de Graaff, American physicist and inventor, was born.
1946  The Frank Capra film "It's A Wonderful Life" had a preview showing for charity at New York City's Globe Theatre, a day before its official premiere.

December 21
1603  Roger Williams, English theologian and founder of the American colony Providence Plantations (d. 1684) [My 10th Great Grandfather]
1620  Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower went ashore for the first time at present-day Plymouth, Mass.
1898  Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element radium.
1913  The first crossword puzzle was published, in the New York World.
1968  Apollo 8 was launched on a mission to orbit the moon.

December 22
1858  Opera composer Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy.
1989  Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany.