On this day: December 5

Schooner Discovered Adrift Off Atlantic Coast; Crew Missing, Meal Aboard Left Unfinished

On December 5, 1872, a small merchant schooner was found adrift with its sails partly set and a recent meal still on the table; the crew's disappearance was unexplained and remains a subject of historical inquiry.

London’s Deadly 1952 Smog: The City Choked by a Weeklong Fog

In mid-December 1952 London was engulfed by a dense, toxic smog that lasted several days and caused thousands of illnesses and deaths, prompting national outrage and major changes to air pollution policy.

The Great Smog of London, 1952: a deadly air disaster

From December 5–9, 1952, an extreme fog mixed with coal smoke blanketed London, causing acute respiratory and cardiovascular deaths; official tallies and later studies estimate thousands of excess deaths and widespread illness.

The Great Smog of London, 1952: A Deadly Fog Chokes the City

In early December 1952 a thick, toxic smog trapped over London for several days, sharply reducing visibility and contributing to thousands of deaths and widespread illness. The disaster exposed the health risks of coal smoke and prompted major changes in British air-pollution policy.

Senate Ratifies End of Prohibition with Passage of 21st Amendment

On December 5, 1933, the United States Senate approved the resolution to repeal Prohibition by passing the 21st Amendment, completing congressional action to end the national ban on alcohol first established by the 18th Amendment in 1920.