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23 December 1913: The US Federal Reserve is created
Features After much debate, Woodrow Wilson finally signed the bill that would create the US Federal Reserve on this day in 1913.
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23 December 1834: Joseph Hansom patents the Hansom cab
Features The 19th-century forerunner of the London black cab, architect Joseph Aloysius Hansom patented his Hansom cab on this day in 1834.
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22 December 1965: 70mph speed limit introduced
Features On this day in 1965, a “temporary” 70mph speed limit was introduced on all unregulated roads in Britain by the Minister of Transport. The limit was soon made permanent.
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22 December 1973: Opec more than doubles the price of oil
Features On this day in 1973 Opec, the oil price cartel, more than doubled the price of oil from $5.12 a barrel to $11.65.
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21 December 1844: The Rochdale Pioneers open for business
Features On this day in 1844, the Rochdale Pioneers opened a little shop on Toad Lane in Rochdale, Lancashire, which became a model for co-operatives around the world.
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19 December 1932: BBC World Service begins
Features The first royal Christmas message by George V gave the fledgling World Service an early boost six days after it was founded in 1932.
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18 December 1878: the end of the Molly Maguires
Features On this day in 1878, the Molly Maguires – a secret society formed in Ireland – ceased to exist with the hanging of the last of 20 condemned members of the group in the United States.
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17 December 1900: The Guzman Prize is announced
Features On this day in 1900, Clara Guzman stumped up 100,000 francs prize money for the first person to communicate with and receive a response from another planet.
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17 December 2003: the first powered flight of SpaceShipOne
Features The privately funded and built space plane, SpaceShipOne, witnessed its first powered flight on this day in 2003 – a crucial step towards winning the $10m Ansari XPrize.
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