Author: James Wesley Rawles

December 14, 1702: The famed Forty-seven Rōnin (leaderless samurai), under the command of Ōishi Kuranosuke, avenged the death of their master in Japan. Pictured are the graves of the 47 Rōnin at the Sengaku-ji Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple, Tokyo, Japan. — December 14th is the birthday of the late John Warren Wadleigh (born 1927, died September 24, 2013). Wadleigh was better known to many SurvivalBlog readers by his pen name, Oliver Lange. He was the author of the best-selling resistance warfare novel Vandenberg. — This is also the birthday of Air Force General James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, who died September …

On December 13, 1774, Paul Revere and Wentworth Cheswell made their famous ride to warn Portsmouth of the approach of British warships. — December 13th was the birthday of Sergeant Alvin York. — After spending nine months on the run, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003. — Today’s feature article is by JWR. — We need more entries Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $978,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 122 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. …

On December 12, 1897, Belo Horizonte, the first planned city of Brazil, was founded. — December 12, 2019: The British General Election was won by Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party in a landslide win with a 80-seat majority. The Scottish National Party also won 48 of 59 seats in Scotland. — Today’s feature is a guest post from long-time SurvivalBlog contributor Hub Moolman. — We need more entries for Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $978,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 122 ends on January 31st, so get busy …

On December 11, 1282 Llywelyn ab Gruffydd, the last native and independent Prince of Wales, was killed at the Battle of Orewin Bridge at Cilmeri, near Builth Wells, south Wales by forces of Edward I of England. Llywelyn reigned from 1259 and is known as Llywelyn the Last. — December 11,1602: A surprise attack by forces of the Duke of Savoy and his brother-in-law, Philip III of Spain was repelled by push of pike and gunfire from the citizens of Geneva, Switzerland. It has been commemorated since as the Fête de l’Escalade. — And on December 11, 1946, Hank Williams …

On December 10, 1690, Massachusetts Bay became the first American colonial government to issue paper money — the Massachusetts Codfish Notes. They were engraved and printed by Paul Revere. Shown above is a Codfish 8-Pence Note. — December 10, 1520: Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant or face excommunication. — And on December 10, 1906, US President Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First …