In History, Today on December 23

The Glorious Revolution: King James II of England flees to France, effectively abdicating the throne and paving the way for William of Orange to become king.

George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, marking the end of his military service in the American Revolutionary War.

Vincent van Gogh, in a fit of madness, cut off part of his left ear in Arles, France.

The Federal Reserve Act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson, establishing the Federal Reserve System in the United States.

The transistor was first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories, revolutionizing electronics and paving the way for modern computing.

The first successful kidney transplant was performed by Dr. Joseph Murray and his team at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.

The 16 survivors of the Andes flight disaster are rescued after 72 days, having survived a plane crash in the Andes Mountains and resorting to cannibalism to stay alive.

The Voyager experimental aircraft, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completes the first non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Slovenia held a referendum on independence from Yugoslavia, with 88.5% voting in favor of independence.

The first cloned cat, named 'CC' (short for Carbon Copy), was born at Texas A&M University, marking a significant milestone in genetic engineering and cloning technology.

The first confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, was discovered in the United States, leading to widespread concern and the implementation of stricter regulations on beef imports and exports.

Chad declared a state of war with Sudan, accusing it of supporting Chadian rebels. This declaration marked a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries, contributing to regional instability in Central Africa.

The Federal Reserve announced a $6 billion loan to General Motors and Chrysler to prevent their collapse during the financial crisis.

The repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy was signed into law by President Barack Obama, allowing gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals to serve openly in the United States military, marking a significant step forward for LGBTQ rights in the country.

The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2334, which stated that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity and constituted a flagrant violation under international law. The resolution was notable for the United States' decision to abstain from voting, allowing it to pass.