On this day in 1832, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe died at the age of 82. He was a German writer, scientist, master of poetry, drama and the novel, and one of the greatest thinkers of his age.
On this day in 1916, Yuan Shih-kai, who declared himself emperor of China Dec. 12, 1915, was forced to cancel his imperial reign after 83 days and called himself "president" again.
On this day in 1917, the United States became the first country to recognize the new provisional government in Russia after the collapse of imperial rule.