On this day in 1870, Charles Dickens, British writer known for his tales of Victorian life and times, died at the age of 59. Immensely popular both then and now, his works include "The Pickwick Papers," "Oliver Twist," and "David Copperfield."
On this day in 1898, the Ching court signed an agreement with Britain under which Hong Kong was leased to Britain for 99 years.
On this day in 1951, the judgment of the Nuremberg court was fulfilled in the United States as the noose slips over the head of the last Nazi condemned by the Nuremberg tribunal to hang for "crimes against humanity." In all, 24 of Hitler's top men were accused on a number of different counts. Twelve men, including Nazis Hermann Goering and Joachim von Ribbentrop, were given the death penalty.