Birthdays
Lloyd Aspinwall
Turns 25 on this date
William McKee Dunn
Turns 45 on this date
Robert James Harlan
Turns 43 on this date
Ebon Clark Ingersoll
Turns 47 on this date
Jesse Lazear
Turns 55 on this date
Dr. Andrew Nebinger
Turns 40 on this date
Caleb Sipple Pennewill
Turns 28 on this date
Edwina Moss Nelms Reagan
Turns 27 on this date
Events
| Slavery/Abolition | Dion Boucicault's controversial play about slavery opens at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City | 12/12/1859 |
| Lawmaking/Litigating | Senator Gwin of California hints in the Senate that his state could join the South if the Union breaks up | 12/12/1859 |
| Lawmaking/Litigating | The 36th U.S. Congress is in session in Washington, D.C. |
12/06/1859 to 06/24/1860 |
| Campaigns/Elections | Whig Frederick Walker Lincoln, Jr. re-elected Mayor of Boston | 12/12/1859 |
Documents
| Letter | Frances Watkins Harper to William Still, December 12, 1859 | 12/12/1859 |
| Letter | William T. Sherman to Ellen Sherman, December 12, 1859 | 12/12/1859 |