What happened this day in history: December 19
1846 - London dentist James Robertson carried out the first dental extraction using anaesthetic.
1863 - Linoleum floor covering was patented by Frederick Walton of London.
1879 - New Zealand granted universal male suffrage.
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Hide Ad1902 - British, German and Italian fleets captured the Venezuelan Navy to force the payment of debts.
1905 - The London County Council announced plans to set up the first ever motorised ambulance service for traffic accidents.
1924 - The last Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was sold in London.
1932 - BBC World Service began broadcasting as the BBC Empire Service.
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Hide Ad1981 – Sixteen lives were lost when the Penlee lifeboat went to the aid of the stricken coaster Union Star in heavy seas.
1983 - The original FIFA World Cup trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, was stolen from the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1984 - Ted Hughes was appointed Poet Laureate.