1231 Anthony of Padua, the “hammer of the heretics” and one of the first Franciscans, died at age thirty-six (b. 15 August 1195, Lisbon, Portugal).

1525 Martin Luther, 42, married former nun Katherina von Bora, 26 (1499–1552). This was a “crime” punishable with death according to the canon law of those days and was seen as a scandal by many. Their twenty-one-year marriage was blessed with six children. Kate outlived her husband by only six years.

1529 The enlarged edition of Luther’s Small Catechism was published.

1550 Johann Spangenberg, Lutheran reformer and hymnist, died (b. 29 March 1484, Hardegsen, near Göttingen, Germany). [German Wikipedia article]

1757 By decree Pope Benedict XIV (1675–1758) said the nations could have the Bible in their own tongues.

1784 Isaac McCoy, missionary to American Indians, was born near Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania (d. 21 June 1846).

1812 John Hunt, missionary to Fiji, was born in Hykeham Moor, near London (d. 4 October 1848).

1816 Edward Francis Rimbault, church organist, music scholar, religious composer and publisher of Christmas carols, was born in London (d. 26 September 1876, London).

1857 David E. Campbell (b. 7 June 1825), missionary to India, along with his wife and two children, were put to death by Nana Sahib, a rebel chief.

1861 Karl P. Harrington, American classics scholar, organist and choir director, was born in Somersworth, New Hampshire (d. 14 November 1953, Middletown, Connecticut).

1890 Augsburg Publishing House was established.

1891 Albert Henry Carl Schwermann was born in Jefferson City, Missouri (d. 10 October 1983, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). He was a graduate of Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis) in 1913 and served as a pastor at Mellowdale, Wetaskiwin, Brightview and Peace Hill, Alberta. He was president of Concordia College (Edmonton, Alberta) from 1921 to 1953 and continued on the faculty there until 1963. He was the first president of the Lutheran Church—Canada.

1893 Anglican novelist and playwright Dorothy Leigh Sayers is born in Oxford, England (d. 17 December 1957).

1900 Violence began sweeping through Peking, China, beginning what was to be known as the Boxer Rebellion.

1909 Cyril C. Richardson, English church historian, was born in London, England. Raised an Episcopalian, Richardson is best known for his definitive compilations of early Christian writings.

1918 The Swedish Augustana Synod refused to enter the United Lutheran Church in America while meeting in Minneapolis. This synod was the largest of the synods involved in the pending merger, which occurred in November of 1918.

1926 The new campus of Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis) was dedicated in Clayton, Missouri, at 801 DeMun Avenue.

1948 The seminary of the German Lutheran Free Church in Oberursel, Germany, was dedicated.

1952 Herman O. A. Keinath, professor at Concordia Teachers College (River Forest, Illinois) died (b. 27 December 1894, Richville, Michigan).

1965 Martin Buber (b. 8 February 1878), Jewish religious philosopher, died.