The Month of December in the History of Mauritius.
28 December 1511 – Domingo Fernandez arrived in Mauritius on this very day. He is widely known as being the first European in history to accost an Indian Ocean island.
15 December 1723 – A Royal Ordinance was proclaimed to name Desforges-Boucher, the new President of the Superiour Council of Isle-De-France and Ile Bourbon.
15 December 1729 – Teinturier De Genicourt, former barrister to the King’s court and Honorary Counsellor of the Parliament of Metz was arrested at Port Louis.
23 December 1730 – A letter sent by the Chief Instances of the French East India Company on this day, declared Port Louis therein as the headquarters of the company’s marine, naval and commercial operations. All French vessels were subsequently given a Royal Order to stop by Port Louis during their travels to and from Asia.
05 December 1734 – Abbe Igou and Governor Maupin inspected the regions of Pamplemousses and Long Mountain. They wanted to construct a Church and a cemetery in the chosen vicinities.
03 December 1741 – Birth of Charlotte Francoise in Port Louis, second daughter of Bertrand Francois Mahe De La Bourdonnais and Marie Charlotte Combault D’Auteil.
27 December 1742 – Reconstruction of the Government House known then as La Loge by Governor Desforges Boucher.
06 December 1761 – Arrival of the vessels Duc D’Argeson, Merry et Comte D’Artois from Batavia. The two ships brought rations and food to help repulse the imminent outbreak of a famine on the island.
03 December 1765 – A request and motion from the inhabitants to assemble and to nominate representatives and deputies was presented to the Superiour Council. The said request was consequently acceded few weeks after, on the 21st December 1765.
04 December 1767 – A violent storm caused irreversible damage to the harbour of Port Louis, with many vessels, buildings and houses destroyed.
11 December 1771 – Return of Kergulen-Tremarec to the island. Kergulen-Tremarec engaged in an exploration mission in the Indo-Pacific region. He returned with the news of land he recently discovered near the Australian continent.
23 December 1775 – Chevalier Antoine De Guiran La Brillanne was named Governor of Isle De France and Bourbon,
07 December 1778 – Nutmegs previously cultivated were for first time picked at the Jardin De Montplaisir at Pamplemousses.
19 December 1778 – La Triple Esperance, a freemasonic lodge was founded by Jacques Marie Stanislas Perrier De Salvert.
03 December 1787 – Departure of the ambassadors of Tipu Sultan for France where they obtained an audience to meet His Royal Highness Louis XVI.
11 December 1789 – Count Mac-Nemara, Commander of the vessel Thetis departed from Isle de France while escorting an edification given by his Highness Louis XVI to the Sultan of Muscat.
29 December 1780 – Letter was sent on this day by Jean Antoine Stofeld De Valgny, new commander of Rodrigues, reporting the arrival of a British vessel at Rodrigues. The said vessel had in its custody slaves from India who were found to be a precarious health condition. In his letter De Valgny also complained about the inconsideration of Isle De France regarding state of affairs in Rodrigues.
28 December 1799 – Arrival of American consular agent Mr. Cooper to Mauritius. He subsequently proposed the drafting of a treaty with the Mascareigne islands.
01 December 1805 – A sumptuous gathering was organised by Governor Charles Decean to celebrate the crowning of Napoleon I.
07 December 1806 – The laying of the first cornerstone for the establishment of the Lycee Colonial.
03 December 1810 – The Capitulation of the French at Port Louis.
04 December 1810 – Robert Farquhar who was stationed in the property of barrister Nicolas Foisy announced the imminent departure of Charles Decaen from the Government House. The next day he was invited alongside others British chief officials by Charles Decean for supper. An invitation, he respectfully declined in remembrance of the gross treatment given to Mathew Flinders during his stay on the island previously.
27 December 1810 – Robert Farquhar officially moved to the Government House.
28 December 1810 – Proclamation was decreed to inform the inhabitants that they would be required to take an oath of allegiance on behalf of his Royal Majesty the King of England.
02 December 1814 – A proclamation was decreed regarding the opening of the Bank of Mauritius.
28 December 1816 – Adrien D’Epinay was named Attorney to the Tribunal of Mauritius.
03 December 1826 – Arrival of the first five Chinese immigrants aboard Belle Alliance. They were accompanied by China man Ha-Hime.
20 December 1827 – Discovery of a vault containing the remains of Anne Le Brun de La Franquerie, first wife of Governor Mahe De La Bourdonnais and her son Francois Gilles Labourdonnais. The shrine was discovered after the demolition of the Chapel Saint Louis which was located near a boutique referred to as Magasin Closel. The said boutique has since been destroyed, and in turn has given way to the construction of the Mauritius Commercial Bank.
05 December 1832– A death duel between Adrien D’Epinay and Mr. Chevrau was arranged. A settlement brokered at the very last minute prevented any bloodshed.
08 December 1834 – Laying of the first cornerstone of the Fort found at the Petite Montagne by Governor William Nicolay. The said fort took the name of Adelaide in honour of the wife of Guillaume IV of England.
09 December 1837 – Declaration by the Governor to suspend the immigration of Indian Labourers as from the 01st January 1838.
21 December 1840 – First letter of Naturalisation was given to Henry Adam.
30 December 1843 – Horse Racing was organised for the first time at Grand Bay.
07 December 1847 – The apostolic vicar of Mauritius was erected. His lordship Bernard Collier was named Bishop of Port Louis.
31 December 1860 – Jean Edouard Remono, judge at the Supreme Court was made Queen’s Counsel. Mr. Remono became the first Mauritian to obtain such distinguished recognition.
02 December 1864 – Arrival of Prince Schleswig – Holstein of Prussia aboard H.M.S Orontes.
02 December 1878 – Death at Curepipe of Comte Louis Thomy Labauve D’Arifat, doctor in Medicine, Knight of the French Légion d’Honneur and architect of the Cathedral situated at Cassis.
12 December 1882 – Death at Port Louis of Eugene Henri Bosquet, meteorologist known for his extensive research on cyclones. He was born in Port Louis on 04 September 1813
23 December 1885 – Birth at Reduit of the second son of Governor Sir Pope Hennessy.
31 December 1887 – Sir William Newton was rewarded for the continuous support and service he gave to Pope Hennessy’s government.
22 December 1888 – Return of Sir Pope Hennessy from England. He was given a triumphant reception on his arrival.
06 December 1889 – The Archives of Mauritius was detached from the Civil Status Division.
21 December 1889 – Arrival of Sir Charles Cameron Lees who was summoned as new governor of Mauritius.
07 December 1892 – The first cornerstone of the Royal College of Port Louis was laid at the current location of the Civil Hospital.
30 December 1908 – Creation of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
15 December 1919 – Opening of the Barclays Bank at Port Louis.
20 December 1920 – The construction of the College Pere Laval, now known as Le College Du Saint Esprit began.
13 December 1925 – Arrival of Mgr James Leen, coadjutor of the ArcBishop of Port Louis.
13 December 1936 – Honourable Jules Leclezio and Doctor Edgar Laurent were invited to represent Mauritius at the Coronation of King George VI.
29 December 1938 – Mrs Rene Maingard was given the title of Member of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire.
28 December 1943 – Maxime De Speville and Francis Herchenroder were elevated to the ranks of King’s Counsel.
31 December 1944 – Dissolution of the Mauritius Defence Force.
23 December 1946 – Gabriel Martial and Radhamohun Gujadhur were respectively elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Port Louis
29 December 1946 – Death at Rose Hill of Emmanuel Anquetil, President of the Mauritian Labour Party.
19 December 1949 – Death at Curepipe of Archbishop James Leen
10 December 1955 – Huge fire outbreak at Port Louis which completely destroyed Income Tax Office and Parcel Post Office.
23 December 1957 – Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was elected Mayor of Port Louis for year 1858.
07 December 1960 – Arrival of ‘Argo’ unit of the International Scientific expedition of the Indian Ocean.
21 December 1962 – Laying of the foundation stone of the Municipality of Port Louis.
07 December 1964 – Mayor of Port Louis unveiled the plate commemorative of death of Father Laval at vicarage of Cathedral Church.
18 December 1964 – Opening of the British Information Service at Chausee Street, Port Louis.
12 December 1966 – Arrival of the French Scientific delegation headed by Mr. J. Debiesse, Director of Nuclear Research Institute, Saclay.
10 December 1968 – Mauritius Citizenship Act to provide for the acquisition, deprivation and renunciation of the citizenship of Mauritius was proclaimed.
12 December 1968 – Mauritius signed the International Sugar Agreement.
30 December 1968 – Raphael Touze was nominated French Ambassador for Mauritius.