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On This Day in History — December 2
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Highlights of December 2
- 2016 — Thirty-six people died when a fire broke out at an illegally converted warehouse in Oakland, California, the deadliest U.S. building fire since 2003. Read more
- 2015 — In San Bernardino, California, a married couple carried out a mass shooting at a Christmas party before fleeing and dying in a shootout with police. Read more
- 2001 — Less than two months after disclosing accounting violations, the Texas-based energy firm Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, evaporating nearly $11 billion in shareholder wealth. Read more
- 1989 — The Malayan Communist Party and the Malaysian government signed a peace accord to end a 21-year communist insurgency. Read more
- 1988 — Benazir Bhutto (pictured) took office as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state. Read more
- 1962 — Returning from a fact-finding mission, U.S. senator Mike Mansfield became the first American official to comment adversely on the progress of the Vietnam War. Read more
- 1956 — Cuban Revolution: The yacht Granma, carrying Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the 26th of July Movement, reached the shores of Cuba. Read more
- 1954 — The United States Senate voted of 67 to 22 to approve a resolution condemning Senator Joseph McCarthy who continued to serve in the Senate until his death two and a half years later. Read more
- 1950 — Korean War: UN forces began a retreat from North Korea following defeat at the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: The Luftwaffe conducted a surprise air raid on Allied ships in Bari, Italy, sinking twenty-eight vessels and releasing one ship's secret cargo of mustard gas. Read more
- 1942 — Manhattan Project scientists led by Enrico Fermi initiated the first self-sustaining chain reaction in the experimental nuclear reactor Chicago Pile-1. Read more
- 1927 — The Ford Motor Company introduced the second version of the Model A (pictured), its first new model in 18 years. Read more
- 1919 — Ukrainian Bolsheviks led by Mykhailo Polonsky attempted to assassinate Nestor Makhno, as part of the Polonsky conspiracy. Read more
- 1899 — Philippine–American War: A 60-man Filipino rearguard was defeated at the Battle of Tirad Pass, but delayed the American advance long enough to ensure President Emilio Aguinaldo's escape. Read more
- 1823 — U.S. president James Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, a proclamation of opposition to European colonialism in the New World. Read more
Events
- 2020 — Cannabis is removed from the list of most dangerous drugs of the international drug control treaty by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Read more
- 2016 — Thirty-six people die in a fire at a converted Oakland, California, warehouse serving as an artist collective. Read more
- 2015 — San Bernardino attack: Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik kill 14 people and wound 22 at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California. Read more
- 2001 — Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Read more
- 1999 — The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive following the Good Friday Agreement. Read more
- 1993 — Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is shot and killed by police in Medellín. Read more
- 1993 — Space Shuttle program: STS-61: NASA launches the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Read more
- 1992 — Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-53 for the United States Department of Defense. Read more
- 1991 — Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1990 — Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 spacelab observatory. Read more
- 1989 — The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai is signed and ratified by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and the governments of Malaysia and Thailand, ending the over two-decade-long communist insurgency in Malaysia. Read more
- 1988 — Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state. Read more
- 1988 — Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-27, a classified mission for the United States Department of Defense. Read more
- 1982 — At the University of Utah, Barney Clark becomes the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart. Read more
- 1980 — Salvadoran Civil War: Four American missionaries are raped and murdered by a death squad. Read more
- 1977 — A Tupolev Tu-154 crashes near Benghazi, Libya, killing 59. Read more
- 1976 — Fidel Castro becomes President of Cuba, replacing Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado. Read more
- 1975 — Laotian Civil War: The Pathet Lao seizes the Laotian capital of Vientiane, forces the abdication of King Sisavang Vatthana, and proclaims the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Read more
- 1972 — Gough Whitlam is elected the 21st Prime Minister of Australia in the 1972 Australian federal election, defeating William McMahon and leading the Australian Labor Party back into office after 23 years in Opposition. Read more
- 1971 — Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, and Umm al-Quwain form the United Arab Emirates. Read more
- 1970 — The United States Environmental Protection Agency begins operations. Read more
- 1968 — Wien Consolidated Airlines Flight 55 crashes into Pedro Bay, Alaska, killing all 39 people on board. Read more
- 1962 — Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the first American official to comment adversely on the war's progress. Read more
- 1961 — In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist–Leninist and that Cuba will adopt Communism. Read more
- 1957 — United Nations Security Council Resolution 126 relating to the Kashmir conflict is adopted. Read more
- 1956 — The Granma reaches the shores of Cuba's Oriente Province. Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the 26th of July Movement disembark to initiate the Cuban Revolution. Read more
- 1954 — Cold War: The United States Senate votes 65 to 22 to censure Joseph McCarthy for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute". Read more
- 1954 — The Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty, between the United States and Taiwan, is signed in Washington, D.C. Read more
- 1950 — Korean War: The Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River ends with a decisive Chinese victory and UN forces are completely expelled from North Korea. Read more
- 1949 — Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others is adopted. Read more
- 1947 — Jerusalem Riots of 1947: Arabs riot in Jerusalem in response to the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: A Luftwaffe bombing raid on the harbour of Bari, Italy, sinks numerous cargo and transport ships, including the American SS John Harvey, which is carrying a stockpile of mustard gas. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: During the Manhattan Project, a team led by Enrico Fermi initiates the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. Read more
- 1939 — New York City's LaGuardia Airport opens. Read more
- 1930 — Great Depression: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President Herbert Hoover proposes a $150 million public works program to help generate jobs and stimulate the economy. Read more
- 1927 — Following 19 years of Ford Model T production, the Ford Motor Company unveils the Ford Model A as its new automobile. Read more
- 1919 — Ukrainian War of Independence: Ukrainian Bolsheviks attempt to assassinate Nestor Makhno as part of the Polonsky conspiracy. Read more
- 1917 — World War I: Russia and the Central Powers sign an armistice at Brest-Litovsk, and peace talks leading to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk begin. Read more
- 1908 — Puyi becomes Emperor of China at the age of two. Read more
- 1899 — Philippine–American War: The Battle of Tirad Pass, known as the "Filipino Thermopylae", is fought. Read more
- 1867 — At Tremont Temple in Boston, British author Charles Dickens gives his first public reading in the United States. Read more
- 1865 — Alabama ratifies the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, followed by North Carolina, then Georgia; U.S. slaves were legally free within two weeks. Read more
- 1859 — Origins of the American Civil War: Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Read more
- 1852 — Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte becomes Emperor of the French as Napoleon III. Read more
- 1851 — French President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte overthrows the Second Republic. Read more
- 1848 — Franz Joseph I becomes Emperor of Austria. Read more
- 1845 — Manifest Destiny: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President James K. Polk proposes that the United States should aggressively expand into the West. Read more
- 1823 — Monroe Doctrine: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President James Monroe proclaims American neutrality in future European conflicts, and warns European powers not to interfere in the Americas. Read more
- 1805 — War of the Third Coalition: Battle of Austerlitz: French troops under Napoleon decisively defeat a joint Russo-Austrian force. Read more
- 1804 — At Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of the French. Read more
- 1766 — Swedish parliament approves the Swedish Freedom of the Press Act and implements it as a ground law, thus being first in the world with freedom of speech. Read more
- 1763 — Dedication of the Touro Synagogue, in Newport, Rhode Island, the first synagogue in what will become the United States. Read more
- 1697 — St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt to the design of Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of London, is consecrated. Read more
- 1409 — The University of Leipzig opens. Read more
- 1244 — Pope Innocent IV arrives at Lyon for the First Council of Lyon. Read more
Born on December 2
- 2005 — Learner Tien, American tennis player Read more
- 2004 — Ilia Malinin, American competitive figure skater Read more
- 2003 — Neil Erasmus, South African-Australian footballer Read more
- 1998 — Annalise Basso, American actress Read more
- 1998 — Anna Kalinskaya, Russian tennis player Read more
- 1998 — Juice Wrld, American rapper, singer and songwriter (died 2019) Read more
- 1997 — De'Andre Hunter, American basketball player Read more
- 1996 — Jake Doran, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1995 — Uladzislau Hancharou, Belarusian trampolinist Read more
- 1995 — Inori Minase, Japanese actress, voice actress and singer Read more
- 1994 — Zach Cunningham, American football player Read more
- 1994 — Aaron Jones, American football player Read more
- 1994 — Elias Lindholm, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1994 — Fumika Shimizu, Japanese actress and model Read more
- 1994 — Tomokaze Yūta, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
- 1993 — Haruka Ishida, Japanese singer and actress Read more
- 1993 — Kostas Stafylidis, Greek footballer Read more
- 1992 — Sim Bhullar, Canadian basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Gary Sánchez, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1991 — Chloé Dufour-Lapointe, Canadian skier Read more
- 1991 — Brandon Knight, American basketball player Read more
- 1991 — Charlie Puth, American singer-songwriter and pianist Read more
- 1990 — Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Gastón Ramírez, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1989 — Etta Bond, English singer-songwriter Read more
- 1989 — Matteo Darmian, Italian footballer Read more
- 1989 — Cassie Steele, Canadian singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1989 — Robert Turbin, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Alfred Enoch, English actor Read more
- 1988 — Stephen McGinn, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1986 — Song Ha-yoon, South Korean actress Read more
- 1986 — Claudiu Keșerü, Romanian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Renee Montgomery, American basketball player and executive Read more
- 1986 — Tal Wilkenfeld, Australian bass player and composer Read more
- 1985 — Amaury Leveaux, French swimmer Read more
- 1985 — Dorell Wright, American basketball player Read more
- 1984 — Péter Máté, Hungarian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Action Bronson, American rapper, songwriter, chef, and television host Read more
- 1983 — Chris Burke, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1983 — Bibiana Candelas, Mexican volleyball player Read more
Died on December 2
- 2024 — Ed Botterell, Canadian Olympic sailor (born 1931) Read more
- 2024 — Helmut Duckadam, Romanian footballer (born 1959) Read more
- 2024 — Neale Fraser, Australian tennis player (born 1933) Read more
- 2024 — Paul Maslansky, American film producer and writer (born 1933) Read more
- 2024 — Debbie Mathers, Mother of Eminem (born 1955) Read more
- 2024 — Israel Vázquez, Mexican boxer (born 1977) Read more
- 2020 — Pat Patterson, American wrestler (born 1941) Read more
- 2015 — Sandy Berger, American lawyer and politician, 19th United States National Security Advisor (born 1945) Read more
- 2015 — Will McMillan, American actor, director, and producer (born 1944) Read more
- 2015 — George T. Sakato, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1921) Read more
- 2014 — A. R. Antulay, Indian lawyer and politician, 8th Chief Minister of Maharashtra (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Jean Béliveau, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1931) Read more
- 2014 — Josie Cichockyj, English basketball player and coach (born 1964) Read more
- 2014 — Bobby Keys, American saxophonist (born 1943) Read more
- 2014 — Don Laws, American figure skater and coach (born 1929) Read more
- 2013 — William Allain, American soldier and politician, 58th Governor of Mississippi (born 1928) Read more
- 2013 — Jean-Claude Beton, Algerian-French engineer and businessman, founded Orangina (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Marcelo Déda, Brazilian lawyer and politician (born 1960) Read more
- 2013 — Junior Murvin, Jamaican singer-songwriter (born 1946) Read more
- 2012 — Tom Hendry, Canadian playwright, co-founded the Manitoba Theatre Centre (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Ehsan Naraghi, Iranian sociologist and author (born 1926) Read more
- 2009 — Foge Fazio, American football player and coach (born 1938) Read more
- 2009 — Eric Woolfson, Scottish singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer (born 1945) Read more
- 2008 — Odetta, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress (born 1930) Read more
- 2008 — Henry Molaison, American memory disorder patient (born 1926) Read more
- 2008 — Edward Samuel Rogers, Canadian lawyer and businessman (born 1933) Read more
- 2008 — Renato de Grandis, Italian composer, musicologist, and writer (born 1927) Read more
- 2007 — Jennifer Alexander, Canadian-American ballerina and actress (born 1972) Read more
- 2007 — Elizabeth Hardwick, American literary critic, novelist, and short story writer (born 1916) Read more
- 2006 — Mariska Veres, Dutch singer (born 1947) Read more
- 2005 — William P. Lawrence, American admiral and pilot (born 1930) Read more
- 2005 — Van Tuong Nguyen, Australian convicted drug trafficker (born 1980) Read more
- 2004 — Alicia Markova, English ballerina and choreographer (born 1910) Read more
- 2004 — Mona Van Duyn, American poet and academic (born 1921) Read more
- 2003 — Alan Davidson, British soldier, historian, and author (born 1924) Read more
- 2002 — Ivan Illich, Austrian priest and philosopher (born 1926) Read more
- 2002 — Arno Peters, German cartographer and historian (born 1916) Read more
- 2000 — Gail Fisher, American actress (born 1935) Read more
- 1999 — Charlie Byrd, American guitarist (born 1925) Read more
- 1997 — Shirley Crabtree, English wrestler (born 1930) Read more
Holidays & observances
Armed Forces Day (Cuba); Christian feast day:
Avitus of Rouen; Christian feast day:
Bibiana; Christian feast day:
Channing Moore Williams (Anglicanism); Christian feast day:
Chromatius; Christian feast day:
Habakkuk; Christian feast day:
Blessed Ivan Slezyuk; Christian feast day:
Blessed Maria Angela Astorch; Christian feast day:
December 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (United Nations); Lao National Day; National Day (United Arab Emirates); Chichibu Night Festival
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 2”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.