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On This Day in History — December 3
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Highlights of December 3
- 2024 — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (pictured) declares martial law. Read more
- 2009 — A suicide bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, killed 25 people, including three ministers of the Transitional Federal Government. Read more
- 1999 — NASA lost contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before it reached the atmosphere of Mars and disappeared. Read more
- 1994 — Sony released the PlayStation, the first computer entertainment platform to ship 100 million units. Read more
- 1990 — Mary Robinson took office as the first female president of Ireland. Read more
- 1979 — Following the result of a two-day referendum, the current Constitution of Iran was adopted. Read more
- 1979 — Eleven people were crushed in a human stampede at a concert by British rock band the Who in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. Read more
- 1976 — Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley survived an assassination attempt by seven gunmen in Kingston. Read more
- 1971 — With the Pakistani Air Force launching the unsuccessful pre-emptive airstrikes on several forward Indian Air Force airbases and radar installations, the 1971 India-Pakistan War begins and India also joins the Bangladesh Liberation War, siding with Bangladesh. Read more
- 1968 — American singer Elvis Presley's first television special and first live performance in seven years, Singer Presents ... Elvis, was broadcast by NBC. Read more
- 1967 — Cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard (pictured) performed the first successful human heart transplant on Louis Washkansky at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Read more
- 1959 — The current flag and coat of arms of Singapore (pictured) were adopted, six months after the island became self-governing within the British Empire. Read more
- 1937 — Rupert Bruce-Mitford, the spiritus rector of research on the Sutton Hoo ship burial, joined the British Museum. Read more
- 1927 — Putting Pants on Philip, the first official film featuring the British-American comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, was released. Read more
- 1910 — Freda Du Faur became the first woman to climb Aoraki / Mount Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand. Read more
- 1904 — Himalia, Jupiter's largest irregular moon, was discovered by Charles Dillon Perrine at the Lick Observatory in California. Read more
- 1800 — War of the Second Coalition: French forces defeated Austrian and Bavarian troops at the Battle of Hohenlinden, eventually resulting in the Austrians signing the Treaty of Lunéville. Read more
- 1283 — During the First Mongol invasion of Burma, the fort at Ngasaunggyan was overrun after a two-month siege. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Martial law is declared in South Korea. Read more
- 2023 — Mount Marapi located in West Sumatra, Indonesia begins a sporadic series of eruptions. 23 people were killed, and 12 were injured. Read more
- 2022 — Massive power outage after Moore County substation attack that leaves 45,000 people without power for five days, leading to an FBI probe. Read more
- 2014 — The Japanese space agency, JAXA, launches the space explorer Hayabusa2 from the Tanegashima Space Center on a six-year round trip mission to an asteroid to collect rock samples. Read more
- 2012 — At least 475 people are killed after Typhoon Bopha makes landfall in the Philippines. Read more
- 2009 — A suicide bombing at a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, kills 25 people, including three ministers of the Transitional Federal Government. Read more
- 2007 — Winter storms cause the Chehalis River to flood many cities in Lewis County, Washington, and close a 32-kilometre (20 mi) portion of Interstate 5 for several days. At least eight deaths and billions of dollars in damages are blamed on the floods. Read more
- 2005 — XCOR Aerospace makes the first crewed rocket aircraft delivery of U.S. Mail in Kern County, California. Read more
- 1999 — NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere. Read more
- 1999 — In Worcester, Massachusetts, firefighters responded to a fire at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. facility, which takes the lives of 6 firefighters. Read more
- 1997 — In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign the Ottawa Treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia do not sign the treaty, however. Read more
- 1995 — Cameroon Airlines Flight 3701 crashes on approach to Douala International Airport in Douala, Cameroon, killing 71 of the 76 people on board. Read more
- 1994 — Taiwan holds its first full local elections; James Soong elected as the first and only directly elected Governor of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian became the first directly elected Mayor of Taipei, Wu Den-yih became the first directly elected Mayor of Kaohsiung. Read more
- 1994 — Sony releases the PlayStation game console in Japan. Read more
- 1992 — The Greek oil tanker Aegean Sea, carrying 80,000 tonnes of crude oil, runs aground in a storm while approaching A Coruña, Spain, and spills much of its cargo. Read more
- 1992 — A test engineer for Sema Group uses a personal computer to send the world's first text message via the Vodafone network to the phone of a colleague. Read more
- 1989 — In a meeting off the coast of Malta, U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev release statements indicating that the Cold War between NATO and the Warsaw Pact may be coming to an end. Read more
- 1984 — Bhopal disaster: A methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, kills more than 3,800 people outright and injures 150,000–600,000 others (some 6,000 of whom later died from their injuries) in one of the worst industrial disasters in history. Read more
- 1982 — A soil sample is taken from Times Beach, Missouri, that will be found to contain 300 times the safe level of dioxin. Read more
- 1979 — In Cincinnati, 11 fans are suffocated in a crush for seats on the concourse outside Riverfront Coliseum before a Who concert. Read more
- 1979 — Iranian Revolution: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. Read more
- 1973 — Pioneer program: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter. Read more
- 1972 — Spantax Flight 275 crashes during takeoff from Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport, killing all 155 people on board. Read more
- 1971 — Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: Pakistan launches a pre-emptive strike against India and a full-scale war begins. Read more
- 1967 — At Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, a transplant team headed by Christiaan Barnard carries out the first heart transplant on a human (53-year-old Louis Washkansky). Read more
- 1965 — Soviet Union, Space probe of the Luna program, called Luna 8, is launched, but crashes on the Moon. Read more
- 1960 — The musical Camelot debuts at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. It will become associated with the Kennedy administration. Read more
- 1959 — The current flag of Singapore is adopted, six months after Singapore became self-governing within the British Empire. Read more
- 1954 — Väinö Linna's war novel The Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon sotilas) is published. Read more
- 1944 — Greek Civil War: Fighting breaks out in Athens between the ELAS and government forces supported by the British Army. Read more
- 1938 — Nazi Germany issues the Decree on the Utilization of Jewish Property forcing Jews to sell real property, businesses, and stocks at below market value as part of Aryanization. Read more
- 1929 — President Herbert Hoover delivers his first State of the Union message to Congress. It is presented in the form of a written message rather than a speech. Read more
- 1925 — Final agreement is signed between the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom formalizing the Partition of Ireland. Read more
- 1920 — Following more than a month of Turkish–Armenian War, the Turkish-dictated Treaty of Alexandropol is concluded. Read more
- 1919 — After nearly 20 years of planning and construction, including two collapses causing 89 deaths, the Quebec Bridge opens to traffic. Read more
- 1912 — Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia (the Balkan League) sign an armistice with the Ottoman Empire, temporarily halting the First Balkan War. (The armistice will expire on February 3, 1913, and hostilities will resume.) Read more
- 1910 — Modern neon lighting is first demonstrated by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. Read more
- 1904 — The Jovian moon Himalia is discovered by Charles Dillon Perrine at California's Lick Observatory. Read more
- 1901 — In a State of the Union message, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt delivers a 20,000-word report to the House of Representatives asking Congress to curb the power of trusts "within reasonable limits". The speech was not delivered in person. Read more
- 1898 — The Duquesne Country and Athletic Club defeats an all-star collection of early football players 16–0, in what is considered to be the first all-star game for professional American football. Read more
- 1881 — The first issue of Tamperean daily newspaper Aamulehti ("Morning Paper") is published. Read more
- 1859 — Nigeria's first newspaper, missionary Henry Townsend's Iwe Irohin, was published. Read more
- 1854 — Battle of the Eureka Stockade: More than 20 gold miners at Ballarat, Victoria, are killed by state troopers in an uprising over mining licences. Read more
- 1834 — The Zollverein (German Customs Union) begins the first regular census in Germany. Read more
- 1818 — Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state. Read more
- 1800 — War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden: French General Jean Victor Marie Moreau decisively defeats the Archduke John of Austria near Munich. Coupled with First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte's earlier victory at Marengo, this will force the Austrians to sign an armistice and end the war. Read more
- 1800 — United States presidential election: The Electoral College casts votes for president and vice president that result in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Read more
- 1799 — War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Wiesloch: Austrian Lieutenant Field Marshal Anton Sztáray defeats the French at Wiesloch. Read more
- 1775 — American Revolution: USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Continental Union Flag (precursor to the "Stars and Stripes"); the flag is hoisted by John Paul Jones. Read more
- 915 — Pope John X crowns Berengar I of Italy as Holy Roman Emperor (probable date). Read more
Born on December 3
- 1995 — Julius Honka, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1995 — Angèle, Belgian singer Read more
- 1994 — Jake T. Austin, American actor Read more
- 1994 — Lil Baby, American rapper Read more
- 1994 — Solomone Kata, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1994 — Bernarda Pera, American tennis player Read more
- 1992 — Cristian Ceballos, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1992 — Joseph McManners, English singer-songwriter, musician and actor Read more
- 1991 — Ekaterine Gorgodze, Georgian tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Christian Benteke, Belgian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Sharon Fichman, Canadian-Israeli tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Matt Reynolds, American baseball player Read more
- 1989 — Selçuk Alibaz, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1989 — Alex McCarthy, English footballer Read more
- 1989 — Tomasz Narkun, Polish mixed martial artist Read more
- 1988 — Melissa Aldana, Chilean saxophonist Read more
- 1987 — Michael Angarano, American actor, director, and screenwriter Read more
- 1987 — Eric Barone, American video game designer and musician Read more
- 1987 — Erik Grönwall, Swedish singer-songwriter Read more
- 1987 — Brian Robiskie, American football player Read more
- 1987 — Alicia Sacramone, American gymnast Read more
- 1986 — James Laurinaitis, American football player Read more
- 1985 — Nina Ansaroff, American martial artist Read more
- 1985 — László Cseh, Hungarian swimmer Read more
- 1985 — Mike Randolph, American soccer player Read more
- 1985 — Brian Roberts, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Amanda Seyfried, American actress Read more
- 1985 — Robert Swift, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Marcus Williams, American basketball player Read more
- 1984 — Manuel Arana, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1984 — Avraam Papadopoulos, Greek footballer Read more
- 1983 — Stephen Donald, New Zealand rugby player Read more
- 1983 — Aleksey Drozdov, Russian decathlete Read more
- 1983 — Sherri DuPree, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1983 — Andy Grammer, American singer, songwriter, and record producer Read more
- 1983 — James Ihedigbo, American football player Read more
- 1982 — Manny Corpas, Panamanian baseball player Read more
- 1982 — Michael Essien, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1982 — Dascha Polanco, Dominican-American actress Read more
- 1982 — Franco Sbaraglini, Argentinian-Italian rugby player Read more
Died on December 3
- 2024 — Mohamed Ali Yusuf, Somali politician (born 1944) Read more
- 2019 — Ragnar Ulstein, Norwegian journalist and war historian (born 1920) Read more
- 2015 — Gladstone Anderson, Jamaican singer and pianist (born 1934) Read more
- 2015 — Scott Weiland, American singer-songwriter (born 1967) Read more
- 2014 — Herman Badillo, Puerto Rican-American lawyer and politician (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Jules Mikhael Al-Jamil, Iraqi-Lebanese archbishop (born 1938) Read more
- 2011 — Dev Anand, Indian actor, director, and producer (born 1923) Read more
- 2010 — Abdumalik Bahori, Azerbaijani poet and author (born 1927) Read more
- 2009 — Leila Lopes, Brazilian actress and journalist (born 1959) Read more
- 2009 — Richard Todd, Irish-born British soldier and actor (born 1919) Read more
- 2008 — Robert Zajonc, Polish-American psychologist and author (born 1923) Read more
- 2007 — James Kemsley, Australian cartoonist and actor (born 1948) Read more
- 2005 — Frederick Ashworth, American admiral (born 1912) Read more
- 2005 — Herb Moford, American baseball player (born 1928) Read more
- 2005 — Kikka Sirén, Finnish pop/schlager singer (born 1964) Read more
- 2004 — Shiing-Shen Chern, Chinese-American mathematician and academic (born 1911) Read more
- 2003 — David Hemmings, English actor (born 1941) Read more
- 2003 — Sita Ram Goel, Indian historian, publisher and writer (born 1921) Read more
- 2002 — Adrienne Adams, American illustrator (born 1906) Read more
- 2002 — Glenn Quinn, Irish-American actor (born 1970) Read more
- 2000 — Gwendolyn Brooks, American poet and educator (born 1917) Read more
- 2000 — Hoyt Curtin, American composer and producer (born 1922) Read more
- 1999 — John Archer, American actor (born 1915) Read more
- 1999 — Scatman John, American singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1942) Read more
- 1999 — Madeline Kahn, American actress, comedian, and singer (born 1942) Read more
- 1999 — Horst Mahseli, Polish footballer (born 1934) Read more
- 1999 — Jarl Wahlström, Finnish 12th General of The Salvation Army (born 1918) Read more
- 1998 — Pierre Hétu, Canadian pianist and conductor (born 1936) Read more
- 1996 — Georges Duby, French historian and author (born 1919) Read more
- 1993 — Lewis Thomas, American physician, etymologist, and academic (born 1913) Read more
- 1989 — Fernando Martín Espina, Spanish basketball player (born 1962) Read more
- 1989 — Connie B. Gay, American businessman, founded the Country Music Association (born 1914) Read more
- 1984 — Vladimir Abramovich Rokhlin, Azerbaijani-Russian mathematician and academic (born 1919) Read more
- 1981 — Walter Knott, American farmer, founded Knott's Berry Farm (born 1889) Read more
- 1981 — Joel Rinne, Finnish actor (born 1897) Read more
- 1980 — Oswald Mosley, English lieutenant, fascist, and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (born 1896) Read more
- 1979 — Dhyan Chand, Indian field hockey player and coach (born 1905) Read more
- 1973 — Emile Christian, American trombonist, cornet player, and composer (born 1895) Read more
- 1973 — Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, President of Mexico, 1952–1958 (born 1889) Read more
- 1972 — William Manuel Johnson, American bassist (born 1872) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Abbo of Auxerre; Christian feast day:
Pope Abraham of Alexandria (Coptic, 6 Koiak)); Christian feast day:
Adrian (Ethernan); Christian feast day:
Birinus; Christian feast day:
Cassian of Tangier; Christian feast day:
Emma (of Lesum or of Bremen); Christian feast day:
Francis Xavier; Christian feast day:
Blessed Johann Nepomuk von Tschiderer zu Gleifheim; Christian feast day:
Zephaniah; Christian feast day:
December 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Doctors' Day (Cuba); International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 3”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.