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On This Day in History — June 2
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Highlights of June 2
- 2023 — A collision between two passenger trains and a parked freight train near the city of Balasore, Odisha, in eastern India resulted in 296 deaths and more than 1,200 people injured. Read more
- 2010 — A gunman carried out a shooting spree in Cumbria, England, killing 12 people and injuring 11 others before committing suicide. Read more
- 2008 — Artist Tim Buckley published "Loss" as part of his webcomic Ctrl+Alt+Del. Read more
- 1995 — Bosnian War: U.S. Air Force captain Scott O'Grady was shot down while patrolling the NATO no-fly zone over Bosnia, but ejected safely and was rescued six days later. Read more
- 1983 — After an emergency landing due to an in-flight fire, 23 passengers aboard Air Canada Flight 797 were killed when a flashover occurred as the aircraft's doors opened. Read more
- 1973 — Della Aleksander co-presented an episode of Open Door on transgender women's lives. Read more
- 1967 — Benno Ohnesorg, a German university student, was killed in West Berlin while protesting against the visit of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran; the anarchist militant 2 June Movement was later named after the incident. Read more
- 1962 — One of the most violent football matches took place at the World Cup as Chile defeated Italy in a group match. Read more
- 1955 — The USSR and Yugoslavia sign the Belgrade declaration, legitimising different interpretations of Marxism in non-Soviet countries. Read more
- 1953 — Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. Read more
- 1919 — First Red Scare: The anarchist followers of Luigi Galleani (pictured) set off eight bombs in eight cities across the United States. Read more
- 1886 — The wedding of Grover Cleveland and Frances Folsom (wedding depicted) took place in the White House, in the only time that a U.S. president has married in the building. Read more
- 1878 — Anarchist Karl Nobiling attempted to assassinate German Emperor Wilhelm I. Read more
- 1805 — Napoleonic Wars: A Franco-Spanish fleet recaptured the British-held Diamond Rock, an uninhabited island at the entrance to the bay leading to Fort-de-France, Martinique. Read more
- 1802 — Henry Hacking killed the Aboriginal Australian resistance fighter Pemulwuy after Philip Gidley King ordered that he be brought in dead or alive. Read more
Events
- 2023 — A collision between two passenger trains and a parked freight train near the city of Balasor, Odisha in eastern India, results in 296 deaths and more than 1,200 people injured. Read more
- 2022 — Following a request from Ankara, the United Nations officially changes the name of the Republic of Turkey in the organization from what was previously known as "Turkey" to "Türkiye". Read more
- 2014 — Telangana officially becomes the 29th state of India, formed from ten districts of northwestern Andhra Pradesh. Read more
- 2012 — Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the killing of demonstrators during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Read more
- 2010 — Twelve people are killed and eleven others injured in a spree shooting in Cumbria, England, before the perpetrator takes his own life. Read more
- 2003 — Europe launches its first voyage to another planet, Mars. The European Space Agency's Mars Express probe launches from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan. Read more
- 1998 — Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-91, the final mission of the Shuttle-Mir program. Read more
- 1997 — In Denver, Timothy McVeigh is convicted on 11 counts of murder and conspiracy for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, in which 168 people died. He was executed four years later. Read more
- 1990 — The Lower Ohio Valley tornado outbreak spawns 66 confirmed tornadoes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, killing 12. Read more
- 1983 — After an emergency landing because of an in-flight fire, twenty-three passengers aboard Air Canada Flight 797 are killed when a flashover occurs as the plane's doors open. Because of this incident, numerous new safety regulations are put in place. Read more
- 1979 — Pope John Paul II starts his first official visit to his native Poland, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. Read more
- 1967 — Luis Monge is executed in Colorado's gas chamber, in the last pre-Furman execution in the United States. Read more
- 1967 — Protests in West Berlin against the arrival of the Shah of Iran are brutally suppressed, during which Benno Ohnesorg is killed by a police officer. His death results in the founding of the terrorist group 2 June Movement. Read more
- 1966 — Surveyor program: Surveyor 1 lands in Oceanus Procellarum on the Moon, becoming the first U.S. spacecraft to soft-land on another world. Read more
- 1964 — The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is formed. Read more
- 1962 — During the FIFA World Cup, police intervene multiple times in fights between Chilean and Italian players in one of the most violent games in football history. Read more
- 1958 — Aeronaves de México Flight 111 crashes on approach to Guadalajara International Airport, killing 45. Read more
- 1955 — The USSR and Yugoslavia sign the Belgrade declaration and thus normalize relations between the two countries, discontinued since 1948. Read more
- 1953 — The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey becomes the first British coronation, and one of the first major international events, to be televised. Read more
- 1946 — Birth of the Italian Republic: In a referendum, Italians vote to turn Italy from a monarchy into a Republic. After the referendum, King Umberto II of Italy is exiled. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: German paratroopers murder Greek civilians in the villages of Kondomari and Alikianos. Read more
- 1924 — U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act into law, granting citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States. Read more
- 1919 — Anarchists simultaneously set off bombs in eight separate U.S. cities. Read more
- 1910 — Charles Rolls, a co-founder of Rolls-Royce Limited, becomes the first man to make a non-stop double crossing of the English Channel by plane. Read more
- 1909 — Alfred Deakin becomes Prime Minister of Australia for the third time. Read more
- 1896 — Guglielmo Marconi applies for a patent for his wireless telegraph. Read more
- 1878 — Nobiling assassination attempt by anarchist Karl Nobiling targeting the German Kaiser, Wilhelm I. Read more
- 1866 — The Fenians defeat Canadian forces at Ridgeway and Fort Erie, but the raids end soon after. Read more
- 1848 — The Slavic Congress opens in Prague. Read more
- 1805 — Napoleonic Wars: A Franco-Spanish fleet recaptures from the British the island of Diamond Rock, which guards the entrance to the bay leading to Fort-de-France, Martinique. Read more
- 1793 — French Revolution: François Hanriot, leader of the Parisian National Guard, arrests 22 Girondists selected by Jean-Paul Marat, setting the stage for the Reign of Terror. Read more
- 1780 — The anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in London leave an estimated 300 to 700 people dead. Read more
- 1774 — Intolerable Acts: The Quartering Act of 1774 is enacted, allowing a governor in colonial America to house British soldiers in uninhabited houses, outhouses, barns, or other buildings if suitable quarters are not provided. Read more
- 1763 — Pontiac's Rebellion: At what is now Mackinaw City, Michigan, Chippewas capture Fort Michilimackinac by diverting the garrison's attention with a game of lacrosse, then chasing a ball into the fort. Read more
- 1692 — Bridget Bishop is the first person to be tried for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts; she is found guilty the same day and hanged on June 10. Read more
- 1676 — Franco-Dutch War: France ensures the supremacy of its naval fleet for the remainder of the war with its victory in the Battle of Palermo. Read more
- 1615 — The first Récollet missionaries arrive at Quebec City, from Rouen, France. Read more
- 1608 — The Colony of Virginia gets a charter, extending borders from "sea to sea". Read more
- 1259 — Wedding of Manfred, King of Sicily, and Byzantine princess Helena Angelina Doukaina. Read more
- 1098 — First Crusade: The first Siege of Antioch ends as Crusader forces take the city; the second siege began five days later. Read more
- 575 — Pope Benedict I is consecrated after obtaining imperial approval from Constantinople. Read more
- 455 — Sack of Rome: Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks. Read more
- 260 — Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao: The figurehead Wei emperor Cao Mao personally leads an attempt to oust his regent, Sima Zhao; the attempted coup is crushed and the emperor killed. Read more
Born on June 2
- 2002 — Madison Hu, American actress Read more
- 2002 — Fonua Pole, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 2001 — Kysaiah Pickett, Australian rules footballer Read more
- 2000 — Jay Idzes, Indonesian footballer Read more
- 1999 — Campbell Graham, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1997 — Scott Wozniak, American YouTuber Read more
- 1996 — Morissette, Filipina singer-songwriter Read more
- 1993 — Adam Taggart, Australian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Pajtim Kasami, Swiss footballer Read more
- 1990 — Dane Rampe, Australian rules footballer Read more
- 1989 — Steve Smith, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1988 — Sergio Agüero, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1988 — Awkwafina, American actress, rapper, and comedian Read more
- 1988 — Staniliya Stamenova, Bulgarian canoeist Read more
- 1987 — Clayton Bartolo, Maltese politician Read more
- 1987 — Maryka Holtzhausen, South African netball player Read more
- 1987 — Yoann Huget, French rugby player Read more
- 1987 — Matthew Koma, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1987 — Angelo Mathews, Sri Lankan cricketer Read more
- 1987 — Sonakshi Sinha, Indian actress Read more
- 1986 — Todd Carney, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1985 — Rhett Bomar, American football player Read more
- 1985 — Miyuki Sawashiro, Japanese voice actress and singer Read more
- 1984 — Jack Afamasaga, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1984 — Feleti Mateo, Australian-Tongan rugby league player Read more
- 1983 — Chris Higgins, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1983 — Toni Livers, Swiss skier Read more
- 1982 — Jewel Staite, Canadian actress Read more
- 1981 — Nikolay Davydenko, Russian tennis player Read more
- 1981 — Chin-hui Tsao, Taiwanese baseball player Read more
- 1980 — Fabrizio Moretti, Brazilian-American drummer Read more
- 1980 — Bobby Simmons, American basketball player Read more
- 1980 — Richard Skuse, English rugby player Read more
- 1980 — Abby Wambach, American soccer player and coach Read more
- 1980 — Tomasz Wróblewski, Polish bass player and songwriter Read more
- 1979 — Morena Baccarin, Brazilian-American actress Read more
- 1979 — Butterfly Boucher, Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Read more
- 1978 — Dominic Cooper, English actor Read more
- 1978 — Nikki Cox, American actress Read more
- 1978 — Yi So-yeon, biotechnologist and astronaut, the first Korean in space Read more
Died on June 2
- 2024 — Larry Allen, American football player (born 1971) Read more
- 2024 — Rob Burrow, English rugby league footballer (born 1982) Read more
- 2024 — David Levy, Israeli politician (born 1937) Read more
- 2024 — Janis Paige, American actress and singer (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Fernando de Araújo, East Timorese politician, President of East Timor (born 1963) Read more
- 2015 — Irwin Rose, American biologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1926) Read more
- 2014 — Ivica Brzić, Serbian footballer and manager (born 1941) Read more
- 2014 — Nikolay Khrenkov, Russian bobsledder (born 1984) Read more
- 2014 — Alexander Shulgin, American pharmacologist and chemist (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Mario Bernardi, Canadian pianist and conductor (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Chen Xitong, Chinese politician, 8th Mayor of Beijing (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Mandawuy Yunupingu, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1956) Read more
- 2012 — Adolfo Calero, Nicaraguan businessman and political activist (born 1931) Read more
- 2012 — Richard Dawson, English-American soldier, actor, television personality, and game show host (born 1932) Read more
- 2012 — LeRoy Ellis, American basketball player (born 1940) Read more
- 2012 — Kathryn Joosten, American actress (born 1939) Read more
- 2009 — David Eddings, American author (born 1931) Read more
- 2008 — Bo Diddley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1928) Read more
- 2008 — Mel Ferrer, American actor (born 1917) Read more
- 2007 — Kentarō Haneda, Japanese pianist and composer (born 1949) Read more
- 2007 — Huang Ju, Chinese engineer and politician, 1st Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China (born 1938) Read more
- 2006 — Keith Smith, English rugby player and coach (born 1952) Read more
- 2005 — Lucien Cliche, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1916) Read more
- 2005 — Gunder Gundersen, Norwegian skier (born 1930) Read more
- 2005 — Samir Kassir, Lebanese journalist and educator (born 1950) Read more
- 2005 — Melita Norwood, English civil servant and spy (born 1912) Read more
- 2003 — Freddie Blassie, American wrestler and manager (born 1918) Read more
- 2003 — Alma Ricard, Canadian broadcaster and philanthropist (born 1906) Read more
- 2002 — Hugo van Lawick, Dutch director and photographer (born 1937) Read more
- 2001 — Imogene Coca, American actress and comedian (born 1908) Read more
- 2001 — Joey Maxim, American boxer (born 1922) Read more
- 2000 — Svyatoslav Fyodorov, Russian ophthalmologist, academic, and politician (born 1927) Read more
- 2000 — John Schlee, American golfer (born 1939) Read more
- 2000 — Gerald James Whitrow, English mathematician, cosmologist, and historian (born 1912) Read more
- 1999 — Junior Braithwaite, Jamaican singer (born 1949) Read more
- 1997 — Doc Cheatham, American trumpet player, singer, and bandleader (born 1905) Read more
- 1997 — Helen Jacobs, American tennis champion (born 1908) Read more
- 1996 — John Alton, Hungarian-American cinematographer and director (born 1901) Read more
- 1996 — Leon Garfield, English author (born 1921) Read more
- 1996 — Ray Combs, American game show host (born 1956) Read more
Holidays & observances
Children's Day (North Korea); Christian feast day:
Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Alexander (martyr); Christian feast day:
Elmo; Christian feast day:
Felix of Nicosia; Christian feast day:
Marcellinus and Peter; Christian feast day:
Martyrs of Lyon, including Blandina; Christian feast day:
Pope Eugene I; Christian feast day:
Pothinus; Christian feast day:
Blessed Sadok and 48 Dominican martyrs from Sandomierz; Christian feast day:
June 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Civil Aviation Day (Azerbaijan); Coronation of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, also Social Forestry Day (Bhutan); Day of Hristo Botev (Bulgaria); Decoration Day (Canada); Festa della Repubblica (Italy); Gawai Dayak, harvest festival in the state of Sarawak (Malaysia); International Sex Workers Day; Telangana Day (Telangana, India); Alberti Day (New York City, USA)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “June 2”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.