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On This Day · The 336th day of the year

December 2

A look at December 2 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Stephen McGinn and Britney Spears, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♐ZodiacSagittarius ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2016

    Ghost Ship warehouse fire

    Thirty-six people die in a fire at a converted Oakland, California, warehouse serving as an artist collective.

    2016 California underground warehouse
  2. 1999

    Northern Ireland

    The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive following the Good Friday Agreement.

    Part of the United
  3. 1991

    Ukraine

    Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union.

    Country in Eastern Europe
  4. 1988

    Benazir Bhutto

    Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state.

    Prime Minister of Pakistan
  5. 1961

    Cuba

    In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist–Leninist and that Cuba will adopt Communism.

    Country in the Caribbean
  6. 1950

    Korean War

    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.

    1950–1953 conflict in Korean
  7. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: During the Manhattan Project, a team led by Enrico Fermi initiates the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  8. 1917

    World War I

    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.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  9. 1899

    Philippine–American War

    Philippine–American War: The Battle of Tirad Pass, known as the "Filipino Thermopylae", is fought.

    Armed Philippine-American conflict (1899–1902)
  10. 1865

    Alabama

    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.

    U.S. state
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 2

Stephen McGinn

b. 1988

Scottish footballer

Britney Spears

b. 1981

American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress

Georges Seurat

b. 1859

French painter

Tarcisio Bertone

b. 1934

Italian cardinal

Matteo Darmian

b. 1989

Italian footballer

Ivan Bagramyan

b. 1897

Russian general

Jan Ullrich

b. 1973

German cyclist

Botho Strauss

b. 1944

German author and playwright

Deaths

  • 2024Eminem, Mother of Eminem
  • 2008Henry Molaison, American memory disorder patient
  • 2002Arno Peters, German cartographer and historian
  • 1995Mária Telkes, Hungarian–American biophysicist and chemist
  • 1594Gerardus Mercator, Flemish mathematician, cartographer, and philosopher
  • 1547Hernán Cortés, Spanish general and explorer

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

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