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On This Day · The 337th day of the year

December 3

A look at December 3 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including France Prešeren and Ellen Swallow Richards, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♐ZodiacSagittarius ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2009

    2009 Hotel Shamo bombing

    A suicide bombing at a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, kills 25 people, including three ministers of the Transitional Federal Government.

    Suicide terror attack in
  2. 1999

    NASA

    NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere.

    American space and aeronautics
  3. 1997

    Ottawa

    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.

    Capital city of Canada
  4. 1994

    Taiwan

    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.

    Country in East Asia
  5. 1992

    Oil tanker

    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.

    Ship that carries petroleum
  6. 1959

    Flag of Singapore

    The current flag of Singapore is adopted, six months after Singapore became self-governing within the British Empire.

    History
  7. 1938

    Nazi Germany

    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.

    German state from 1933
  8. 1904

    Moons of Jupiter

    The Jovian moon Himalia is discovered by Charles Dillon Perrine at California's Lick Observatory.

    Natural satellites of the
  9. 1818

    Illinois

    Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state.

    U.S. state
  10. 1799

    War of the Second Coalition

    War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Wiesloch: Austrian Lieutenant Field Marshal Anton Sztáray defeats the French at Wiesloch.

    Second war on revolutionary
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 3

France Prešeren

b. 1800

Slovenian poet and lawyer

Ellen Swallow Richards

b. 1842

American chemist, ecologist, and educator

Franz Klammer

b. 1953

Austrian skier and race car driver

Aleksey Drozdov

b. 1983

Russian decathlete

Herman Heijermans

b. 1864

Dutch author and playwright

Gilbert Stuart

b. 1755

American painter

Zlata Filipović

b. 1980

Bosnian-Irish diarist

Alberto Juantorena

b. 1950

Cuban runner

Deaths

  • 1919Pierre-Auguste Renoir, French painter and sculptor
  • 1894Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist
  • 1815John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), American archbishop
  • 1533Vasili III of Russia, Grand Prince of Moscow from 1505 to 1533
  • 1532Louis II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
  • 311AD 311, Roman emperor

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

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