✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 61st day of the year

March 2

A look at March 2 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Ricardo Lagos and Marcel Hirscher, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♓ZodiacPisces ◈BirthstoneAquamarine ❀Birth flowerDaffodil
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2014

    Oscar selfie

    The Oscar Selfie, regarded as one of the most influential and important images of all time, is taken at the 86th Academy Awards.

    2014 picture and viral
  2. 1995

    Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

    Researchers at Fermilab announce the discovery of the top quark.

    High-energy particle physics laboratory
  3. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: First German military units enter Bulgaria after it joins the Axis Pact.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1937

    Steel Workers Organizing Committee

    The Steel Workers Organizing Committee signs a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel, leading to unionization of the United States steel industry.

    History
  5. 1901

    U.S. Steel

    United States Steel Corporation is founded as a result of a merger between Carnegie Steel Company and Federal Steel Company which became the first corporation in the world with a market capital over $1 billion.

    American steel-producing company
  6. 1859

    Great Slave Auction

    The two-day Great Slave Auction, once thought to be the largest such auction in United States history, begins.

    1859 record-setting slave auction
  7. 1836

    Texas Revolution

    Texas Revolution: The Declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico is adopted.

    1835–1836 rebellion
  8. 1791

    Claude Chappe

    Claude Chappe demonstrates the first semaphore line near Paris.

    Late 18th-century French inventor
  9. 1776

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: Patriot militia units attempt to prevent capture of supply ships in and around the Savannah River by a small fleet of the Royal Navy in the Battle of the Rice Boats.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  10. 1484

    College of Arms

    The College of Arms is formally incorporated by Royal Charter signed by King Richard III of England.

    Corporation responsible for heraldry
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Famous birthday twins

Born on March 2

Ricardo Lagos

b. 1938

Chilean economist, lawyer, and politician, 33rd President of Chile

Marcel Hirscher

b. 1989

Austrian skier

Pope Pius XII

b. 1876

Head of the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958

Daniel Craig

b. 1968

English actor and producer

Mikhail Gorbachev

b. 1931

Russian lawyer and politician, the 8th and final leader of the Soviet Union, Nobel Prize laureate

Pope Leo XIII

b. 1810

Head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903

Benedict of Nursia

b. 480

Italian Christian saint (died 543 or 547)

Bedřich Smetana

b. 1824

Czech pianist and composer

Deaths

  • 2009João Bernardo Vieira, Bissau-Guinean politician, President of Guinea-Bissau
  • 1991Serge Gainsbourg, French singer-songwriter, actor, and director
  • 1930D. H. Lawrence, English novelist, poet, playwright, and critic
  • 1895Berthe Morisot, French painter
  • 1840Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers, German physician and astronomer
  • 1333Władysław I Łokietek, king of Poland

Holidays & observances

  • —Air Force Day (Sri Lanka)
  • —Baloch Culture Day (Balochistan)
  • —Christian feast day: Agnes of Bohemia
  • —Christian feast day: Angela of the Cross
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Charles the Good, Count of Flanders
  • —Christian feast day: Chad of Mercia (Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: John Maron
  • —Christian feast day: March 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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