On This Day · The 62nd day of the year

March 3

A look at March 3 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Ron Chernow and Bonnie J. Dunbar, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

ZodiacPisces BirthstoneAquamarine Birth flowerDaffodil
Advertisement 728 × 90 leaderboard

Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1953

    De Havilland Comet

    A De Havilland Comet (Canadian Pacific Air Lines) crashes in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 11 people.

    First commercial jet airliner,
  2. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: Ten Japanese warplanes raid Broome, Western Australia, killing more than 100 people.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  3. 1939

    Mumbai

    In Bombay, Mohandas Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest at the autocratic rule in British India.

    Capital of Maharashtra, India
  4. 1938

    Petroleum

    Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia.

    Naturally occurring combustible liquid
  5. 1918

    Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

    Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, agreeing to withdraw from World War I, and conceding German control of the Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine. It also conceded Turkish control of Ardahan, Kars and Batumi.

    Soviet republic from 1917
  6. 1913

    Woman Suffrage Procession

    Thousands of women march in the Woman Suffrage Procession in Washington, D.C.

    1913 suffragist parade in
  7. 1891

    Shoshone National Forest

    Shoshone National Forest is established as the first national forest in the US and world.

    National Forest in Wyoming,
  8. 1845

    Florida

    Florida is admitted as the 27th U.S. state.

    U.S. state
  9. 1776

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: The first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps begins the Battle of Nassau.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  10. 1575

    Mughal Empire

    Mughal Emperor Akbar defeats Sultan of Bengal Daud Khan Karrani's army at the Battle of Tukaroi.

    1526–1857 empire in South
Advertisement Responsive in-content unit

Famous birthday twins

Born on March 3

Ron Chernow

b. 1949

American historian, journalist, and author

Bonnie J. Dunbar

b. 1949

American engineer, academic, and astronaut

Damaskinos of Athens

b. 1891

Greek archbishop

Alexander Graham Bell

b. 1847

Scottish-American engineer and academic, invented the telephone

Julie Bowen

b. 1970

American actress

Zico (footballer)

b. 1953

Brazilian footballer and coach

Emil Artin

b. 1898

Austrian-German mathematician and academic

Heinrich Georg Bronn

b. 1800

German geologist and paleontologist

Deaths

  • 2003Horst Buchholz, German actor
  • 1999Gerhard Herzberg, German-Canadian chemist and astronomer, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1983Hergé, Belgian author and illustrator
  • 1959Lou Costello, American actor and comedian
  • 1932Eugen d'Albert, Scottish-German pianist and composer
  • 1703Robert Hooke, English architect and philosopher

Holidays & observances

  • Christian feast day: Anselm, Duke of Friuli
  • Christian feast day: Arthelais
  • Christian feast day: Cunigunde of Luxembourg
  • Christian feast day: Katharine Drexel
  • Christian feast day: John and Charles Wesley (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • Christian feast day: Marinus and Asterius of Caesarea
  • Christian feast day: Winwaloe
  • Christian feast day: March 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Born on this day?

Make your birthday card.

Drop in your birth year and we'll work out your exact age, the day of the week you were born, your Chinese zodiac, your generation, and the countdown to your next candle.