December, 2nd in History

[Spiritus Temporis]

Events

Friday 02, 2005:
Microsoft releases its Xbox 360 video game console in Europe.

Thursday 02, 2004:
Brian Williams succeeds Tom Brokaw as host of NBC Nightly News.

Sunday 02, 2001:
Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Saturday 02, 2000:
The Smashing Pumpkins play their final gig.

Thursday 02, 1999:
The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to a the Northern Ireland Executive.

Thursday 02, 1993:
NASA launches the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Monday 02, 1991:
The first version of QuickTime was released.

Sunday 02, 1990:
A coalition led by Chancellor Helmut Kohl wins the first free all-German elections since 1932.

Friday 02, 1988:
Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of an Islam-dominated state.

Thursday 02, 1982:
At the University of Utah, Barney Clark, becomes the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart.

Tuesday 02, 1975:
The communist Pathet Lao seizes power in Laos, and establishes the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Saturday 02, 1972:
Gough Whitlam becomes the first Australian Labor Party Prime Minister of Australia for 23 years.

Thursday 02, 1971:
The United Arab Emirates is formed.

Wednesday 02, 1970:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency begins operations.

Sunday 02, 1962:
Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of US President John F. Kennedy, US Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the first American official to not make an optimistic public comment on the war's progress.

Saturday 02, 1961:
Cold War: In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba was going to adopt Communism.

Thursday 02, 1954:
Red Scare: The United States Senate votes 65 to 22 to condemn Joseph McCarthy for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute."

Wednesday 02, 1942:
Manhattan Project: A team led by Enrico Fermi initiate the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

Saturday 02, 1939:
La Guardia Airport opens for business in New York City.

Tuesday 02, 1930:
Great Depression: US President Herbert Hoover goes before Congress and asks for a US$150 million public works program to help generate jobs and stimulate the economy.

Friday 02, 1927:
Following 19 years of Ford Model T production, the Ford Motor Company unveils the Ford Model A as its new automobile.

Thursday 02, 1915:
Albert Einstein publishes the general theory of relativity.

Saturday 02, 1899:
Philippine-American War: The Battle of Tirad Pass, termed "The Filipino Thermopylae", is fought.

Monday 02, 1867:
In a New York City theater, British author Charles Dickens gives his first public reading in the United States.

Friday 02, 1859:
Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October 16th raid on Harper's Ferry.

Thursday 02, 1852:
Napoleon III becomes Emperor of France.

Tuesday 02, 1851:
Newly-elected French President Charles Louis Bonaparte violently overthrows the Second Republic.

Saturday 02, 1848:
Franz Josef I becomes Emperor of Austria.

Tuesday 02, 1845:
Manifest Destiny: US President James K. Polk announces to Congress that the United States should aggressively expand into the West.

Tuesday 02, 1823:
US President James Monroe delivers a speech establishing American neutrality in future European conflicts (later be called the Monroe Doctrine).

Monday 02, 1805:
French troops under Napoleon decisively defeat a joint Russo-Austrian force.

Sunday 02, 1804:
At Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned as the first Emperor of France in a thousand years.

Tuesday 02, 1755:
The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire.

Saturday 02, 1409:
The University of Leipzig opens.

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/02-december/on-this-day.html


People born on December 02

1981:
Britney Spears, American singer (b: December 2, 1981) (Biography of Britney Spears)

1979:
Yvonne Catterfield, German singer and actress (b: December 2, 1979) (Biography of Yvonne Catterfield)

1978:
Nelly Furtado, Canadian singer and songwriter (b: December 2, 1978) (Biography of Nelly Furtado)

1973:
Monica Seles, Serbian-born tennis player (b: December 2, 1973) (Biography of Monica Seles)
Jan Ullrich, German cyclist (b: December 2, 1973) (Biography of Jan Ullrich)

1968:
Lucy Liu, American actress (b: December 2, 1968) (Biography of Lucy Liu)
Nate Mendel, American bassist (Foo Fighters) (b: December 2, 1968) (Biography of Nate Mendel)
Chris Wedge, American animator, creator of Ice Age and Robots (b: December 2, 1968) (Biography of Chris Wedge)

1962:
Tracy Austin, American tennis player (b: December 2, 1962) (Biography of Tracy Austin)

1960:
Rick Savage, English bass player (Def Leppard) (b: December 2, 1960) (Biography of Rick Savage)

1957:
Dagfinn Høybråten, Norwegian politician (b: December 2, 1957) (Biography of Dagfinn Høybråten)

1954:
Dan Butler, American actor (b: December 2, 1954) (Biography of Dan Butler)

1952:
Michael McDonald, American musician (b: December 2, 1952) (Biography of Michael McDonald (singer))

1946:
Gianni Versace, Italian fashion designer (b: December 2, 1946 ; d: July 15, 1997) (Biography of Gianni Versace)
John Banks, New Zealand politician (b: December 2, 1946) (Biography of John Banks (New Zealand))

1945:
Penelope Spheeris, American film director (b: December 2, 1945) (Biography of Penelope Spheeris)

1944:
Botho Strauß, German author (b: December 2, 1944) (Biography of Botho Strauss)

1943:
Wayne Allard, American politician (b: December 2, 1943) (Biography of Wayne Allard)

1939:
Yael Dayan, Israeli writer and politician (b: December 2, 1939) (Biography of Yael Dayan)
Harry Reid, American politician (b: December 2, 1939) (Biography of Harry Reid)

1934:
Andre Rodgers, baseball player (b: December 2, 1934 ; d: December 13, 2004) (Biography of Andre Rodgers)

1933:
Michael Larrabee, American athlete (b: December 2, 1933 ; d: April 22, 2003) (Biography of Michael Larrabee)

1931:
Edwin Meese, American politician (b: December 2, 1931) (Biography of Edwin Meese)

1930:
Gary Becker, American economist (b: December 2, 1930) (Biography of Gary Becker)

1925:
Julie Harris, American actress (b: December 2, 1925) (Biography of Julie Harris)

1924:
Alexander M. Haig, Jr., American politician (b: December 2, 1924) (Biography of Alexander M. Haig, Jr.)

1914:
Adolph Green, American composer (b: December 2, 1914 ; d: October 24, 2002) (Biography of Adolph Green)

1906:
Peter Goldmark, Hungarian-born inventor and engineer (b: December 2, 1906) (Biography of Peter Goldmark)

1899:
John Barbirolli, English conductor (b: December 2, 1899 ; d: July 29, 1970) (Biography of John Barbirolli)

1898:
Indra Lal Roy, Indian pilot (b: December 2, 1898) (Biography of Indra Lal Roy)

1895:
Harriet Cohen, English pianist (b: December 2, 1895 ; d: November 13, 1967) (Biography of Harriet Cohen)

1892:
Leo Ornstein, Russian-born composer and pianist (b: December 2, 1892 ; d: February 24, 2002) (Biography of Leo Ornstein)

1891:
Otto Dix, German painter and graphic artist (b: December 2, 1891) (Biography of Otto Dix)

1885:
George Richards Minot, American physician, Nobel Prize laureate (b: December 2, 1885) (Biography of George Richards Minot)

1863:
Charles Ringling, American circus owner (b: December 2, 1863) (Biography of Charles Ringling)

1859:
Georges Seurat, French painter (b: December 2, 1859) (Biography of Georges Seurat)

1846:
Pierre Marie René Ernest Waldeck-Rousseau, French statesman (b: December 2, 1846) (Biography of Pierre Marie René Ernest Waldeck-Rousseau)

1817:
Heinrich von Sybel, German historian (b: December 2, 1817) (Biography of Heinrich von Sybel)

1760:
John Breckinridge, American politician (b: December 2, 1760) (Biography of John Breckinridge)

1738:
Richard Montgomery, Irish-American soldier (b: December 2, 1738) (Biography of Richard Montgomery)

1703:
Ferdinand Konscak, Croatian explorer (b: December 2, 1703) (Biography of Ferdinand Konscak)

1694:
William Shirley, Colonial Governor of Massachusetts (b: December 2, 1694) (Biography of William Shirley)

1578:
Agostino Agazzari, Italian composer and music theorist (b: December 2, 1578) (Biography of Agostino Agazzari)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/02-december/births.html

[Spiritus Temporis]

They left us on December 02

2004:
Mona Van Duyn, American poet (b: May 9, 1921 ; d: December 2, 2004) (Biography of Mona Van Duyn)
Alicia Markova, English ballerina (b: December 1, 1910 ; d: December 2, 2004) (Biography of Alicia Markova)

2003:
Alan Davidson (food writer) (d: December 2, 2003) (Biography of Alan Davidson (food writer))

2002:
Ivan Illich (d: December 2, 2002) (Biography of Ivan Illich)
Arno Peters (d: December 2, 2002) (Biography of Arno Peters)

1997:
Big Daddy (wrestler) (d: December 2, 1997) (Biography of Big Daddy (wrestler))

1995:
Robertson Davies, Canadian writer (b: August 28, 1913 ; d: December 2, 1995) (Biography of Robertson Davies)

1993:
Pablo Escobar (d: December 2, 1993) (Biography of Pablo Escobar)

1990:
Aaron Copland, American composer (b: November 14, 1900 ; d: December 2, 1990) (Biography of Aaron Copland)

1988:
Tata Giacobetti, Italian singer and lyricist (Quartetto Cetra) (b: June 24, 1922 ; d: December 2, 1988) (Biography of Tata Giacobetti)

1987:
Yakov Borisovich Zel%27dovich, Russian physicist (b: March 8, 1914 ; d: December 2, 1987) (Biography of Yakov Borisovich Zel%27dovich)

1986:
Desi Arnaz, Cuban-born actor, bandleader, and musician (b: March 2, 1917 ; d: December 2, 1986) (Biography of Desi Arnaz)

1985:
Aniello Dellacroce, American gangster (b: March 15, 1914 ; d: December 2, 1985) (Biography of Aniello Dellacroce)

1983:
Fifi D'Orsay, Canadian actress (b: April 16, 1904 ; d: December 2, 1983) (Biography of Fifi D'Orsay)

1982:
Marty Feldman, English comedian and actor (b: July 8, 1933 ; d: December 2, 1982) (Biography of Marty Feldman)

1980:
Romain Gary, Polish writer (b: May 8, 1914 ; d: December 2, 1980) (Biography of Romain Gary)

1976:
Danny Murtaugh, baseball player and manager (b: October 8, 1917 ; d: December 2, 1976) (Biography of Danny Murtaugh)

1974:
Max Weber, Swiss Federal Councilor (b: August 2, 1897 ; d: December 2, 1974) (Biography of Max Weber (politician))

1969:
Kliment Yefremovich Voroshilov (d: December 2, 1969) (Biography of Kliment Yefremovich Voroshilov)

1963:
Sabu, Indian actor (b: January 27, 1924 ; d: December 2, 1963) (Biography of Sabu (actor))
Thomas J. Hicks (d: December 2, 1963) (Biography of Thomas J. Hicks)

1950:
Dinu Lipatti, Romanisn pianist (b: March 19, 1917 ; d: December 2, 1950) (Biography of Dinu Lipatti)

1944:
Josef Lhévinne, Russian-born pianist (b: December 13, 1874 ; d: December 2, 1944) (Biography of Josef Lhévinne)

1931:
Vincent d'Indy, French composer and teacher (b: March 27, 1851 ; d: December 2, 1931) (Biography of Vincent d'Indy)

1892:
Jay Gould, American financier (b: May 27, 1836 ; d: December 2, 1892) (Biography of Jay Gould)

1859:
John Brown, American abolitionist (b: May 9, 1800 ; d: December 2, 1859) (Biography of John Brown (abolitionist))

1849:
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, queen of William IV of the United Kingdom (b: August 13, 1792 ; d: December 2, 1849) (Biography of Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen)

1814:
Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade (d: December 2, 1814) (Biography of Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade)

1774:
Johann Friedrich Agricola, German composer (b: January 4, 1720 ; d: December 2, 1774) (Biography of Johann Friedrich Agricola)

1748:
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, English politician (b: August 13, 1662 ; d: December 2, 1748) (Biography of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset)

1747:
Vincent Bourne (d: December 2, 1747) (Biography of Vincent Bourne)

1726:
Samuel Penhallow, English-born American colonist and historian (b: July 2, 1665 ; d: December 2, 1726) (Biography of Samuel Penhallow)

1723:
Philip II, Duke of Orléans, regent of France (b: August 2, 1674 ; d: December 2, 1723) (Biography of Philip II, Duke of Orléans)

1719:
Pasquier Quesnel, French Jansenist theologian (b: July 14, 1634 ; d: December 2, 1719) (Biography of Pasquier Quesnel)

1694:
Pierre Paul Puget, French artist (b: October 31, 1622 ; d: December 2, 1694) (Biography of Pierre Paul Puget)

1665:
Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet (d: December 2, 1665) (Biography of Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet)

1594:
Gerardus Mercator, Flemish cartographer (b: March 5, 1512 ; d: December 2, 1594) (Biography of Gerardus Mercator)

1552:
Saint Francis Xavier, Spanish founder of the Society of Jesus (b: April 7, 1506 ; d: December 2, 1552) (Biography of Francis Xavier)

1547:
Hernán Cortés (d: December 2, 1547) (Biography of Hernán Cortés)

1515:
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, Spanish general and statesman (b: March 16, 1453 ; d: December 2, 1515) (Biography of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba)

1469:
Piero di Cosimo de' Medici (d: December 2, 1469) (Biography of Piero di Cosimo de' Medici)

1463:
Archduke Albert VI of Austria (b: December 12, 1418 ; d: December 2, 1463) (Biography of Albert VI of Austria)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/02-december/deaths.html