TODAY IN HISTORY: MARCH 2

 

March 2

 

March 2nd marks an important date in history, with significant events occurring across various domains, including politics, science, and sports. This particular day has witnessed remarkable achievements, milestones, and historical occurrences that have left a lasting impact on our society. From political leaders being born to scientific breakthroughs and sporting triumphs, March 2nd has witnessed it all.

In the realm of politics, March 2nd holds deep significance. It is the birth date of influential figures who have shaped the course of history. One such notable personality is Mikhail Gorbachev, the former President of the Soviet Union. Born in 1931, Gorbachev played a pivotal role in the communist regime's collapse and the end of the Cold War. His policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) ushered in a new era of political change, transforming the Soviet Union and the global political landscape.

March 2nd also witnessed the birth of Sir John Tenniel in 1820. Although not widely recognized by name, Tenniel's work has been celebrated by millions of readers across the world. He was the illustrator of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Tenniel's intricate and captivating illustrations brought Carroll's whimsical characters to life and have become integral to the story's enduring legacy.

In the scientific realm, March 2nd has witnessed remarkable discoveries and advancements. One such groundbreaking achievement occurred in 1962 when Wilt Chamberlain, an NBA basketball player, scored an incredible 100 points in a single game. This record-breaking feat, achieved by Chamberlain while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, remains unmatched to this day, solidifying his status as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

March 2nd also marks the birthday of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Born in 1904, Dr. Seuss became renowned for his children's books, characterized by their distinctive rhymes, imaginative characters, and moral lessons. His books, including The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Oh, the Places You'll Go!, have become staples in children's literature, captivating young readers and inspiring a love for reading and imagination.

Moreover, in the field of science, March 2nd witnessed the discovery of the element Mendelevium in 1955. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley synthesized this synthetic element, which is named after the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, who laid the groundwork for the periodic table. Mendelevium holds great significance in the scientific community, contributing to a deeper understanding of atomic structure and the properties of various elements.

However, March 2nd is not only about births and discoveries. It is also a day marked by significant historical events. One such event occurred in 1904, when theodor Roosevelt established the first US National Wildlife Refuge in Pelican Island, Florida. This act marked a significant step forward in conservation efforts to protect and preserve the diverse wildlife of the United States, setting a precedent for future conservation initiatives.

Another historical occurrence on March 2nd took place in 1972 when the Pioneer 10 spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This mission, conducted by NASA, involved sending a spacecraft through the asteroid belt and toward the outer reaches of our solar system. Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft to pass Jupiter and transmit close-up images of the gas giant, paving the way for future scientific exploration.

In conclusion, March 2nd has witnessed a plethora of remarkable events across various fields throughout history. From influential political figures being born to groundbreaking scientific discoveries and significant historical milestones, this date remains etched in our collective memory. Whether it be Mikhail Gorbachev's role in the end of the Cold War, Wilt Chamberlain's record-breaking basketball feat, or the conservation efforts initiated by Theodore Roosevelt, March 2nd is a day that will forever hold significance in the annals of history.

Here are more events from this day:

537 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoth army under king Vitiges begins the siege of the capital. Belisarius conducts a delaying action outside the Flaminian Gate; he and a detachment of his bucellarii are almost cut off.

986 – Louis V becomes the last Carolingian king of West Francia after the death of his father, Lothaire.

1331 – Fall of Nicaea to the Ottoman Turks after a siege.

1444 – Skanderbeg organizes a group of Albanian nobles to form the League of Lezhë.

1458 – George of Poděbrady is chosen as the king of Bohemia.

1476 – Burgundian Wars: The Old Swiss Confederacy hands Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, a major defeat in the Battle of Grandson in Canton of Neuchâtel.

1484 – The College of Arms is formally incorporated by Royal Charter signed by King Richard III of England.

1498 – Vasco da Gama's fleet visits the Island of Mozambique.

1657 – The Great Fire of Meireki begins in Edo (now Tokyo), Japan, causing more than 100,000 deaths before it exhausts itself three days later.

1776 – 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.

1791 – Claude Chappe demonstrates the first semaphore line near Paris.

1797 – The Bank of England issues the first one-pound and two-pound banknotes.

1807 – The U.S. Congress passes the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, disallowing the importation of new slaves into the country.

1811 – Argentine War of Independence: A royalist fleet defeats a small flotilla of revolutionary ships in the Battle of San Nicolás on the River Plate.

1815 – Signing of the Kandyan Convention treaty by British invaders and the leaders of the Kingdom of Kandy.

1836 – Texas Revolution: The Declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico is adopted.

1855 – Alexander II becomes Tsar of Russia.

1859 – The two-day Great Slave Auction, the largest such auction in United States history, begins.

1865 – East Cape War: The Völkner Incident in New Zealand.

1867 – The U.S. Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act.

1877 – Just two days before inauguration, the U.S. Congress declares Rutherford B. Hayes the winner of the 1876 U.S. presidential election even though Samuel J. Tilden had won the popular vote.

1882 – Queen Victoria narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Roderick Maclean in Windsor.

1901 – 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.

1901 – The U.S. Congress passes the Platt Amendment limiting the autonomy of Cuba, as a condition of the withdrawal of American troops.

1903 – In New York City the Martha Washington Hotel opens, becoming the first hotel exclusively for women.

1917 – The enactment of the Jones–Shafroth Act grants Puerto Ricans United States citizenship.

1919 – The first Communist International meets in Moscow.

1932 – Finnish president P. E. Svinhufvud gives a radio speech, which four days later finally ends the Mäntsälä Rebellion and the far-right Lapua Movement that started it.

1937 – The Steel Workers Organizing Committee signs a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel, leading to unionization of the United States steel industry.

1939 – Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli is elected Pope and takes the name Pius XII.

1941 – World War II: First German military units enter Bulgaria after it joins the Axis Pact.

1943 – World War II: During the Battle of the Bismarck Sea Allied aircraft defeated a Japanese attempt to ship troops to New Guinea.

1949 – Captain James Gallagher lands his B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II in Fort Worth, Texas, after completing the first non-stop around-the-world airplane flight in 94 hours and one minute.

1955 – Norodom Sihanouk, king of Cambodia, abdicates the throne in favor of his father, Norodom Suramarit.

1962 – In Burma, the army led by General Ne Win seizes power in a coup d'état.

1962 – Wilt Chamberlain sets the single-game scoring record in the National Basketball Association by scoring 100 points.

1965 – The US and Republic of Vietnam Air Force begin Operation Rolling Thunder, a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

1968 – Baggeridge Colliery closes marking the end of over 300 years of coal mining in the Black Country.

1969 – In Toulouse, France, the first test flight of the Anglo-French Concorde is conducted.

1970 – Rhodesia declares itself a republic, breaking its last links with the British crown.

1972 – The Pioneer 10 space probe is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida with a mission to explore the outer planets.

1977 – Libya becomes the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as the General People's Congress adopted the "Declaration on the Establishment of the Authority of the People".

1978 – Czech Vladimír Remek becomes the first non-Russian or non-American to go into space, when he is launched aboard Soyuz 28.

1978 – The late iconic actor Charlie Chaplin's coffin is stolen from his grave in Switzerland.

1983 – Compact discs and players are released for the first time in the United States and other markets. They had previously been available only in Japan.

1989 – Twelve European Community nations agree to ban the production of all chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by the end of the century.

1990 – Nelson Mandela is elected deputy president of the African National Congress.

1991 – Establishment of Kuwait Democratic Forum, center-left political organization in Kuwait.

1991 – Battle at Rumaila oil field brings an end to the 1991 Gulf War.

1992 – Start of the war in Transnistria.

1992 – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, San Marino, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, all of which (except San Marino) were former Soviet republics, join the United Nations.

1995 – Researchers at Fermilab announce the discovery of the top quark.

1998 – Data sent from the Galileo spacecraft indicates that Jupiter's moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice.

2002 – U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda begins, (ending on March 19 after killing 500 Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, with 11 Western troop fatalities).

2004 – War in Iraq: Al-Qaeda carries out the Ashoura Massacre in Iraq, killing 170 and wounding over 500.

2012 – A tornado outbreak occurs over a large section of the Southern United States and into the Ohio Valley region, resulting in 40 tornado-related fatalities.

2017 – The elements Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson are officially added to the periodic table at a conference in Moscow, Russia.