Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
December 2 Wednesday, December 2, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 2 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
5
Holidays
1859
US history 167 years ago
Origins of the American Civil War: Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Militant abolitionist John Brown is hanged for his raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, an act that intensified sectional tensions leading to the Civil War.
History
What happened on December 2
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1244Religion
Pope Innocent IV arrives at Lyon for the First Council of Lyon.
Pope Innocent IV convenes the First Council of Lyon to address church reforms and political issues.
- 1409World history
The University of Leipzig opens.
The University of Leipzig opens as a central institution for German academia and intellectual discourse.
- 1697UK history
St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt to the design of Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of London, is consecrated.
St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt to the design of Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of London, is consecrated.
- 1763Religion
Dedication of the Touro Synagogue, in Newport, Rhode Island, the first synagogue in what will become the United States.
The Touro Synagogue is dedicated in Newport, Rhode Island, marking it as the first synagogue in the future United States.
- 1766Politics
Swedish parliament approves the Swedish Freedom of the Press Act and implements it as a ground law, thus being first in the world with freedom of speech.
Sweden's parliament adopts the Freedom of the Press Act, establishing the world's first constitutional protection of press freedom and freedom of speech.
- 1845US history
Manifest Destiny: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President James K. Polk proposes that the United States should aggressively expand into the West.
President James K. Polk advocates for westward expansion in his State of the Union address, promoting Manifest Destiny.
- 1859US history
Origins of the American Civil War: Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Militant abolitionist John Brown is hanged for his raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, an act that intensified sectional tensions leading to the Civil War.
- 1990Science
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 spacelab observatory.
The Space Shuttle Columbia is launched with the ASTRO-1 spacelab observatory aboard.
- 1993Crime
Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is shot and killed by police in Medellín.
Pablo Escobar is shot and killed by police in Medellín.
- 2015Crime
San Bernardino attack: Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik kill 14 people and wound 22 at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.
Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik carry out a shooting attack in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 and injuring 22.
- 2016Disaster
Thirty-six people die in a fire at a converted Oakland, California, warehouse serving as an artist collective.
A fire at a converted Oakland warehouse kills thirty-six people, many of whom were part of an artist collective.
- 2020World history
Cannabis is removed from the list of most dangerous drugs of the international drug control treaty by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
Cannabis is downgraded in the international drug control treaty, removing it from the list of most dangerous substances.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 2
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 64
John Dyegh
Nigerian businessman and politician
John Dyegh, Nigerian politician and businessman who represented Gboko/Tarka Federal constituency in the 9th National Assembly, turns 64 today.
Born
1962
Turns 64
today
Emperor Jianwen of Liang
emperor of the Chinese Liang dynasty
503 – 551
Deacon White
American baseball player and manager
1847 – 1939
Wynton Kelly
American pianist and composer
1931 – 1971
Jüri Reinvere
Estonian-German composer and poet
b. 1971 · 55
Masafumi Gotoh
Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
b. 1976 · 50
Renee Montgomery
American basketball player and executive
b. 1986 · 40
Music
The number one songs on December 2
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 2, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport December 2, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 2, 1957
United Nations Security Council Resolution 126 relating to the Kashmir conflict is adopted.
The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 126, addressing the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Armed Forces Day (Cuba)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (United Nations)
International
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is a yearly event on December 2, organized since 1986 by the United Nations General Assembly
Lao National Day
International
Lao National Day is a public holiday in Laos held on December 2 to mark the end of the monarchy and the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975
National Day (United Arab Emirates)
International
Eid Al Etihad, also known as UAE National Day, is celebrated annually on 2 December to celebrate the unification of the United Arab Emirates
Chichibu Night Festival
International
The Chichibu Night Festival is an annual festival held between 2 and 3 December in Chichibu, centred at the Chichibu Shrine The festival has been held for over 300 years, and has been described as a