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
February 3 Tuesday, February 3, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on February 3 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
8
Holidays
1112
European history 914 years ago
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and Douce I, Countess of Provence, marry, uniting the fortunes of those two states.
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, marries Douce I, Countess of Provence, uniting their territories under a single dynasty.
History
What happened on February 3
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1047European history
Drogo of Hauteville is elected as count of the Apulian Normans during the Norman conquest of Southern Italy.
Drogo of Hauteville is elected count of the Apulian Normans, solidifying Norman control over southern Italy.
- 1112European history
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and Douce I, Countess of Provence, marry, uniting the fortunes of those two states.
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, marries Douce I, Countess of Provence, uniting their territories under a single dynasty.
- 1451World history
Sultan Mehmed II inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire.
Mehmed II ascends to the throne of the Ottoman Empire at age 12.
- 1488European history
Bartolomeu Dias of Portugal lands in Mossel Bay after rounding the Cape of Good Hope, becoming the first known European to travel so far south.
Bartolomeu Dias becomes the first known European to reach Mossel Bay after rounding the Cape of Good Hope.
- 1509World history
The Portuguese navy defeats a joint fleet of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Sultan of Gujarat, the Mamlûk Burji Sultanate of Egypt, the Zamorin of Calicut, and the Republic of Ragusa at the Battle of Diu in Diu, India.
The Portuguese navy defeats a coalition fleet off the coast of Diu, India.
- 1583War
Battle of São Vicente takes place off Portuguese Brazil where three English warships led by navigator Edward Fenton fight off three Spanish galleons sinking one in the process.
Edward Fenton leads three English warships against three Spanish galleons off the coast of Portuguese Brazil, sinking one in the engagement.
- 1637World history
Tulip Mania collapses within the Dutch Republic.
Tulip prices in the Dutch Republic plummet, marking the end of a speculative bubble.
- 1690US history
The colony of Massachusetts issues the first paper money in the Americas.
The colony of Massachusetts issues the first paper currency in the Americas.
- 1781War
American Revolutionary War: British forces seize the Dutch-owned Caribbean island Sint Eustatius.
British forces capture the Dutch-controlled island of Sint Eustatius during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1783US history
Spain-United States relations are first established.
Spain becomes the first European monarchy to recognize the newly independent United States, establishing formal diplomatic relations following the American Revolution.
- 1830UK history
The London Protocol of 1830 establishes the full independence and sovereignty of Greece from the Ottoman Empire as the final result of the Greek War of Independence.
The London Protocol establishes Greece's full independence and sovereignty from the Ottoman Empire.
- 1961US history
The United States Air Force begins Operation Looking Glass, and over the next 30 years, a "Doomsday Plane" is always in the air, with the capability of taking direct control of the United States' bombers and missiles in the event of the destruction of the SAC's command post.
The United States Air Force launches Operation Looking Glass, ensuring a "Doomsday Plane" remains airborne for three decades to maintain nuclear command capability.
Born today
Famous birthdays on February 3
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 38
Cho Kyu-hyun
South Korean singer
Kyuhyun, a South Korean singer and musical theatre actor who debuted with boy group Super Junior in 2006, turns 37 today.
Born
1988
Turns 38
today
Sidney Lanier
American composer and poet
1842 – 1881
William Cornelius Van Horne
American-Canadian businessman
1843 – 1915
Charles Henry Turner
American biologist, educator and zoologist
1867 – 1923
Norman Rockwell
American painter and illustrator
1894 – 1978
Alvar Aalto
Finnish architect, designed the Finlandia Hall and Aalto Theatre
1898 – 1976
Elizabeth Holmes
American fraudster, founder of Theranos
b. 1984 · 42
Music
The number one songs on February 3
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on February 3, 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 February 3, 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 February 3, 1995
Astronaut Eileen Collins becomes the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle as mission STS-63 gets underway from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Eileen Collins becomes the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle during mission STS-63.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Day of the Virgin of Suyapa (Honduras)
International
Public holidays in Honduras are primarily centered on Christianity and the commemoration of significant events in Honduran history
Earliest day on which Shrove Tuesday can fall, while March 9 is the latest; celebrated on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (Christianity)
International
Shrove Tuesday is the final day of Shrovetide, which marks the end of the pre-Lenten season
Communist Party of Vietnam Foundation Anniversary (Vietnam)
International
Public holidays in Vietnam are days when workers get the day off work
Day of Finnish architecture and design, birthday of Alvar Aalto (Finland)
International
Flag flying days in Finland are days of the year when the national flag is flown nationwide, either by law or by custom
Heroes' Day (Mozambique)
International
Martyrs' Day (São Tomé and Príncipe)
International
This is a list of holidays in São Tomé and Príncipe