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
November 2 Monday, November 2, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 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
6
Holidays
2022
Politics 4 years ago
A peace agreement is signed between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, ending the Tigray War.
A peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front ends the two-year Tigray War.
History
What happened on November 2
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 619World history
A qaghan of the Western Turkic Khaganate is assassinated in a Chinese palace by Eastern Turkic rivals after the approval of Tang emperor Gaozu.
A qaghan of the Western Turkic Khaganate is killed in a Chinese palace by Eastern Turkic rivals with the consent of Emperor Gaozu.
- 1410European history
The Peace of Bicêtre suspends hostilities in the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War.
French factions agree to a truce with the Peace of Bicêtre, temporarily halting the Armagnac, Burgundian Civil War.
- 1675US history
Plymouth Colony governor Josiah Winslow leads a colonial militia against the Narragansett during King Philip's War.
Josiah Winslow leads a colonial militia in an attack on the Narragansett during King Philip's War.
- 1707UK history
Four British naval vessels run aground on the Isles of Scilly because of faulty navigation. In response, the first Longitude Act is enacted in 1714.
Four British naval vessels wreck on the Isles of Scilly due to navigational errors, a disaster that spurs Parliament to pass the Longitude Act seven years later.
- 1795Politics
The French Directory, a five-man revolutionary government, is created.
The French Directory is established as a five-member executive council to govern France following the revolution.
- 1882Disaster
The great fire destroys a large part of Oulu's city center in Oulu Province, Finland.
A devastating fire ravages the heart of Oulu's city center, causing extensive damage.
- 1889US history
North Dakota and South Dakota are admitted as the 39th and 40th U.S. states.
North Dakota and South Dakota become the 39th and 40th states of the United States.
- 1967Politics
Vietnam War: US President Lyndon B. Johnson and "The Wise Men" conclude that the American people should be given more optimistic reports on the progress of the war.
Lyndon B. Johnson meets with "The Wise Men" to decide on issuing more optimistic reports about the Vietnam War's progress.
- 1997Disaster
Tropical Storm Linda makes landfall in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, causing more than 3,000 deaths.
Tropical Storm Linda strikes the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, killing more than 3,000 people and becoming one of the deadliest storms in the country's history.
- 2016Sports
The Chicago Cubs defeat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, ending the longest Major League Baseball championship drought at 108 years.
The Chicago Cubs end their 108-year championship drought by defeating the Cleveland Indians in the World Series.
- 2020Crime
In Vienna's Innere Stadt district, an ISIL sympathizer shoots and kills four people and injures 23 more, before being shot and killed by the police.
A gunman sympathetic to ISIL kills four and wounds 23 in Vienna's Innere Stadt district before being shot dead by police.
- 2022Politics
A peace agreement is signed between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, ending the Tigray War.
A peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front ends the two-year Tigray War.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 2
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 61
Shah Rukh Khan
Indian film actor, producer and television host
Shah Rukh Khan, known as the "King Khan" of Bollywood, turns 59 today with a career spanning more than 100 films and numerous accolades including a National Film Award.
Born
1965
Turns 61
today
Anne
Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
1709 – 1759
Arun Shourie
Indian journalist, economist, and politician, Indian Minister of Communications
b. 1941 · 85
Ron Lee
American basketball player
b. 1952 · 74
Willie McGee
American baseball player and manager
b. 1958 · 68
Nelly
American rapper
b. 1974 · 52
Stéphane Sarrazin
French race car driver
b. 1975 · 51
Music
The number one songs on November 2
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 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 November 2, 2016
The Chicago Cubs defeat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, ending the longest Major League Baseball championship drought at 108 years.
The Chicago Cubs end their 108-year championship drought by defeating the Cleveland Indians in the World Series.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 2, 1947
In California, designer Howard Hughes performs the maiden (and only) flight of the Hughes H-4 Hercules (also known as the "Spruce Goose"), the largest fixed-wing aircraft ever built until Scaled Composites rolled out their Stratolaunch in May 2017.
Howard Hughes flies the massive H-4 Hercules, known as the "Spruce Goose," the largest fixed-wing aircraft until the Stratolaunch's debut.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Coronation of Haile Selassie (Rastafari)
International
Rastafari is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s
Day of the Dead, the second day of Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos celebration (Mexico)
International
The Day of the Dead is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality
Dziady (Belarus)
International
Dziady is a term in East and West Slavic folklore for the spirits of the ancestors and a collection of pre-Christian rites, celebrations, rituals and customs that were dedicated to them
Arrival of Indentured Labourers (Mauritius)
International
Indian Arrival Day is a public holiday that was first started in Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate the East Indian immigrants arrival to the nation during the indentureship period
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (United Nations)
International
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) is a UN-recognized international day observed annually on 2 November
Statehood Day (North Dakota and South Dakota, United States)
International
A state of the United States is one of the 50 constituent entities that shares its sovereignty with the federal government