December 2 holidays in 2017

Historical Events

• 1775: John Paul Jones hoists the Grand Union Flag on the USS Alfred. This is the first vessel to fly this precursor to the American Stars and Stripes flag.
• 1804: Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself as French Emperor in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.
• 1805: Napoleon leads French forces in a victorious battle against a joint force of Russians and Austrians.
• 1823: United States President James Monroe introduces the Monroe Doctrine when he gives a speech that proclaims America will remain neutral in all future European wars and warns the European countries should not try to interfere in the Americas.
• 1845: United States President James K. Polk gives a State of the Union address which suggests that the U.S should expand aggressively westward – a policy known as Manifest Destiny.
• 1927: The Model A is introduced by the Ford Motor Company.
• 1930: During the Great Depression, United States President Herbert Hoover suggest a public works program should be initiated to help stimulate the economy. This job works program would cost $150 million dollars ($2.15 billion in adjusted 2017 dollars).
• 1942: During WWII, Ernico Fermi and his team initiate the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction as they are working on the top-secret Manhattan Project.

Famous Birthdays

• French painter Georges Seurat is born in 1859.
• German painter Otto Dix is born in 1891.
• American author and historian, Charles H. Wesley is born in 1891.
• American actor Bill Erwin is born in 1914.
• American playwright and composer, Adolph Green is born in 1914.
• American singer Sylvia Syms is born in 1917.
• American actress Julie Harris is born in 1925.
• American author Ann Patchett is born in 1963.
• Canadian NHL player and coach, Ron Sutter is born in 1963.
• Canadian NHL player and scout, Rich Sutter is born in 1963.
• American actress and producer, Lucy Liu is born in 1968.
• American actress Rena Sofer is born in 1968.