Historical Events on December 2
- 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 on December 2
- 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.