2 December in history
8 events that happened on 2 December, from 1244 to 1971.
✦ Anniversary of the day
1244 CE 782 years ago
Pope Innocent IV arrives at Lyon, threatened by Frederick II
Threatened by Emperor Frederick II, Pope Innocent IV arrived at Lyon. Early the next year he summoned the bishops to the First Council of Lyon, at which he excommunicated Frederick and declared him deposed.
1697 CE 329 years ago
Wren's new St Paul's Cathedral holds its first service
The choir of Christopher Wren's new St Paul's opened for worship with a thanksgiving service for the Peace of Ryswick. The cathedral, replacing the one lost in the Great Fire, was declared complete in 1711.
1763 CE 263 years ago
The Touro Synagogue is dedicated in Newport, Rhode Island
The Jeshuat Israel congregation dedicated the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, designed by Peter Harrison and built from 1759 under the leadership of Isaac Touro. It is the oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States.
1804 CE 222 years ago
Napoleon crowns himself emperor at Notre-Dame
In the presence of Pope Pius VII, Napoleon placed the imperial crown on his own head and then crowned Josephine. The ceremony proclaimed a new hereditary monarchy born of the Revolution.
1805 CE 221 years ago
Napoleon defeats Austria and Russia at Austerlitz
On the first anniversary of his coronation, Napoleon routed a larger Austro-Russian army at Austerlitz in Moravia. The 'Battle of the Three Emperors' knocked Austria out of the Third Coalition.
1899 CE 127 years ago
A Filipino rearguard holds Tirad Pass to cover Aguinaldo's escape
In northern Luzon, a 60-man Filipino rearguard under Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar was overcome by more than 500 Americans, but delayed their advance long enough for President Emilio Aguinaldo and his troops to escape.
1942 CE 84 years ago
Fermi's team achieves the first controlled nuclear chain reaction
Under the stands of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi's team started a self-sustaining chain reaction in Chicago Pile-1. It opened the way to atomic bombs and nuclear power.
1971 CE 55 years ago
The United Arab Emirates is founded
Six of the Trucial States, led by Abu Dhabi and Dubai, formed the United Arab Emirates after Britain's withdrawal from the Gulf. Ras al-Khaimah joined in 1972.
Born on 2 December 1
Died on 2 December 8
Dates as the sources give them: in the Julian calendar before 1582, and in some countries for longer (Britain until 1752, Russia until 1918). Only people whose day of birth or death the records agree on are listed.