Discover the Historical Events and Famous People Born on December 2

December 2 is a day that has seen amazing events in architecture, politics, science, and human discovery. From a beautiful cathedral in London to finding ancient human bones in Africa, this day has shaped our world in many ways. Let’s explore these important events and meet some remarkable people born on this day.

Historical Events on December 2

St Paul’s Cathedral (1697)

One of London’s most famous buildings, St Paul’s Cathedral, opened its doors on this day. The old cathedral had burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Sir Christopher Wren designed the new one with its huge dome that still amazes people today. It took 32 years to build and has been a special place for royal weddings, funerals, and celebrations ever since.

William Henry Harrison’s Election (1840)

On this day, William Henry Harrison was chosen as America’s 9th president. He won by promising to help regular people and using the slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.” Sadly, he only served as president for 31 days before getting sick and dying, making his time in office the shortest of any U.S. president.

Vladimir Mayakovsky’s Play (1913)

A new kind of play opened in Russia on this day. Vladimir Mayakovsky wrote and acted in his own play, named after himself. It was very different from other plays of its time, with strange costumes and new ways of acting. This helped change how people thought about theater in Russia.

First Nuclear Chain Reaction (1942)

A very important science experiment happened in Chicago on this day. Scientists Enrico Fermi and Leó Szilárd led a team that made the first nuclear chain reaction work by itself. They built a special machine called Chicago Pile-1 under a football field. This discovery led to nuclear power plants and changed how we make energy.

Louis Leakey’s Discovery (1960)

In Tanzania, scientist Louis Leakey found bones that were 1.4 million years old! These bones belonged to Homo erectus, one of our ancient relatives. This finding helped us understand how humans evolved and where we came from.

Famous Birthdays on December 2

Richard Montgomery (1738-1775)

Richard Montgomery was a brave general who fought for America during the Revolutionary War. Though born in Ireland, he chose to fight for American freedom. He died leading his troops in a brave but unsuccessful attack on Quebec.

Georges Seurat (1859-1891)

Georges Seurat created a new way of painting using tiny dots of color called pointillism. His most famous painting shows people relaxing in a park, made entirely of small dots. Though he died young, his way of painting influenced many other artists.

Peter Carl Goldmark (1906-1977)

Peter Goldmark invented the LP record that could play music for much longer than older records. His invention helped people enjoy more music at home and changed how we listen to music. He also worked on early color television.

Adolph Green (1914-2002)

Adolph Green wrote many famous musicals and movies with his friend Betty Comden. They wrote “Singin’ in the Rain,” one of the most loved movie musicals ever made. Their songs and stories made people happy for many years.

Edwin Meese (1931-Present)

Edwin Meese served as Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan. He helped make many important legal decisions and wrote books about law and government. He still shares his ideas about law and politics today.

Takeaway

December 2 shows us how one day can hold many important moments in history. From the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral to the world-changing nuclear experiment, each event helped shape our world. The people born on this day also made big differences through art, music, government, and fighting for freedom.

References

1. “St Paul’s Cathedral: A Complete Guide” – Cathedral Press
2. “William Henry Harrison: America’s Shortest Presidency” – Library of Congress
3. “The Nuclear Age Begins” – Department of Energy Historical Archives
4. “Origins of Man: Leakey’s Discoveries” – National Geographic
5. “Georges Seurat: Master of Pointillism” – Art Institute of Chicago
6. “The History of Sound Recording” – Smithsonian Institution
7. “Broadway: A History of the Theater District” – Theatre Historical Society
8. “The Reagan Years: A Legal Perspective” – Department of Justice Archives