December 2 in History

Convocation approves receiving communion in both bread and wine, a major departure from late medieval English practice.

Orders Charles I to be transferred to Hurst Castle

Created 1st Duke of Beaufort

Created 1st Duke of Beaufort

St Pauls opens for worship

Acquires the margraviates of Ansbach and Bayreuth from Charles Alexander

Sells the Margraviate of Ansbach to Prussia

Sells the Margraviate of Bayreuth to Prussia

Captures Frankfurt from the French forces under Custine

Final day of the siege of Namur

Succeeds as Emperor, "Emperor of the French"

President James Monroe declares the Monroe Doctrine. Congress states the US will remain neutral in Europe. Congress states the American continent is not for colonization

Congress states the US will remain neutral in Europe

Emperor Ferdinand abdicates at Olomouc, as part of Minister-president Felix zu Schwarzenberg's plan to end the Revolutions of 1848 in Hungary

Persuades Ferdinand I to abdicate

By the abdication of his uncle Ferdinand and the renunciation of his father, Franz Joseph succeeds as Emperor of Austria

Secures the replacement of Ferdinand I by Franz Josef I

Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & Republican leaders

Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders

The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator

The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator. Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders

Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders

Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders

The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator

Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & Republican leaders

Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders

Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders

Leads an Army, arrests Deputies & the Minister of War & attacks the barracades

Succeeds as Emperor of France, proclaims himself Emperor

The First Hall Government ends in Copenhagen, concluding this term as Council President of Denmark.

Begins the Rotwitt Government in Copenhagen and serves as Council President of Denmark.

Publishes an article analysing the diplomatic crisis created by the Trent affair.

Appointed Prime Minister of Spain, 2nd term

Conducts the first performance of his incidental music for Kuolema at the Finnish National Theatre in Helsinki.

Supports the Soviet appeal against tsarist finances.

Becomes a member of the Physical Society of Zurich.

Pays host to the Russian Armistice Commission behind German lines at Dvinsk

Escapes from prison in Bykhov & heads for the Don by train

A ceasefire commences between Russia & the Central Powers

A ceasefire commences between Russia & the Central Powers

Austria-Hungary halts its main offensive, signalling serious military exhaustion late in the war.

Suspends the main offensive

The Soviet government ends the separate Committees of Poor Peasants and merges their functions into local soviets.

Maniu heads the governing council administering Transylvania after union with Romania.

Appointed Prime Minister of Albania

Ford introduces the Model A after retooling factories that had produced the Model T.

Aguirre participates in the short-lived military Civic Directory

Military Civic Directory takes power after the overthrow of Arturo Araujo

Araujo is overthrown by military officers after political and economic crisis

Appointed President of Ecuador

Harwood uses Doric Star's distress report to estimate the likely movements of the German raider.

Graf Spee sinks Doric Star after the British refrigerated cargo ship transmits a distress report that helps reveal the raider's operating area.

Nagumo receives the coded order confirming that the Pearl Harbour attack will proceed on 7 December.

Chicago Pile-1, the first nuclear reactor goes critical at the University of Chicago under the leadership and design of Enrico Fermi

Present at the opening of the 1st nuclear reactor at the University of Chicago

Chicago Pile-1, the first nuclear reactor goes critical at the University of Chicago under the leadership and design of Enrico Fermi

Leads the first controlled self-sustaining uranium chain reaction.

A team led by Enrico Fermi, for whom Fermilab is named, initiate the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in an experimental nuclear reactor named Chicago Pile-1

A uranium and graphite pile achieves the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

A uranium and graphite pile achieves the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

A team led by Enrico Fermi, for whom Fermilab is named, initiate the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in an experimental nuclear reactor named Chicago Pile-1

Leads a team which creates the 1st controlled nuclear reaction. Chicago Pile-1, the first nuclear reactor goes critical at the University of Chicago under the leadership and design of Enrico Fermi

A constructed graphite pile is designed to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

A team led by Enrico Fermi, for whom Fermilab is named, initiate the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in an experimental nuclear reactor named Chicago Pile-1.

Chicago Pile-1, the first nuclear reactor goes critical at the University of Chicago under the leadership and design of Enrico Fermi.

Completes the construction of a nuclear reactor at the University of Chicago.

Leads a team which creates the first controlled nuclear reaction.

Starts the first nuclear chain reaction. Completes the construction of a nuclear reactor at the University of Chicago. A constructed graphite pile is designed to produce weapons-grade plutonium

Leads a team which creates the 1st controlled nuclear reaction. A team led by Enrico Fermi, for whom Fermilab is named, initiate the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in an experimental nuclear reactor named Chicago Pile-1

Sees the opening of the first nuclear reactor in a squash court at the Univ of Chicago

Final day of the Moscow Conference

Bevin announces conscription to coal mines

Hitler orders the conscription of youth for active service

Major deposit banks and the Banque de France are brought into public ownership

Agrees to the economic union of US & British occupation zones in Germany

Agrees to the economic union of US & British occupation zones in Germany

Appointed President of Venezuela

Begins a fact-finding visit to Korea, fulfilling his campaign pledge to inspect the stalemated war personally.

Condemned by Senate for conduct during "McCarthyism", ends anti-communist crusade

The Senate censures Senator Joseph McCarthy, marking the collapse of his political influence during Eisenhower's presidency.

Lands from the Granma with Castro's rebel expedition.

82 men from the 26th of July Movement land in Cuba, having sailed in the boat Granma from Tuxpan, Vera Cruz, ready to organize and lead a revolution

Of the 82 who sailed aboard the Granma, only 15 eventually regrouped in the Sierra Maestra mountain range. 82 men from the 26th of July Movement land in Cuba, having sailed in the boat Granma from Tuxpan, Vera Cruz, ready to organize and lead a revolution

Lands from the Granma with Castro's rebel expedition.

Participates in the preparations of the expedition of the ship Granma, embarking for Cuba on December 2, 1956

His forces hunt the Granma survivors.

Lands from the Granma with Castro's rebel expedition.

Lands from the Granma with Castro's rebel expedition.

Lands in eastern Cuba with the Granma expedition.

Participates in the preparations of the expedition of the ship Granma, embarking for Cuba on December 2, 1956

Part of the tiny group of survivors who manage to reach a safe haven in the Sierra Maestra mountains

82 men from the 26th of July Movement land in Cuba, having sailed in the boat Granma from Tuxpan, Vera Cruz, ready to organize and lead a revolution

Of the 82 who sailed aboard the Granma, only 15 eventually regrouped in the Sierra Maestra mountain range. 82 men from the 26th of July Movement land in Cuba, having sailed in the boat Granma from Tuxpan, Vera Cruz, ready to organize and lead a revolution

Of the 82 who sailed aboard the Granma, only 15 eventually regrouped in the Sierra Maestra mountain range

Of the 82 who sailed aboard the Granma, only 15 eventually regrouped in the Sierra Maestra mountain range

Shippingport begins commercial nuclear electricity generation.

Releases Cruising with Ruben & the Jets, a deliberately stylised tribute to doo-wop and 1950s vocal-group music.

Supports the Hague agreement to begin enlargement negotiations and strengthen European cooperation.

Supports the Hague agreement to open enlargement negotiations with applicant countries including Britain, Denmark and Ireland.

Becomes the first administrator as the Environmental Protection Agency begins operations

Mars 3 achieves the first soft landing on Mars before contact is quickly lost.

Abdicates as the monarchy is abolished and the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic is proclaimed

Supports the Rome European Council decision advancing direct universal elections to the European Parliament.

Appointed first president of the Lao People Democratic Republic after the end of the monarchy

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

Sham 69's That's Life enters the UK albums chart during the band's successful 1978 run.

Tommy Gun enters the Official Singles Chart and later reaches number nineteen.

Special union conference votes to fight on

Represents Greece as negotiations on the Single European Act approach completion.

Benazir Bhutto becomes the first woman to govern a Muslim-majority state.

Benazir Bhutto takes the oath as Prime Minister at age thirty-five.

Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of a coalition Government, becoming at age 35 the youngest person, and the first woman, to head the Government of a Muslim-majority state in modern times

Benazir Bhutto begins her first term as Prime Minister.

Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of a coalition Government, becoming at age 35 the youngest person, and the first woman, to head the Government of a Muslim-majority state in modern times

Hosts the European Council during Greece's Presidency as leaders discuss the internal market and monetary cooperation.

V.P. Singh becomes Prime Minister at the head of the National Front government.

Returned as Chancellor in a re-united Germany

Appointed Chancellor of Germany, 2nd term

Covey commands Endeavour as the first Hubble servicing mission launches with a crew trained to repair and upgrade the telescope.

Appointed Foreign Minister

Appointed Foreign Minister

Farooq Leghari resigns after a confrontation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Eire Government drops its territorial claim to Northern Ireland

UNESCO inscribes Bruges historic centre as a World Heritage Site.

Becomes Arsenal's youngest goalscorer in a League Cup victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Too ill to attend the nationwide commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Granma boat landing, which fueled speculations that Castro had stomach cancer, though Spanish doctor Dr. Garcia Sabrido stated that his illness is not terminal

Too ill to attend the nationwide commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Granma boat landing, which fueled speculations that Castro had stomach cancer, though Spanish doctor Dr. Garcia Sabrido stated that his illness is not terminal

Wins the Ballon d'Or after leading Milan in Europe.

Becomes the fourth Brazilian winner within an eleven-year period.

Wins his first Ballon d'Or after an outstanding club season.

Becomes the first Portuguese winner since Luis Figo.

Wins Commons backing for UK airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria.

Wins a sixth Ballon d'Or while serving as Barcelona captain.

The United Kingdom authorises the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

BioNTech's vaccine receives emergency authorisation in the United Kingdom.

Birth of George's Surat

Birth of Otto Dix

Birth of John Barbirolli

His death allows Frederick III to recover Austrian authority.

Death of Gonzalo Fernendez de Cordoba

Death of Hernando Cortez

Death of Gerhardus Mercator

Death of Adelaide, pre-deceased by her only child Elizabeth

Marx's wife Jenny dies after decades of political exile and collaboration.

Death of Patrick Chrestien Gordon Walker

Death of Philip Larkin

Alexander is present as Russian and Austrian forces suffer a decisive defeat by Napoleon at Austerlitz.

The French lose 10,000 & Austron losses are 36,000. Leads the Allied forces against Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz. Austria is forced to withdraw from the war

The French defeat Alexander I & Francis II in a small town in the Czech Republic

Defeated at the Battle of Austerlitz

Commands the cavalry at the Battle of Austerlitz

The French lose 10,000 to the Austron 36,000. One of the greatest ever military tactical masterpieces. Austria withdraws from the war

Fights at the Battle of Austerlitz

Commands a division at Austerlitz

At a conference Model presses for the "small solution", Hitler refuses

Crowned as Henry II of France, under the terms of the Treaty of Troyes

Crowned as Henry II of France, under the terms of the Treaty of Troyes

Crowned in Paris as King of France at Notre Dame