On This Day — 2 March

2026

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launches several projectiles into northern Israel as a response to the assassination of Ali Khamenei, formally initiating the 2026 Lebanon War.

Hezbollah

2022

Russian forces capture the city of Kherson during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which subsequently began the start of the Russian occupation and military-civilian administration in Kherson. Kherson is the only regional capital in Ukraine that Russia captured.

Battle of Kherson

2017

The elements Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson are officially added to the periodic table at a conference in Moscow, Russia.

Moscovium

2014

The Oscar Selfie, regarded as one of the most influential and important images of all time, is taken at the 86th Academy Awards.

Oscar selfie

2012

A tornado outbreak occurs over a large section of the Southern United States and into the Ohio Valley region, resulting in 40 tornado-related fatalities.

Tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012

2006

In Monterrey, Mexico, a man identified as Diego Santoy Riveroll commits a double murder against two children, followed by an attempted murder of his ex-partner, Erika. The incident is popularly known as the Cumbres case.

Monterrey

2004

War in Iraq: Al-Qaeda carries out the Ashoura Massacre in Iraq, killing 170 and wounding over 500.

Iraq War

2002

U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda begins, (ending on March 19 after killing 500 Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, with 11 Western troop fatalities).

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

1998

Data sent from the Galileo spacecraft indicates that Jupiter's moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice.

Galileo (spacecraft)

1995

Researchers at Fermilab announce the discovery of the top quark.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

1995

Space Shuttle Endeavour launches from the Kennedy Space Center on STS-67, carrying the ASTRO-2 spacelab observatory.

Space Shuttle Endeavour

1992

Start of the war in Transnistria.

Transnistrian War

1992

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, San Marino, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, all of which (except San Marino) were former Soviet republics, join the United Nations.

Armenia

1991

Establishment of Kuwait Democratic Forum, center-left political organization in Kuwait.

Kuwait Democratic Forum

1991

Battle at Rumaila oil field brings an end to the 1991 Gulf War.

Rumaila oil field

1990

Nelson Mandela is elected deputy president of the African National Congress.

Nelson Mandela

1989

Twelve European Community nations agree to ban the production of all chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by the end of the century.

European Economic Community

1986

Aeroflot Flight F-77 crashes near Bugulma Airport, killing all 38 people aboard.

Aeroflot Flight F-77

1983

Compact discs and players are released for the first time in the United States and other markets. They had previously been available only in Japan.

Compact disc

1978

Czech Vladimír Remek becomes the first non-Soviet or non-American to go into space, when he is launched aboard Soyuz 28.

Czechoslovakia

1978

The late iconic actor Charlie Chaplin's coffin is stolen from his grave in Switzerland.

Charlie Chaplin

1977

Libya becomes the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as the General People's Congress adopts the "Declaration on the Establishment of the Authority of the People".

Libya

1972

The Pioneer 10 space probe is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida with a mission to explore the outer planets.

Pioneer 10

1970

Rhodesia declares itself a republic, breaking its last links with the British crown.

Rhodesia

1969

In Toulouse, France, the first test flight of the Anglo-French Concorde is conducted.

Toulouse

1968

Baggeridge Colliery closes, marking the end of over 300 years of coal mining in the Black Country.

Baggeridge Colliery

1965

The US and Republic of Vietnam Air Force begin Operation Rolling Thunder, a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

United States Air Force

1962

In Burma, the army led by General Ne Win seizes power in a coup d'état.

Myanmar

1962

Wilt Chamberlain sets the single-game scoring record in the National Basketball Association by scoring 100 points.

Wilt Chamberlain

1955

Norodom Sihanouk, king of Cambodia, abdicates the throne in favor of his father, Norodom Suramarit.

Norodom Sihanouk

1949

Captain James Gallagher lands his B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II in Fort Worth, Texas, after completing the first non-stop around-the-world airplane flight in 94 hours and one minute.

Captain (United States O-3)

1943

World War II: During the Battle of the Bismarck Sea Allied aircraft defeat a Japanese attempt to ship troops to New Guinea.

Battle of the Bismarck Sea

1941

World War II: First German military units enter Bulgaria after it joins the Axis Pact.

World War II

1939

Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli is elected Pope and takes the name Pius XII.

Cardinal (Catholic Church)

1937

The Steel Workers Organizing Committee signs a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel, leading to unionization of the United States steel industry.

Steel Workers Organizing Committee

1933

The film King Kong premieres in Radio City Music Hall and RKO Roxy in New York City.

King Kong (1933 film)

1932

Finnish president P. E. Svinhufvud gives a radio speech, which four days later finally ends the Mäntsälä Rebellion and the far-right Lapua Movement that started it.

Pehr Evind Svinhufvud

1919

The first Communist International meets in Moscow.

Communist International

1917

The enactment of the Jones–Shafroth Act grants Puerto Ricans United States citizenship.

Jones–Shafroth Act

1903

In New York City the Martha Washington Hotel opens, becoming the first hotel exclusively for women.

Martha Washington Hotel

1901

United States Steel Corporation is founded as a result of a merger between Carnegie Steel Company and Federal Steel Company which became the first corporation in the world with a market capital over $1 billion.

U.S. Steel

1901

The U.S. Congress passes the Platt Amendment limiting the autonomy of Cuba, as a condition of the withdrawal of American troops.

Platt Amendment

1882

Queen Victoria narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Roderick Maclean in Windsor.

Queen Victoria

1877

Just two days before inauguration, the U.S. Congress declares Rutherford B. Hayes the winner of the 1876 U.S. presidential election even though Samuel J. Tilden had won the popular vote.

Rutherford B. Hayes

1867

The U.S. Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act.

Reconstruction Acts

1865

East Cape War: The Völkner Incident in New Zealand.

East Cape War

1864

Ulysses S. Grant is promoted to lieutenant general, giving him command of all Union Armies.

Ulysses S. Grant

1859

The two-day Great Slave Auction, once thought to be the largest such auction in United States history, begins.

Great Slave Auction

1855

Alexander II becomes Tsar of Russia.

Alexander II of Russia

1836

Texas Revolution: The Declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico is adopted.

Texas Revolution

1815

Signing of the Kandyan Convention treaty by British invaders and the leaders of the Kingdom of Kandy.

Kandyan Convention

1811

Argentine War of Independence: A royalist fleet defeats a small flotilla of revolutionary ships in the Battle of San Nicolás on the River Plate.

Argentine War of Independence

1807

The U.S. Congress passes the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, disallowing the importation of new slaves into the country.

United States Congress

1797

The Bank of England issues the first one-pound and two-pound banknotes.

Bank of England

1796

Napoleon Bonaparte is appointed to command the Army of Italy.

Napoleon

1791

Claude Chappe demonstrates the first semaphore line near Paris.

Claude Chappe

1776

American Revolutionary War: Patriot militia units attempt to prevent capture of supply ships in and around the Savannah River by a small fleet of the Royal Navy in the Battle of the Rice Boats.

American Revolutionary War

1657

The Great Fire of Meireki begins in Edo (now Tokyo), Japan, causing more than 100,000 deaths before it exhausts itself three days later.

Great Fire of Meireki

1498

Vasco da Gama's fleet visits the Island of Mozambique.

Vasco da Gama

1484

The College of Arms is formally incorporated by Royal Charter signed by King Richard III of England.

College of Arms

1476

Burgundian Wars: The Old Swiss Confederacy hands Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, a major defeat in the Battle of Grandson in Canton of Neuchâtel.

Burgundian Wars

1458

George of Poděbrady is chosen as the king of Bohemia.

George of Poděbrady

1444

Skanderbeg organizes a group of Albanian nobles to form the League of Lezhë.

Skanderbeg

1331

Fall of Nicaea to the Ottoman Turks after a siege.

Siege of Nicaea (1328–1331)

986

Louis V becomes the last Carolingian king of West Francia after the death of his father, Lothaire.

Louis V of France

537

Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoth army under king Vitiges begins the siege of the capital. Belisarius conducts a delaying action outside the Flaminian Gate; he and a detachment of his bucellarii are almost cut off.

Siege of Rome (537–538)