Vintage News · Odd history for March 2

What Happened On March 2

Q: What happened on March 2?

1859: The Great Slave Auction, the largest single sale of slaves in U.S. history, with more than 400 people sold, began in Georgia. 1791: French inventor Claude Chappe and his brothers first demonstrated the semaphore telegraph, a system to convey information by means of visual signals, using towers with pivoting crossarms. 1882: Queen Victoria narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Roderick Maclean in Windsor. 1867: The U.S. Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act. 1859: The two-day Great Slave Auction, once thought to be the largest such auction in United States history, begins. 1797: The Bank of England issues the first one-pound and two-pound banknotes. 1791: Claude Chappe demonstrates the first semaphore line near Paris. 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. 1978: As a cosmonaut on Soyuz 28, Czechoslovak military pilot Vladimír Remek (pictured) became the first person from outside the Soviet Union or the United States to go into space. 1962: Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, American basketball player Wilt Chamberlain (pictured) scored 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks, which remains an NBA record.

66 events and 222 births, refreshed daily. OddlyTrue's own archive for 2 March →

March 1 March 3

10 odd things that happened on March 2

1859 Oddly true
The Great Slave Auction, the largest single sale of slaves in U.S. history, with more than 400 people sold, began in Georgia.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1791 First ever
French inventor Claude Chappe and his brothers first demonstrated the semaphore telegraph, a system to convey information by means of visual signals, using towers with pivoting crossarms.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1882 Oddly true
Queen Victoria narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Roderick Maclean in Windsor.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1867 First ever
The U.S. Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1859 Oddly true
The two-day Great Slave Auction, once thought to be the largest such auction in United States history, begins.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1797 First ever
The Bank of England issues the first one-pound and two-pound banknotes.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1791 First ever
Claude Chappe demonstrates the first semaphore line near Paris.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
537 Oddly true
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.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1978 First ever
As a cosmonaut on Soyuz 28, Czechoslovak military pilot Vladimír Remek (pictured) became the first person from outside the Soviet Union or the United States to go into space.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1962 Oddly true
Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, American basketball player Wilt Chamberlain (pictured) scored 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks, which remains an NBA record.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

2026The 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. Wikipedia →
2022Russian 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. Wikipedia →
2017The elements Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson are officially added to the periodic table at a conference in Moscow, Russia. Wikipedia →
2014The Oscar Selfie, regarded as one of the most influential and important images of all time, is taken at the 86th Academy Awards. Wikipedia →
2012A tornado outbreak occurs over a large section of the Southern United States and into the Ohio Valley region, resulting in 40 tornado-related fatalities. Wikipedia →
2006In 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. Wikipedia →
2004War in Iraq: Al-Qaeda carries out the Ashoura Massacre in Iraq, killing 170 and wounding over 500. Wikipedia →
2002U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda begins, (ending on March 19 after killing 500 Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, with 11 Western troop fatalities). Wikipedia →
1998Data sent from the Galileo spacecraft indicates that Jupiter's moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice. Wikipedia →
1995Researchers at Fermilab announce the discovery of the top quark. Wikipedia →
1995Space Shuttle Endeavour launches from the Kennedy Space Center on STS-67, carrying the ASTRO-2 spacelab observatory. Wikipedia →
1992Start of the war in Transnistria. Wikipedia →
1992Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, San Marino, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, all of which (except San Marino) were former Soviet republics, join the United Nations. Wikipedia →
1991Establishment of Kuwait Democratic Forum, center-left political organization in Kuwait. Wikipedia →
1991Battle at Rumaila oil field brings an end to the 1991 Gulf War. Wikipedia →
1990Nelson Mandela is elected deputy president of the African National Congress. Wikipedia →
1989Twelve European Community nations agree to ban the production of all chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by the end of the century. Wikipedia →
1986Aeroflot Flight F-77 crashes near Bugulma Airport, killing all 38 people aboard. Wikipedia →
1983Compact discs and players are released for the first time in the United States and other markets. They had previously been available only in Japan. Wikipedia →
1978Czech Vladimír Remek becomes the first non-Soviet or non-American to go into space, when he is launched aboard Soyuz 28. Wikipedia →
1978The late iconic actor Charlie Chaplin's coffin is stolen from his grave in Switzerland. Wikipedia →
1977Libya 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". Wikipedia →
1972The Pioneer 10 space probe is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida with a mission to explore the outer planets. Wikipedia →
1970Rhodesia declares itself a republic, breaking its last links with the British crown. Wikipedia →
1969In Toulouse, France, the first test flight of the Anglo-French Concorde is conducted. Wikipedia →
1968Baggeridge Colliery closes, marking the end of over 300 years of coal mining in the Black Country. Wikipedia →
1965The US and Republic of Vietnam Air Force begin Operation Rolling Thunder, a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam. Wikipedia →
1962In Burma, the army led by General Ne Win seizes power in a coup d'état. Wikipedia →
1962Wilt Chamberlain sets the single-game scoring record in the National Basketball Association by scoring 100 points. Wikipedia →
1955Norodom Sihanouk, king of Cambodia, abdicates the throne in favor of his father, Norodom Suramarit. Wikipedia →
1949Captain 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. Wikipedia →
1943World War II: During the Battle of the Bismarck Sea Allied aircraft defeat a Japanese attempt to ship troops to New Guinea. Wikipedia →
1941World War II: First German military units enter Bulgaria after it joins the Axis Pact. Wikipedia →
1939Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli is elected Pope and takes the name Pius XII. Wikipedia →
1937The Steel Workers Organizing Committee signs a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel, leading to unionization of the United States steel industry. Wikipedia →
1933The film King Kong premieres in Radio City Music Hall and RKO Roxy in New York City. Wikipedia →
1932Finnish 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. Wikipedia →
1919The first Communist International meets in Moscow. Wikipedia →
1917The enactment of the Jones–Shafroth Act grants Puerto Ricans United States citizenship. Wikipedia →
1903In New York City the Martha Washington Hotel opens, becoming the first hotel exclusively for women. Wikipedia →
1901United 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. Wikipedia →
1901The U.S. Congress passes the Platt Amendment limiting the autonomy of Cuba, as a condition of the withdrawal of American troops. Wikipedia →
1882Queen Victoria narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Roderick Maclean in Windsor. Wikipedia →
1877Just 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. Wikipedia →
1867The U.S. Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act. Wikipedia →
1865East Cape War: The Völkner Incident in New Zealand. Wikipedia →
1864Ulysses S. Grant is promoted to lieutenant general, giving him command of all Union Armies. Wikipedia →
1859The two-day Great Slave Auction, once thought to be the largest such auction in United States history, begins. Wikipedia →
1855Alexander II becomes Tsar of Russia. Wikipedia →
1836Texas Revolution: The Declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico is adopted. Wikipedia →
1815Signing of the Kandyan Convention treaty by British invaders and the leaders of the Kingdom of Kandy. Wikipedia →
1811Argentine War of Independence: A royalist fleet defeats a small flotilla of revolutionary ships in the Battle of San Nicolás on the River Plate. Wikipedia →
1807The U.S. Congress passes the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, disallowing the importation of new slaves into the country. Wikipedia →
1797The Bank of England issues the first one-pound and two-pound banknotes. Wikipedia →
1796Napoleon Bonaparte is appointed to command the Army of Italy. Wikipedia →
1791Claude Chappe demonstrates the first semaphore line near Paris. Wikipedia →
1776American 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. Wikipedia →
1657The Great Fire of Meireki begins in Edo (now Tokyo), Japan, causing more than 100,000 deaths before it exhausts itself three days later. Wikipedia →
1498Vasco da Gama's fleet visits the Island of Mozambique. Wikipedia →
1484The College of Arms is formally incorporated by Royal Charter signed by King Richard III of England. Wikipedia →
1476Burgundian Wars: The Old Swiss Confederacy hands Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, a major defeat in the Battle of Grandson in Canton of Neuchâtel. Wikipedia →
1458George of Poděbrady is chosen as the king of Bohemia. Wikipedia →
1444Skanderbeg organizes a group of Albanian nobles to form the League of Lezhë. Wikipedia →
1331Fall of Nicaea to the Ottoman Turks after a siege. Wikipedia →
986Louis V becomes the last Carolingian king of West Francia after the death of his father, Lothaire. Wikipedia →
537Siege 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. Wikipedia →

Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.