June 2 in History

Significant events that happened on this day.

Today

Historical Events

2015

A man in Florida was arrested for throwing a live alligator through a Wendy's drive-through window

Joshua James allegedly picked up the 3.5-foot alligator from the side of the road and hurled it into the restaurant. He was charged with assault with...

2003

Europe launched its first voyage to another planet when Mars Express lifted off for the Red Planet

The European Space Agency's mission included the Beagle 2 lander, which unfortunately failed to properly deploy after landing. However, the Mars Expre...

1979

Pope John Paul II arrived in Poland for the first visit by a pontiff to a Communist country

Major

The nine-day visit drew millions of Poles and is credited with inspiring the Solidarity movement that would eventually help topple Communist rule. The...

1966

Surveyor 1 became the first U.S. spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon

Major

The unmanned spacecraft touched down in the Ocean of Storms, transmitting over 11,000 photographs back to Earth. This mission proved that a spacecraft...

1962

A man set a world record by eating 256 clams in just 10 minutes at a New Jersey restaurant

The competitive eating feat took place during a promotional event that drew spectators from across the region. The record-holder reportedly felt fine...

1953

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey, and the ceremony was televised for the first time in history

Major

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II became the first major international event broadcast on television, with an estimated 27 million people in the UK...

1946

Italy officially became a republic after voters chose to abolish the monarchy in a referendum

Italians voted 54% to 46% to end the House of Savoy's rule and establish a republic. King Umberto II had reigned for only 34 days, earning him the nic...

1924

Congress granted full citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States

Major

The Indian Citizenship Act was signed by President Calvin Coolidge, though some states still prevented Native Americans from voting until the 1960s. I...

1920

The U.S. Congress passed a resolution declaring that women should have equal rights in all countries

This non-binding resolution came just weeks before the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving American women the right to vote. The declaration was large...

1896

Guglielmo Marconi applied for the first patent for his wireless telegraphy system in London

Major

Marconi's application marked the beginning of the radio age and wireless communication. His invention would eventually revolutionize global communicat...

1886

President Grover Cleveland became the only U.S. president to get married in the White House

Cleveland, 49, married Frances Folsom, 21, in a small ceremony in the Blue Room. Frances became the youngest First Lady in American history. Cleveland...

1835

P.T. Barnum launched his circus career by purchasing a blind and partially paralyzed slave woman and falsely claiming she was George Washington's 161-year-old nurse

Barnum exhibited Joice Heth in taverns and museums, charging admission to see the 'oldest woman alive.' When she died, an autopsy revealed she was lik...