Memorable Birthdays for December 2
Richard Montgomery (1738-1775) - General in the Continental Army.
William Cooper (1754-1809) - Founder of Cooperstown, NY.
Henry Yesler (1810-1892) - Founder of Seattle, WA.
Deacon White (1847-1939) - Amazing barehanded catcher.
Charles Edward Ringling (1863-1926) - Co-founder of the Ringling Brothers Circus.
Harry Burleigh (1866-1949) - Considered the first Black composer in the U.S.
George Minot (1885-1950) - Physician who introduced a raw-liver diet in the treatment of pernicious anemia.
Isabella Karle (1921-2017) - Scientist who helped develop techniques to extract plutonium chloride.
Wynton Kelly (1931-1971) - Jazz pianist for Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.
Deb Haaland (1960-Still Living) - The first Native American to head a cabinet agency (Secretary of the Interior).
Lucy Liu (1968-Still Living) - Actress known for her roles in Charlie's Angels and Shanghai Noon.
Nate Mendel (1968-Still Living) - Bassist for the rock band Foo Fighters.
Britney Spears (1981-Still Living) - Popstar.
Memorable Events for December 2
1763 - The Touro Synagogue becomes the first synagogue to open in the U.S.
1812 - James Madison re-elected as President.
1816 - The first savings bank opens in PA.
1823 - President Monroe proclaims American neutrality in future European conflicts (Monroe Doctrine).
1840 - William Henry Harrison becomes the 9th President of the U.S.
1845 - President Polk proposes the U.S. should expand into the West (Manifest Destiny).
1859 - John Brown is hanged for his October 16 raid on Harpers Ferry, WV.
1865 - Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia ratify the 13th Amendment and free slaves within two weeks.
1867 - British author Charles Dickens gives his first public reading in the U.S.
1901 - Gillette begins selling razor blades.
1930 - President Hoover proposes a $150 million public works program to help generate jobs to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression.
1941 - The largest roller skating rink opens in NY.
1942 - The first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is initiated (Manhattan Project).
1982 - Barney Clark becomes the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart.
