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On this day in history - April 2

What Happened On This Day – April 2

  • 2002 Israeli forces besiege the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

    The Israel Defense Force had occupied Bethlehem to capture wanted Palestinians. The 39-day siege ensued after some militants fled into the church, which is believed to stand on the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth.

  • 1982 Argentina occupies the Falkland Islands

    The invasion escalated a long-standing conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the archipelago in the South Atlantic. It triggered the Falklands War, which was won by the U.K.

  • 1968 Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey receives its world premiere

    Upon release, the epic about human evolution, technology, and extraterrestrial life polarized audiences and critics alike. Today, it is considered a classic in its genre.

  • 1800 Ludwig van Beethoven's First Symphony is premiered

    The German composer conducted the orchestra himself. The premiere received exceptionally positive reviews.

  • 1792 The U.S. dollar is introduced

    The Mint Act of 1792 established the Dollar as U.S. currency. About two-thirds of global trade today is based on the U.S. Dollar.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
April 2

  • 1939 Marvin Gaye

    American singer-songwriter

  • 1891 Max Ernst

    German painter, sculptor, poet

  • 1840 Émile Zola

    French author, critic

  • 1805 Hans Christian Andersen

    Danish author, poet

  • 1725 Giacomo Casanova

    Italian explorer, author

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
April 2

  • 2015 Manoel de Oliveira

    Portuguese director, screenwriter

  • 2005 Pope John Paul II

  • 1974 Georges Pompidou

    French politician, Prime Minister, President of France

  • 1933 Ranjitsinhji

    Indian cricketer

  • 1872 Samuel Morse

    American painter, inventor, co-invented the Morse code