1941⚡ Event
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Imperial Japanese Navy launches a surprise military strike on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
warmilitary
December 2 – December 8 in History
DayFacts Week 49 · 7 days
This recurring calendar span contains 110 historical entries in the DayFacts collection. The sections below preview entries from these 7 days; use the date links to open each date collection.
Selected Anniversaries
25th Anniversary
Enron Files for Bankruptcy
25th Anniversary
Jalen McMillan
25th Anniversary
Josh Christopher
Explore the Date Pages
Historical Events (December 2 – December 8)(20)
1952⚡ Event
Great Smog of London begins
The "Great Smog of London" began and lasted for five days. It caused 12,000 deaths and led to the Clean Air Act 1956.
disasterlawmedicine
1956⚡ Event
Rosa Parks arrested
Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
politicslaw
1958⚡ Event
Preston Bypass opens
Britain's first motorway, the Preston Bypass, opened to the public.
technologylaw
1965⚡ Event
Glasnost meeting in Moscow
The "glasnost meeting" took place in Moscow, becoming the first demonstration in the Soviet Union after World War II. It marked the beginning of the civil rights movement in the country.
politics
1972⚡ Event
Apollo 17 launches
Apollo 17 launches from Kennedy Space Center, becoming the last crewed mission to the Moon in the 20th century.
spacescience
1980⚡ Event
Led Zeppelin disbands
The English rock group Led Zeppelin officially disbanded. The band was a prominent force in rock music.
musicentertainment
1986⚡ Event
MV Amazon Venture oil spill
The MV Amazon Venture oil tanker began leaking while at the port of Savannah. This resulted in an oil spill of approximately 500,000 US gallons.
disastereconomics
1988⚡ Event
Benazir Bhutto Becomes Prime Minister of Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto took office as Prime Minister of Pakistan. She became the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state.
politics
1988⚡ Event
Earthquake strikes Spitak, Armenia
A 6.8 Ms earthquake struck the Spitak region of Armenia, killing at least 25,000 people. The devastating event occurred on December 7, 1988.
disaster
1989⚡ Event
Montreal Massacre
Marc Lépine, claiming to be "fighting feminism", killed fourteen women before committing suicide at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Canada. The massacre took place on December 6, 1989.
politicsdisaster
1989⚡ Event
Malayan Communist Party Peace Accord
The Malayan Communist Party and the Malaysian government signed a peace accord. This agreement ended a 21-year communist insurgency.
politicswar
1990⚡ Event
Mary Robinson becomes first female President of Ireland
Mary Robinson was inaugurated as the first female president of Ireland. Her election marked a significant milestone in the country's political history.
politics
1990⚡ Event
Italian Air Force Jet Crashes into School
An Italian Air Force military jet crashed into a high school near Bologna, killing 12 students and injuring 88 others. The crash occurred on December 6, 1990, after the pilot abandoned the aircraft due to an on-board fire.
wardisasterpolitics
1992⚡ Event
US troops deployed to Somalia
U.S. president George H. W. Bush ordered American troops into Somalia to help provide humanitarian aid and restore order. This occurred during the ongoing Somali Civil War.
warpoliticsexploration
1992⚡ Event
Babri Masjid Demolished
The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India, was demolished by Hindu Kar Sevaks. The demolition occurred on December 6, 1992, as the demolitionists believed the mosque was built on the birthplace of the Hindu deity Rama.
religionpoliticsdisaster
1994⚡ Event
Sony releases PlayStation
Sony launched the PlayStation, a groundbreaking entertainment platform. It became the first console to achieve 100 million unit sales worldwide.
technologyentertainment
1999⚡ Event
Mars Polar Lander lost by NASA
NASA lost contact with the Mars Polar Lander spacecraft just before it was scheduled to enter Mars' atmosphere. The lander subsequently disappeared, marking a significant loss in space exploration efforts.
sciencespace
2009⚡ Event
Baghdad Bombings
Multiple bombings in Baghdad, carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq, resulted in at least 127 deaths and 448 injuries. The attacks occurred on December 8, 2009.
warpoliticsdisaster
2010⚡ Event
IKAROS Spacecraft Flies by Venus
The Japanese spacecraft IKAROS successfully flew by Venus, demonstrating solar-sail technology. The mission objective was met.
spacesciencetechnology
Births (December 2 – December 8)(15)
1928🎂 Birth
Noam Chomsky born
American linguist and intellectual Noam Chomsky is born in Philadelphia. He revolutionizes the field of linguistics.
sciencephilosophy
1994🎂 Birth
Jake T. Austin
Jake T. Austin, an American actor, was born. He is known for his roles in popular television shows and films.
entertainment
1994🎂 Birth
Lil Baby
Lil Baby, an American rapper, was born. He has become a prominent figure in contemporary hip-hop music.
musicentertainment
1995🎂 Birth
A Boogie wit da Hoodie
American rapper and singer-songwriter A Boogie wit da Hoodie was born on December 6, 1995.
musicentertainment
1996🎂 Birth
Davide Calabria
Italian footballer Davide Calabria was born on December 6, 1996.
sports
1999🎂 Birth
Kim Do-yeon
Kim Do-yeon is a South Korean singer and actress.
entertainmentmusic
1999🎂 Birth
Kang Mi-na
Kang Mi-na is a South Korean actress and singer.
entertainmentmusic
1999🎂 Birth
Boo Buie
Boo Buie, an American basketball player, was born on December 7, 1999.
sports
2003🎂 Birth
Neil Erasmus
Neil Erasmus is a South African-Australian footballer.
sports
Deaths (December 2 – December 8)(15)
1941🕊️ Death
Pearl Harbor casualties
Over 2,400 Americans are killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, propelling the US into World War II.
warmilitary
2014🕊️ Death
Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo, a Puerto Rican-American lawyer and politician, has died. He was born in 1929.
politicslaw
2015🕊️ Death
Ko Chun-hsiung
Taiwanese actor, director, and politician Ko Chun-hsiung died on December 6, 2015. He was born in 1945.
entertainmentpolitics
2015🕊️ Death
Gladstone Anderson
Gladstone Anderson, a Jamaican singer and pianist, has died. He was born in 1934.
musicentertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Liu Juying
Chinese general and politician Liu Juying died on December 6, 2015. He was born in 1917.
politicswar
2016🕊️ Death
Patricia Robins
Patricia Robins was a British writer and WAAF officer.
literature
2020🕊️ Death
Dick Allen
Dick Allen, an American baseball player and tenor, died. He was born in 1942.
sportsmusic
2021🕊️ Death
Robbie Shakespeare
Robbie Shakespeare was a Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer.
musicentertainment
2022🕊️ Death
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley, American actress and producer, has died. She was born in 1951.
entertainmentarts
2023🕊️ Death
Norman Lear
Norman Lear, American screenwriter and producer, has died. He was born in 1922.
entertainmentarts