Historical Events on September 2
- 1666: Over ten thousand buildings are destroyed in London, include Saint Paul’s Cathedral, when the Great Fire of London erupts. This fire would burn for 3-days.
- 1752: The Gregorian calendar is adopted by Great Britain. Most of Western Europe had adopted this calendar two hundred years prior to Great Britain’s adoption of it.
- 1789: The United States founds the U.S Department of the Treasury.
- 1792: During the September Massacres of the French Revolution, more than two hundred priest, three Roman Catholic Bishops and prisons thought to be sympathizers with the crown were killed by rampaging mobs.
- 1862: After General John Pope is defeated at the Second Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War, U.S President Abraham Lincoln restores Union General George B. McClellan back to full command.
- 1864: During the American Civil War, Union soldiers arrive in Atlanta – a full day after its Confederate defenders fled the city. This officially ended the Atlanta Campaign.
- 1885: Over 100 Caucasian miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming who are trying to unionize so they can strive for better working conditions and wages attack fellow Chinese workers. Several hundred Chinese workers are driven from town, 28 are killed and 15 are wounded.
- 1901: Speaking at the Minnesota State Fair, U.S Vice President Teddy Roosevelt utters one of his most famous lines for the first time: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
- 1945: During World War II, combat officially ends in the Pacific Theater. Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signs an instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
Famous Birthdays on September 2
- Actor Keanu Reeves is born in 1964.
- Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek is born in 1966.
- American actress Cynthia Watros is born in 1968.
- Australian swimmer Matthew Dunn is born in 1973.
- Australian race care driver Steven Johnson is born in 1974.
- American rapper and actor MC Chris is born in 1975.