What Happened on December 2?

December 2 is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery — a United Nations call for freedom — on the same date Enrico Fermi sparked the first nuclear chain reaction in 1942, President Monroe declared his doctrine in 1823, and Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804.

• 1804 — Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of the French

  On December 2, 1804, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Napoleon I — Emperor of the French. Read the full story →

• 1805 — Napoleon wins the Battle of Austerlitz

  On December 2, 1805 — the first anniversary of his coronation — Napoleon crushed combined Russian and Austrian armies at Austerlitz. Read the full story →

• 1823 — President Monroe announces the Monroe Doctrine

  On December 2, 1823, President James Monroe told Congress that the Americas were closed to new European colonies — a policy later called the Monroe Doctrine. Read the full story →

• 1942 — Enrico Fermi achieves the first nuclear chain reaction

  On December 2, 1942, under the University of Chicago’s Stagg Field, Enrico Fermi’s team ran the world’s first self-sustaining artificial nuclear chain reaction. Read the full story →

• 1970 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency begins operations

  On December 2, 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency opened for business — consolidating federal pollution-control work into one agency. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Britney Spears (1981) · Lucy Liu (1968) · Maria Callas (1923–1977) · Nelly Furtado (1978)

Days & observances

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery · National Fritters Day · National Special Education Day · National Mutt Day