December 03

Friday 03, 1999:

NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere.

Wednesday 03, 1997:

In Ottawa, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign a treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia do not sign the treaty, however.

Thursday 03, 1992:

The Greek oil tanker Aegean Sea carrying 80,000 tonnes of crude oil runs aground in a storm while on approach to La Coruña, Spain, and spills much of its cargo.

Monday 03, 1990:

At Detroit Metropolitan Airport, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 carrying Northwest Airlines Flight 1482 collides with a Boeing 727 carrying Northwest Airlines Flight 299 on the runway, killing 8 passengers and 4 crewmembers aboard flight 1482.

Sunday 03, 1989:

Cold War: In a meeting off the coast of Malta, US President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev release statements indicating that the cold war between their nations may be coming to an end (some commentators from both nations exaggerated the wording and independently declared the Cold War over).

Monday 03, 1984:

Bhopal Disaster: A methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, kills more than 3,800 people outright and injures anywhere from 150,000 to 600,000 others (some 6,000 of whom would later die from their injuries) in one of the worst industrial disasters in history.

Friday 03, 1982:

A soil sample is taken from Times Beach, Missouri that would be found to contain 300 times the safe level of dioxin.

Monday 03, 1979:

In Cincinnati, Ohio, a stampede for seats at Riverfront Coliseum during a Who concert kills eleven fans.

Friday 03, 1976:

Patrick Hillery becomes the sixth President of Ireland.

Monday 03, 1973:

Pioneer program: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter.

Friday 03, 1971:

Pakistan launches airstrikes on Indian airfields. Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 begins as India retaliates with a massive invasion of East Pakistan.

Thursday 03, 1970:

October Crisis: In Montreal, Quebec, kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross is released by the Front de Libération du Québec terrorist group after being held hostage for 60 days. Police negotiate his release and in return the Government of Canada grants five terrorists from the FLQ's Chenier Cell their request for safe passage to Cuba.

Sunday 03, 1967:

The luxury train 20th Century Limited completes its last run from New York City, New York to Chicago, Illinois (the train was inaugurated on June 15, 1902).

Thursday 03, 1964:

Berkeley Free Speech Movement: Police arrest over 800 students at the University of California, Berkeley, following their takeover and massive sit-in at the administration building protesting the UC Regents' decision to forbid Vietnam War protests on UC property.

Thursday 03, 1953:

The Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and Republic of China is signed in Washington, DC.

Wednesday 03, 1947:

Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire opens on Broadway.

Sunday 03, 1944:

Civil war breaks out in a newly-liberated Greece, between Communists and royalists.

Friday 03, 1937:

The Dandy, the world's longest running comic, was first published.

Thursday 03, 1936:

Radio station WQXR is officially founded

Tuesday 03, 1929:

Great Depression: US President Herbert Hoover announces to U.S. Congress that the worst effects of the recent stock market crash are behind the nation and the American people have regained faith in the economy.

Monday 03, 1928:

In Rio de Janeiro, a seaplane sunk near Cap Arcona with a group of people paying homage to Alberto Santos-Dumont on board.

Thursday 03, 1925:

George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F is premiered at Carnegie Hall.

Monday 03, 1917:

After nearly 20 years of planning and construction, the Quebec Bridge opens to traffic (the bridge partially collapsed on August 29, 1907 and September 11, 1916).

Tuesday 03, 1912:

Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia (the Balkan League) sign an armistice with Turkey, ending the two-month long war.

Saturday 03, 1904:

The Jovian moon Himalia is discovered by Charles Dillon Perrine at Lick Observatory.

Tuesday 03, 1901:

US President Theodore Roosevelt delivers a 20,000-word speech to the House of Representatives asking Congress curb the power of trusts "within reasonable limits".

Sunday 03, 1854:

Eureka Stockade: More than twenty goldminers at Ballarat, Australia were killed by state troopers in an uprising over mining licences. Claimed by many to be the birth of Australian democracy.

Wednesday 03, 1828:

U.S. presidential election, 1828: Challenger Andrew Jackson beats incumbent John Quincy Adams and is elected President of the United States.

Thursday 03, 1818:

Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state

More on December, 03

• People Born on December, 03
• They left us on December, 03