October 2 facts for kids

October 2 is the 275th day of the year (276th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 90 days remain until the end of the year.

October 2nd is a special day each year, filled with many important events and the birthdays of famous people throughout history. From ancient battles to modern discoveries, this date has seen many moments that shaped our world. It's also a day to remember important figures and celebrate different cultures around the globe.

Historical Events on October 2

Early History (Before 1600)

• 829 – Theophilos became the new Byzantine Emperor, taking over from his father, Michael II.
• 939 – In the Battle of Andernach, Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, successfully stopped a rebellion against his rule.
• 1263 – The Battle of Largs took place, a significant fight between the Norwegians and the Scots.
• 1470 – A rebellion led by the Earl of Warwick caused King Edward IV of England to leave the country. This led to Henry VI becoming king again.
• 1552 – During the Russo-Kazan Wars, Russian troops successfully entered the city of Kazan.

Modern History (1601–1900)

• 1780 – During the American Revolutionary War, John André, a British Army officer, was executed for spying by the Continental Army.
• 1789 – The United States Bill of Rights, which lists important rights for citizens, was sent to the different states to be approved.
• 1835 – In the Texas Revolution, Mexican soldiers tried to take weapons from the people of Gonzales, but they met strong resistance from a local group of fighters. This event is known as the Battle of Gonzales.
• 1864 – During the American Civil War, Confederate forces won against a Union attack in the First Battle of Saltville, Virginia.
• 1870 – The people of the Papal States voted to join the Kingdom of Italy, marking a big change in Italian history.

Recent History (1901–Present)

• 1928 – Opus Dei, a Catholic organization, was officially founded.
• 1942 – During World War II, the large ship RMS Queen Mary accidentally crashed into and sank HMS Curacoa, a smaller warship, leading to the loss of over 300 lives.
• 1944 – In World War II, German troops brought an end to the Warsaw Uprising, a major resistance effort in Poland.
• 1958 – Guinea declared its independence from France, becoming a new nation.
• 1967 – Thurgood Marshall made history by becoming the first African-American justice on the United States Supreme Court.
• 1968 – Ten days before the 1968 Summer Olympics, Mexican soldiers were ordered to stop a student protest in Mexico City.
• 1970 – A plane carrying the Wichita State University football team and others crashed in Colorado, resulting in 31 deaths.
• 1990 – A hijacked plane, Xiamen Airlines Flight 8301, landed in Guangzhou, China, where it crashed into two other planes on the ground, killing 132 people.
• 1996 – The Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments were signed into law in the U.S., making it easier for people to access government information online.
• 2004 – The very first parkrun, a free weekly running event, took place in Bushy Park, London, UK.
• 2007 – South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun visited North Korea for an important meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
• 2018 – The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
• 2019 – A historic Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress plane crashed shortly after taking off from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, killing seven people.

Famous Birthdays on October 2

Born Before 1900

• 1452 – Richard III of England, a famous English king.
• 1470 – Isabella of Aragon, Queen of Portugal, a queen and daughter of Isabella I of Castile.
• 1538 – Charles Borromeo, an important Italian cardinal and saint.
• 1768 – William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, an English general and politician.
• 1798 – Charles Albert, who was the King of Sardinia.
• 1800 – Nat Turner, an American slave who led an uprising.
• 1847 – Paul von Hindenburg, a German field marshal and later the President of Germany.
• 1851 – Ferdinand Foch, a French field marshal.
• 1852 – William Ramsay, a Scottish chemist who won the Nobel Prize.
• 1869 – Mahatma Gandhi, a legendary Indian leader who fought for freedom and peace using non-violence.
• 1871 – Cordell Hull, an American politician and United States Secretary of State, who won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• 1890 – Groucho Marx, a very famous American comedian and actor.

Born After 1900

• 1904 – Graham Greene, a well-known English novelist and playwright.
• 1904 – Lal Bahadur Shastri, an Indian politician who became the Prime Minister of India.
• 1907 – Alexander R. Todd, a Scottish biochemist who won the Nobel Prize.
• 1909 – Alex Raymond, the American cartoonist who created the famous character Flash Gordon.
• 1917 – Christian de Duve, a Belgian scientist who won the Nobel Prize.
• 1926 – Jan Morris, a Welsh historian and author.
• 1928 – George McFarland, an American actor famous for his role as Spanky in "Our Gang."
• 1933 – John Gurdon, an English biologist who won the Nobel Prize.
• 1937 – Johnnie Cochran, a well-known American lawyer.
• 1945 – Don McLean, a famous American singer-songwriter, known for "American Pie."
• 1948 – Donna Karan, a famous American fashion designer who founded DKNY.
• 1949 – Annie Leibovitz, a very famous American photographer.
• 1951 – Sting, a popular English singer-songwriter and actor.
• 1954 – Lorraine Bracco, an American actress.
• 1960 – Glenn Anderson, a Canadian ice hockey player.
• 1963 – Maria Ressa, a Filipino-American journalist.
• 1970 – Kelly Ripa, a popular American actress and talk show host.
• 1971 – Tiffany Darwish, an American singer-songwriter.
• 1971 – Chris Savino, an American animator and creator of The Loud House.
• 1978 – Ayumi Hamasaki, a famous Japanese singer and actress.
• 1982 – Tyson Chandler, an American basketball player.
• 1984 – Marion Bartoli, a French tennis player.
• 1986 – Camilla Belle, an American actress.
• 1987 – Phil Kessel, an American ice hockey player.
• 1991 – Roberto Firmino, a Brazilian footballer.
• 1992 – Alisson Becker, a Brazilian footballer.
• 1993 – Lance McCullers Jr., an American baseball player.

Notable Deaths on October 2

Died Before 1900

• 534 – Athalaric, who was the king of the Ostrogoths in Italy.
• 829 – Michael II, a Byzantine emperor.
• 939 – Eberhard of Franconia and Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine, both important figures in their time.
• 1264 – Pope Urban IV, a leader of the Catholic Church.
• 1559 – Jacquet of Mantua, a French-Italian composer.
• 1678 – Wu Sangui, a Chinese general.
• 1709 – Ivan Mazepa, a Ukrainian diplomat.
• 1780 – John André, the English soldier mentioned earlier who was executed.
• 1803 – Samuel Adams, an American politician and Governor of Massachusetts.
• 1850 – Sarah Biffen, an English painter.
• 1853 – François Arago, a French scientist and politician.

Died After 1900

• 1920 – Max Bruch, a German composer.
• 1927 – Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish physicist and chemist who won the Nobel Prize.
• 1953 – John Marin, an American painter.
• 1968 – Marcel Duchamp, a famous French painter and sculptor.
• 1973 – Paavo Nurmi, a famous Finnish runner.
• 1985 – Rock Hudson, a well-known American actor.
• 1987 – Peter Medawar, a Brazilian-English biologist who won the Nobel Prize.
• 1988 – Alec Issigonis, an English car designer famous for creating the Mini.
• 1998 – Gene Autry, a famous American actor, singer, and guitarist.
• 2016 – Neville Marriner, a British conductor.
• 2017 – Tom Petty, a beloved American musician.
• 2018 – Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist mentioned earlier.
• 2022 – Sacheen Littlefeather, an American actress and activist for Native American rights.

Holidays and Observances

• Batik Day (Indonesia) – A day to celebrate the traditional Indonesian art of batik fabric.
• Christian feast day:
  • Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
• Gandhi's birthday-related observances:
  • Gandhi Jayanti (India) – Celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
  • International Day of Non-Violence – A day recognized by the United Nations to promote peace and non-violence, also on Gandhi's birthday.
• Independence Day (Guinea) – Celebrates Guinea's independence from France in 1958.
• National Grandparents Day (Italy) – A day to honor grandparents in Italy.

See also

In Spanish: 2 de octubre para niños