On This Day in History – December 3

Major Events

• 1800 – The Battle of Hohenlinden French forces under General Moreau defeat the Austrian army in Bavaria. The victory helps end the War of the Second Coalition and strengthens France’s position in Europe.
• 1818 – Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state The state’s admission marks a major step in America’s early expansion across the Midwest. Its growth accelerates with later developments in railroads and agriculture.
• 1854 – The Eureka Stockade Rebellion in Australia Miners in Ballarat, Victoria revolt against colonial authorities over mining licenses and political rights. Though swiftly crushed, it becomes a foundational symbol of Australian democracy.
• 1910 – Neon lighting is unveiled in Paris Invented by Georges Claude, the first public demonstration of neon lighting takes place at the Paris Motor Show. It later becomes iconic for global advertising and nightlife culture.
• 1967 – First successful human heart transplant South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard performs the world’s first human-to-human heart transplant in Cape Town. The patient, Louis Washkansky, lives for 18 days, marking a major breakthrough in modern cardiac medicine.
• 1973 – Pioneer 10 sends back images of Jupiter NASA’s spacecraft becomes the first to make a close approach to Jupiter, providing detailed images and scientific data. This milestone expands understanding of the outer planets.
• 1984 – Bhopal Gas Tragedy A toxic gas leak at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India exposes over half a million people. It becomes one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, with long-term health and environmental consequences.
• 1992 – SMS text messaging is born The world’s first SMS (“Merry Christmas”) is sent by British engineer Neil Papworth to Vodafone director Richard Jarvis. This seemingly simple act becomes the foundation of modern mobile communication.
• 2005 – The First Israeli Prime Minister to resign mid-term Ariel Sharon leaves the Likud party and resigns the premiership to form Kadima, reshaping Israeli political dynamics.

Famous Birthdays

• Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) – American religious leader and founder of Christian Science.
• Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) – Polish-British novelist known for Heart of Darkness.
• Nino Rota (1911–1979) – Italian composer best known for The Godfather score.
• Ellen Burstyn (1932) – American actress noted for The Exorcist and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
• Ozzy Osbourne (1948) – English singer and “Godfather of Heavy Metal,” former Black Sabbath frontman.
• Brendan Fraser (1968) – Canadian-American actor known for The Mummy series and The Whale.
• Holly Marie Combs (1973) – American actress from Charmed.
• Amanda Seyfried (1985) – American actress known for Mamma Mia! and Les Misérables.
• Julianne Moore’s son Caleb Freundlich (1997) – American musician (included for completeness).

Notable Deaths

• Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) – Scottish novelist, author of Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
• Narayan Malhar Joshi (1879–1955) – Indian trade union leader and politician.
• Francis Crick’s colleague Maurice Wilkins (1916–2004) – New Zealand-born physicist and Nobel laureate for DNA structure research.
• Benoît Mandelbrot (1924–2010) – Polish-French-American mathematician known for fractal geometry.
• Nelson Mandela’s legal collaborator Arthur Chaskalson (1931–2012) – South African judge and Chief Justice.
• Jane Kean (1923–2013) – American actress known for The Honeymooners.
• Pete Shelley (1955–2018) – English musician, lead singer of the Buzzcocks.
• Tony Award actor Alan Sues (1926–2011) – Known for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.
• Thomas J. Hudner Jr. (1924–2017) – American naval aviator and Medal of Honor recipient.

Holidays

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities – Promotes rights and well-being for individuals with disabilities worldwide.
• La Rioja Day (Spain) – Regional holiday celebrating cultural identity in the La Rioja autonomous community.
• Feast of Saint Francis Xavier – Celebrated in many Catholic regions, especially in India’s Goa.

Fun Facts

• The first SMS message, sent today in 1992, contained just two words: “Merry Christmas.”
• Christiaan Barnard’s pioneering heart transplant used surgical techniques influenced by veterinary research.
• Neon lighting was introduced as a premium luxury product before becoming the defining look of city nightlife.