On This Day in History – June 3

Major Events

• 1539 – Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto claims Florida for Spain during his expedition of North America.

• 1889 – The Canadian Pacific Railway is completed from coast to coast, linking eastern Canada with the Pacific Ocean.

• 1937 – The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, marries Wallis Simpson in France after abdicating the British throne.

• 1965 – Astronaut Ed White becomes the first American to perform a spacewalk during NASA’s Gemini 4 mission.

• 1989 – Chinese troops begin their assault on demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

• 2017 – A coordinated terrorist attack on London Bridge and Borough Market kills eight people and injures dozens more.

Famous Birthdays

• Jefferson Davis (1808–1889), American politician and president of the Confederate States during the U.S. Civil War.

• Josephine Baker (1906–1975), American-born French entertainer, Resistance agent, and civil rights activist.

• Curtis Mayfield (1942–1999), American singer-songwriter and influential figure in soul and funk music.

• Anderson Cooper (born 1967), American journalist and CNN anchor.

• Rafael Nadal (born 1986), Spanish professional tennis player, known for his dominance on clay courts.

• Lalaine (born 1987), American actress and singer, best known for her role in Lizzie McGuire.

Notable Deaths

• Ozzie Nelson (1906–1975), American actor, bandleader, and star of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

• Franz Kafka (1883–1924), German-speaking Bohemian novelist, known for works like The Metamorphosis.

• Billy Powell (1952–2009), American musician and longtime keyboardist for the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

• Muhammad Ali (1942–2016), American boxer, activist, and cultural icon widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in history.

Holidays

• World Bicycle Day – Recognized by the United Nations to promote sustainable transportation and the health benefits of cycling.

• Mabo Day (Australia) – Commemorates Eddie Mabo and the 1992 High Court decision recognizing Indigenous land rights.

Fun Facts

• Muhammad Ali passed away on this day in 2016 — a date now often associated with tributes to his legacy in sport and activism.

• Ed White’s 1965 spacewalk lasted just over 20 minutes and made him a national hero.

• Rafael Nadal, born on this day, has won the French Open a record number of times — often playing matches on or near his birthday.

• Franz Kafka’s writing was so distinctive that “Kafkaesque” became a term describing surreal and nightmarish situations.

• The United Nations established World Bicycle Day in 2018 to highlight the simplicity and sustainability of cycling.