On This Day December 2nd
December 2nd is the 336th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 29 days remain until the end of the year. Events 1409 – The University of Leipzig opens. 1697 – St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt to the design of Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of London, is consecrated. 1804 – At Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of the French. 1805 – War of the Third Coalition: Battle of Austerlitz: French troops under Napoleon decisively defeat a joint Russo-Austrian force. 1823 – Monroe Doctrine: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President James Monroe proclaims American neutrality in future European conflicts and warns European powers not to interfere in the Americas. 1865 – Alabama ratified the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, followed by North Carolina and then Georgia; U.S. slaves were legally free within two weeks. 1927—After 19 years of Ford Model T production, the Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford Model A as its new auto...