December 2 in History

• 1883

  December 2, 1883: “3rd Symphony in F” by Johannes Brahms is performed for the first time by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the Vienna Musikverein.

• 1907

  December 2, 1907:

  The Association of Football Players' and Trainers' Union (later to be known as the Professional Footballers' Association) is formed in Manchester, England.

• 1927

  December 2, 1927:

  The Ford Model A (1927-1931) is launched, being sold for $385.

• 1942

  December 2, 1942:

  The first controlled self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in the world is conducted by a University of Chicago team of scientists led by Enrico Fermi.

• 1971

  December 2, 1971:

  Six emirates come together to establish the United Arab Emirates.

• 1972

  December 2, 1972:

  “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” by the Temptations tops the Billboard 100 chart.

• 1993

  December 2, 1993:

  Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar dies in a shootout with law enforcement officers.

• 1997

  December 2, 1997:

  “Good Will Hunting”, a drama film starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams, is released.

• 2001

  December 2, 2001:

  Energy-trading company, Enron files for bankruptcy protection when stories about the company’s massive accounting fraud came to light.