June 3 in history — What Happened Today in History

The Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov, is shot on a London street; he survives but is left paralysed.

The 1980 Grand Island tornado outbreak hits Nebraska, United States, causing five deaths and $300 million (equivalent to $1172 million in 2025) worth of damage.

A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 3,000,000 barrels (480,000 m3) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the second-worst accidental oil spill ever recorded.

A Soviet supersonic Tupolev Tu-144 crashes near Goussainville, France, killing 14, the first crash of a supersonic passenger aircraft.

Melbourne-Evans collision: Off the coast of South Vietnam, the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne cuts the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in half, resulting in 74 deaths.

The launch of Gemini 4, the first multi-day space mission by a NASA crew. Ed White, a crew member, performs the first American spacewalk.

Soldiers of the South Vietnamese Army attack protesting Buddhists in Huế with liquid chemicals from tear-gas grenades, causing 67 people to be hospitalized for blistering of the skin and respiratory ailments.

At Paris Orly Airport, Air France Flight 007 overruns the runway and explodes when the crew attempts to abort takeoff, killing 130.

Herzog and Lachenal of the French Annapurna expedition become the first climbers to reach the summit of an 8,000-metre peak.

In Los Angeles, California, white U.S. Navy sailors and Marines attack Latino youths in the five-day Zoot Suit Riots.

World War II: Japan begins the Aleutian Islands Campaign by bombing Unalaska Island.

World War II: The Wehrmacht razes the Greek village of Kandanos to the ground and murders 180 of its inhabitants.

World War II: During the Battle of France, the Luftwaffe bombs Paris.

Franz Rademacher proposes plans to make Madagascar the "Jewish homeland", an idea that had first been considered by 19th century journalist Theodor Herzl.

The Duke of Windsor (the former King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom) marries Wallis Simpson.

One thousand unemployed Canadian workers board freight cars in Vancouver, beginning a protest trek to Ottawa.

The National Defense Act is signed into law, increasing the size of the United States National Guard by 450,000 men.

Liverpool F.C. is founded by John Houlding.

The first long-distance electric power transmission line in the United States is completed, running 14 miles (23 km) between a generator at Willamette Falls and downtown Portland, Oregon.

In the last military engagement fought on Canadian soil, the Cree leader, Big Bear, escapes the North-West Mounted Police.

American Civil War: Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant sustain heavy casualties attacking Confederate troops under Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Cold Harbor in Hanover County, Virginia.

American Civil War: The Gettysburg campaign begins as Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia commence marching to start his second invasion of the North.

American Civil War: Battle of Philippi (also called the Philippi Races): Union forces rout Confederate troops in Barbour County, Virginia, now West Virginia.

The last pair of great auks is killed.

In Humen, China, Lin Zexu destroys 1.2 million kilograms of opium confiscated from British merchants, providing Britain with a casus belli to open hostilities, resulting in the First Opium War.

Jack Jouett begins his midnight ride to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature of an impending British raid.

Foundation of the Academy of the Distrustful in the library room of the Palau Dalmases in Barcelona.

James Stuart, Duke of York (later to become King James II of England), defeats the Dutch fleet off the coast of Lowestoft.

Mario Götze, German footballer

Jade Cargill, American professional wrestler

Yordano Ventura, Dominican baseball player (died 2017)

Katie Hoff, American swimmer

Imogen Poots, English actress and model

Masami Nagasawa, Japanese actress

Micah Kogo, Kenyan runner

Rafael Nadal, Spanish tennis player

Tomáš Verner, Czech ice skater

Papiss Cissé, Senegalese footballer

Łukasz Piszczek, Polish footballer

Pasquale Foggia, Italian footballer

Yelena Isinbayeva, Russian pole vaulter

Frank Lautenberg, American soldier and politician (born 1924)

Carol Ann Abrams, American producer, author, and academic (born 1942)

Roy Salvadori, English racing driver and manager (born 1922)

Brian Talboys, New Zealand journalist and politician, 7th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand (born 1921)

James Arness, American actor and producer (born 1923)

Andrew Gold, American singer, songwriter, musician and arranger (born 1951)

Bhajan Lal, Indian politician, 6th Chief Minister of Haryana (born 1930)

Jack Kevorkian, American pathologist, author, and activist (born 1928)

Jan van Roessel, Dutch footballer (born 1925)

Rue McClanahan, American actress (born 1934)

David Carradine, American actor (born 1936)

Koko Taylor, American singer (born 1928)

Clinton Jones, American Episcopal priest and gay rights activist (born 1916)