March 3 in history — What Happened Today in History
Welcome to March 3 in history! Here you can discover what happened on March 3, including the major events, the famous people born on March 3 and the notable deaths on March 3, with the newest story starting in 2013.
On this page, March 3 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about March 3 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on March 3 in History 40
- 2013
A bomb blast in Karachi, Pakistan, kills at least 48 people and injured 200 others in a predominantly Shia Muslim area.
- 2005
James Roszko murders four Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables during a drug bust at his property in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, then commits suicide. This is the deadliest peace-time incident for the RCMP since 1885 and the North-West Rebellion.
- 2005
Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.
- 2005
Margaret Wilson is elected as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, beginning a period lasting until August 23, 2006, where all the highest political offices (including Elizabeth II as Head of State), were occupied by women, making New Zealand the first country for this to occur.
- 1991
An amateur video captures the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers.
- 1991
United Airlines Flight 585 crashes on its final approach to Colorado Springs killing everyone on board.
- 1986
The Australia Act 1986 commences, causing Australia to become fully independent from the United Kingdom.
- 1985
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake strikes the Valparaíso Region of Chile, killing 177 and leaving nearly a million people homeless.
- 1980
The USS Nautilus is decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register.
- 1974
Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashes at Ermenonville near Paris, France killing all 346 aboard.
- 1972
Mohawk Airlines Flight 405 crashes as a result of a control malfunction and insufficient training in emergency procedures.
- 1969
Apollo program: NASA launches Apollo 9 to test the lunar module.
All entries for March 3（+28）
- 1958
Nuri al-Said becomes Prime Minister of Iraq for the eighth time.
- 1953
A De Havilland Comet (Canadian Pacific Air Lines) crashes in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 11 people.
- 1945
World War II: In poor visibility, the RAF mistakenly bombs the Bezuidenhout area of The Hague, Netherlands, killing 511 people.
- 1944
The Order of Nakhimov and Order of Ushakov are instituted in USSR as the highest naval awards.
- 1944
A freight train carrying stowaway passengers stalls in a tunnel shortly after departing from Balvano, Basilicata, Italy just after midnight, with 517 dying from carbon monoxide poisoning.
- 1943
World War II: In London, 173 people are killed in a crush while trying to enter an air-raid shelter at Bethnal Green tube station.
- 1942
World War II: Ten Japanese warplanes raid Broome, Western Australia, killing more than 100 people.
- 1940
Five people are killed in an arson attack on the offices of the communist newspaper Flamman in Luleå, Sweden.
- 1939
In Bombay, Mohandas Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest at the autocratic rule in British India.
- 1938
Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia.
- 1924
The Ottoman Caliphate is abolished, when the Caliph Abdülmecid II of the Ottoman dynasty is deposed. The last remnant of the old monarchy gives way to the reformed Turkey of Kemal Atatürk.
- 1924
The Free State of Fiume is annexed by the Kingdom of Italy.
- 1923
US magazine Time publishes its first issue.
- 1918
Russia signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, agreeing to withdraw from World War I, and conceding German control of the Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine. It also conceded Turkish control of Ardahan, Kars and Batumi.
- 1913
Thousands of women march in the Woman Suffrage Procession in Washington, D.C.
- 1891
Shoshone National Forest is established as the first national forest in the US and world.
- 1878
The Russo-Turkish War ends with Bulgaria regaining its independence from the Ottoman Empire according to the Treaty of San Stefano.
- 1873
Censorship in the United States: The U.S. Congress enacts the Comstock Law, making it illegal to send any "obscene literature and articles of immoral use" through the mail.
- 1861
Alexander II of Russia signs the Emancipation Manifesto, freeing serfs.
- 1859
The two-day Great Slave Auction, one of the largest such auctions in United States history, concludes.
- 1857
Second Opium War: France and the United Kingdom declare war on China.
- 1849
The Territory of Minnesota is created.
- 1845
Florida is admitted as the 27th U.S. state.
- 1799
The Russo-Ottoman siege of Corfu ends with the surrender of the French garrison.
- 1795
The Fédon Rebellion breaks out in Grenada, the rebels seizing Grenville and later Gouyave.
- 1779
American Revolutionary War: The Continental Army is routed at the Battle of Brier Creek near Savannah, Georgia.
- 1776
American Revolutionary War: The first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps begins the Battle of Nassau.
- 1585
The Olympic Theatre, designed by Andrea Palladio, is inaugurated in Vicenza.
Famous Birthdays on March 3 in History 25
- 2001
Jvke, American singer-songwriter
- 2000
Jevon Holland, Canadian-American football player
- 1999
Corey Kispert, American basketball player
- 1998
Jayson Tatum, American basketball player
- 1997
Camila Cabello, Cuban-American singer-songwriter and actress
- 1997
David Neres, Brazilian footballer
- 1997
Momoka Muraoka, Japanese para alpine skier
- 1996
Cameron Johnson, American basketball player
- 1996
Andile Phehlukwayo, South African cricketer
- 1995
Bryan Cristante, Italian footballer
- 1995
Maine Mendoza, Filipina actress
- 1994
Dilson Herrera, Colombian baseball player
All entries for March 3（+13）
- 1994
Umika Kawashima, Japanese singer and actress
- 1993
Gabriela Cé, Brazilian tennis player
- 1993
Josef Dostál, Czech kayaker
- 1993
Antonio Rüdiger, German footballer
- 1993
Michael Thomas, American football player
- 1991
Park Cho-rong, South Korean singer-songwriter and actress
- 1991
Anri Sakaguchi, Japanese actress
- 1990
Vlado Janković, Greek-Serbian basketball player
- 1989
Erwin Mulder, Dutch footballer
- 1988
Teodora Mirčić, Serbian tennis player
- 1988
Michael Morrison, English footballer
- 1988
Jan-Arie van der Heijden, Dutch footballer
- 1988
Max Waller, English cricketer
Notable Deaths on March 3 in History 25
- 2023
Kenzaburō Ōe, Japanese novelist, 1994 Nobel Prize laureate in Literature (born 1935)
- 2023
Tom Sizemore, American actor (born 1961)
- 2020
Charles J. Urstadt, American real estate executive and investor (born 1928)
- 2019
Peter Hurford OBE, British organist and composer (born 1930)
- 2018
Roger Bannister, English middle-distance athlete, first man to run a four-minute mile (born 1929)
- 2018
Mal Bryce, Australian politician (born 1943)
- 2018
Vanessa Goodwin, Australian politician (born 1969)
- 2018
David Ogden Stiers, American actor, voice actor and musician (born 1942)
- 2017
René Préval, Haitian politician (born 1943)
- 2016
Hayabusa, Japanese wrestler (born 1968)
- 2016
Berta Cáceres, Honduran environmentalist (born 1973)
- 2016
Martin Crowe, New Zealand cricketer and sportscaster (born 1962)
All entries for March 3（+13）
- 2016
Thanat Khoman, Thai politician and diplomat, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (born 1914)
- 2016
Sarah Tait, Australian Olympic rower (born 1983)
- 2015
Ernest Braun, Austrian-English physicist and academic (born 1925)
- 2015
M. Stanton Evans, American journalist and author (born 1934)
- 2013
Luis Cubilla, Uruguayan footballer and manager (born 1940)
- 2013
James Strong, Qantas CEO from 1993 to 2001 (born 1944)
- 2012
Ralph McQuarrie, American conceptual designer and illustrator (born 1929)
- 2012
Ronnie Montrose, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer (born 1947)
- 2012
Alex Webster, American football player and coach (born 1931)
- 2011
May Cutler, Canadian journalist, author, and politician (born 1923)
- 2010
Keith Alexander, English footballer and manager (born 1956)
- 2010
Michael Foot, English journalist and politician, Secretary of State for Employment (born 1913)
- 2009
Gilbert Parent, Canadian educator and politician, 33rd Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada (born 1935)
That is the story of March 3 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on March 3 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on March 3 in history?
The biggest event on March 3 in history is: 2013 — A bomb blast in Karachi, Pakistan, kills at least 48 people and injured 200 others in a predominantly Shia Muslim area.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on March 3?
25 famous people were born on March 3 in history, the best known being 2001 — Jvke, American singer-songwriter.
Who died on March 3?
25 notable people died on March 3 in history, including 2023 — Kenzaburō Ōe, Japanese novelist, 1994 Nobel Prize laureate in Literature (born 1935).
Why should I read about March 3 in history?
Exploring March 3 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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