March 3 in History: Famous Births, Events, and Deaths

March 3 has seen many significant moments in history. In 1845 Florida joined the United States as the 27th state. The U.S. Congress passed the Missouri Compromise on this date in 1820, allowing Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. In 1931 the song “The Star-Spangled Banner” officially became the national anthem of the United States. Famous people born on March 3 include inventor Alexander Graham Bell, actress Jessica Biel, and rapper Lil Baby.

Notable people born on March 3

1847 - Alexander Graham Bell: Scottish born inventor who developed the telephone and founded the Bell Telephone Company.

1839 - Jamsetji Tata: Indian industrialist and founder of the Tata Group, a pioneer of modern industry in India.

1911 - Jean Harlow: American film actress known as one of Hollywood's first major sex symbols in the early 1930s.

1920 - James "Scotty" Doohan: Canadian actor best known for playing Montgomery Scott on the Star Trek television series.

1923 - Doc Watson: American folk and bluegrass guitarist and singer, celebrated for his flat picking and traditional songs.

1945 - George Miller: Australian film director known for the Mad Max series and for mixing action with visual invention.

1949 - Ron Chernow: American historian and biographer whose works include a biography of Alexander Hamilton that inspired a stage musical.

1968 - Brian Leetch: American ice hockey defenseman, Hall of Famer and former New York Rangers star.

1970 - Julie Bowen: American actress best known for portraying Claire Dunphy on the television series Modern Family.

1982 - Jessica Biel: American actress and producer with roles in both film and television, including a leading role in The Sinner.

1997 - Camila Cabello: Cuban American singer and songwriter who rose to fame with Fifth Harmony before a successful solo career.

1970 - Inzamam ul Haq: Pakistani cricketer and former captain, renowned for his powerful batting and match winning performances.

1958 - Miranda Richardson: British actress noted for versatile performances across film, television and stage.

1993 - Antonio Rudiger: German professional footballer known for his defensive strength at club and international level.

2003 - Thomas Barbusca: American actor who began as a child performer and appeared in several TV comedies and films.

Notable events that happened on March 3

1575: The Mughal army led by Emperor Akbar defeated the Bengali forces of Sultan Daud Khan Karrani at the Battle of Tukaroi.

1585: The Olympic Theatre in Vicenza, Italy, designed by Andrea Palladio, was inaugurated.

1776: The United States Marine Corps made its first amphibious landing at Nassau in the Bahamas during the American Revolutionary War.

1845: Florida was admitted as the 27th state of the United States.

1861: Alexander II of Russia signed the Emancipation Manifesto, freeing millions of serfs across the Russian Empire.

1878: The Treaty of San Stefano was signed, granting independence to Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.

1923: The first issue of Time magazine was published in the United States.

1924: The caliphate of the Ottoman Empire was officially abolished in Turkey.

1931: The Star-Spangled Banner was adopted as the national anthem of the United States.

1938: Large oil reserves were discovered in Saudi Arabia at Dammam Well No. 7, a development that shaped the region's future.

1943: A tragic crush at Bethnal Green Tube Station in London during an air raid resulted in many civilian deaths.

1986: The Australia Act came into effect, ending most remaining legal ties between Australia and the United Kingdom.

1991: Video footage of the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers sparked national outrage in the United States.

2005: American aviator Steve Fossett completed the first nonstop solo airplane flight around the world without refueling.

2020: The World Health Organization reported a rapid rise in global COVID-19 cases, signaling the early spread of the pandemic.

Notable people who died on March 3

1707 - Aurangzeb: The sixth Mughal Emperor of India, noted for expanding the empire to its greatest territorial extent.

1792 - Robert Adam: Scottish neoclassical architect who influenced Georgian architecture and interior design.

1847 - Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: American educator and pioneer in teaching the deaf, cofounder of the first American school for the deaf.

1959 - Lou Costello: American comedian and actor, one half of the famous comedy duo Abbott and Costello.

1966 - William Frawley: American actor best known for playing Fred Mertz on the television sitcom I Love Lucy.

1980 - Jay Silverheels: Canadian actor and athlete, widely recognized for portraying Tonto in The Lone Ranger television series.

1987 - Danny Kaye: American actor, singer, dancer and comedian known for films such as The Court Jester and White Christmas.

1993 - Albert Sabin: Polish American physician and researcher who developed the oral polio vaccine.

1999 - Gerhard Herzberg: German Canadian physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry in 1971.

2001 - Gloria Foster: American actress remembered for playing the Oracle in The Matrix film series.

2009 - Sydney Earle Chaplin: American actor and the second son of Charlie Chaplin.

2012 - Leonardo Cimino: American stage and screen actor noted for character roles across film and theater.

2018 - Roger Bannister: English middle distance runner and neurologist, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes.

2020 - Nicholas Tucci: American actor known for performances in independent film and television.

2023 - Kenzaburō Ōe: Japanese novelist and Nobel Prize laureate, celebrated for his powerful and humanistic writing.

March 3 stands out as a date filled with moments that have shaped history across cultures and centuries. From political changes and scientific breakthroughs to artistic achievements, it reflects the progress and creativity of humanity. The events tied to this day remind us how innovation, courage, and leadership can leave a lasting mark on the world.

It is also a day to honor the people who were born or passed away on this date, each contributing in their own way to the advancement of knowledge, art, and society. March 3 encourages reflection on how individual efforts can influence generations, inspiring others to pursue their goals with the same determination and vision.