1502
Politics
Widowing of Catherine upon death of Arthur
Death of Arthur, Prince of Wales, at Ludlow; Catherine of Aragon is widowed.
View detailsThis Day
02April
19 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1647
Science
Birth of Maria Sibylla Merian in Frankfurt am Main
Maria Sibylla Merian was born in Frankfurt am Main into a family of publishers and engravers, setting the stage for her future as a naturalist-artist.
View details1647
Arts
Birth of Maria Sibylla Merian
Maria Sibylla Merian was born in Frankfurt am Main, in a family of artists and printers.
View details1757
Science
Death of Elizabeth Timothy
Elizabeth Timothy died in Charleston, South Carolina, on 2 April 1757, closing out a pioneering career as America's first female newspaper publisher.
View details1900
Science
First woman awarded honorary LL.D. by the University of Edinburgh
On 2 April 1900, Edinburgh conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws on Ormerod, the first honorary doctorate the university awarded to a woman.
View details1902
Activism
Death in Cheyenne, Wyoming
Esther Hobart Morris died in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on April 2, 1902, at the age of 87.
View details1907
1917
Politics
First Woman to Serve in Congress
Rankin sworn in, first woman to serve in U.S. Congress.
View details1919
Science
First female cabinet minister in Ireland and Western Europe
On 2 April 1919, Markievicz was appointed Secretary/Minister for Labour in the First Dáil government, becoming the first female cabinet minister in Irish and Western European history.
View details1930
Science
Death of Empress Zewditu
Empress Zewditu died on April 2, 1930, in Addis Ababa, reportedly from grief and illness following her husband's defeat, ending her 13-year reign.
View details1958
Activism
Death of Mary Barbour
Mary Barbour died on 2 April 1958 in Glasgow, aged 83, having spent her life fighting for tenants' and women's rights.
View details1974
Arts
Only Academy Awards ceremony appearance — presenting the Thalberg Award
Hepburn made her sole live Oscars ceremony appearance, presenting the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to producer Lawrence Weingarten.
View details1991
Politics
Becomes Premier of British Columbia
Rita Johnston became the first woman premier in Canadian history on April 2, 1991.
View details1992
Science
Landing of STS-45, completion of first Spacelab Mission to Planet Earth
STS-45 landed at Kennedy Space Center, concluding Sullivan's final spaceflight and the first Spacelab Mission to Planet Earth.
View details1992
Arts
Marriage to Chris Pérez
Selena marries guitarist Chris Pérez in Nueces County, Texas, after overcoming family opposition to their relationship.
View details1997
Politics
Death of Eugenie Anderson in Red Wing, Minnesota
Eugenie Anderson died on April 2, 1997, in Red Wing, Minnesota, at age 87, after a pioneering career as the first American woman ambassador and UN Security Council representative.
View details2001
Sports
First 59 by a woman in competition
Shoots 59 at the Standard Register PING on 2 April 2001, becoming the first woman ever to record 59 in an official tour event.
View details2008
Science
Filing of patent application leading to US8748089B2
A further U.S. patent application on pseudouridine-containing RNA molecules and methods was filed by Karikó and Weissman.
View details2012
Arts
Death of Elizabeth Catlett
Elizabeth Catlett passed away in Cuernavaca, Mexico, on April 2, 2012.
View details