Martha Washington on the 1891 and 1896 $1 silver certificate. She and George Washington appeared together on an 1896 $1 silver certificate.
What Happened On
First Successful U.S. Soft Landing of a Manmade Object on the Moon
June 2, 1966
Surveyor I lands on the Moon. It had been launched on May 30th. Part of its mission was to study the lunar soil in preparation for the Apollo missions.
The Soviets had landed Luna 9 four months earlier.
Wild Bunch Gang - Sundance (left), Cassidy (right)
Wild Bunch Gang - Sundance (left), Cassidy (right)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid's First Train Robbery
June 2, 1899
Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang, which included the Sundance Kid, commit their first train robbery. They stole between $30,000 and $60,000 ($1-2 million in today's money). The robbers were gang members Cassidy, Sundance, Harvey Logan, and Elzy Lay.
Presidential Marriage and the Baby Ruth Candy Bar
June 2, 1886
U.S. President Grover Cleveland marries Miss Frances Folsom in the White House. At 21 years old, she is the youngest U.S. first lady. Cleveland was 49 years old. He was the second U.S. president to wed while in office and the only president married in the White House.
Their first child Ruth Cleveland was born between his terms as U.S. President and became an instant media sensation known popularly as "Baby Ruth". In 1921, seventeen years after her death, the Curtiss Candy Company renamed their Kandy Kake (1900–1920) candy bar "Baby Ruth" in honor of her. Coincidently, the famous baseball player Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth) had hit 54 home runs the year before and had been the home run leader since 1918. Had they named it "Babe Ruth", they probably would have had to compensate him.
Wireless Telegraphy
June 2, 1896
Wireless telegraphy via radio waves is first patented by Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi.
Telephone
June 2, 1875
Alexander Graham Bell discovers the principle of sending sound by wire. He transmitted the sound of a twanging clock spring.
Donati Comet
June 2, 1858
The Donati Comet is discovered by Italian astronomer Giovanni Donati. It became the first comet to be photographed and after the Great Comet of 1811, it was the most brilliant comet that appeared in the 19th century. It is considered one of the most beautiful comets ever observed, however, it will not be seen on Earth again for another 1600 years.
Birthdays
Jerry Mathers (Gerald Patrick Mathers)
Born June 2, 1948
American child actor. TV: Leave It to Beaver (1957-63, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver). While auditioning for the part of the Beaver, Mathers told the producers he would rather be at his Cub Scout meeting than auditioning for the part. They hired him anyway. He was the first child actor to get a percentage of the merchandising revenue for a TV show, which is still earning him money.
After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1996, he joined Jenny Craig and lost over 40 lbs (18 kgs), later becoming a spokesperson for the company.
Contrary to rumors at the time, he was NOT killed in Vietnam.
Conrad stepping onto the Moon
Conrad stepping onto the Moon
Third Person to Walk on the Moon
Charles "Pete" Conrad, Jr.
Born June 2, 1930 d. 1999
American astronaut, third person to walk on the Moon (1969). Upon stepping on the Moon's surface, Conrad commented, "Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me." Personal Motto: "If you can't be good, be colorful."
Tarzan
Johnny Weissmuller
Born June 2, 1904 d. 1984
Austro-Hungarian-born American Olympic swimmer, actor. Famous for his portrayal of Tarzan and his distinctive Tarzan jungle call 
Listen. It is still used in films today. At age 9, he contracted polio and took up swimming to help battle the disease. He would go on to win three gold medals in the 1924 Olympics and two in the 1928 Olympics. He was the first to break the one minute barrier for 100-meter freestyle, and the first to swim the 440-yard freestyle under five minutes. He won fifty-two U.S. national championships, set more than 50 world records (spread over both freestyle and backstroke).
Chief John Big Tree (Isaac Johnny John)
Born June 2, 1877 d. 1967
American Indian. Chief John Big Tree claimed to be the model for the Indian head nickel (1913-38), although the sculptor for the coin, James Earle Fraser, claimed there were several models used, including Chief John Big Tree, and the image was a composite.
He was a member of the Seneca Nation and an actor who appeared in 59 films from 1915-50.
For Whom "Sadism" is Named
Marquis de Sade (Count Donatien Alphonse Francois Sade)
Born June 2, 1740 d. 1814
French obscene author, from whom the words "sadism" and "sadist" are derived. Sade is known for his erotic works, combining philosophical discourse, pornography, and violent sexual fantasies. In 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte had Sade arrested for his novels Justine and Juliette. He was imprisoned without a trial and eventually committed to the Charenton lunatic asylum, where he remained until his death.
Martha Dandridge Washington
Born June 2, 1731 d. 1802
American first lady. Wife of President George Washington. She is the only actual woman to appear on a U.S. banknote, appearing on the 1891 $1 silver certificate and she and George Washington appeared together on an 1896 $1 silver certificate.
Dana Carvey
Born June 2, 1955
American comedian, George H. W. Bush impersonator. TV: Saturday Night Live. Film: Wayne's World (1992, Garth Algar).
Colors of the original Rainbow Flag
Colors of the original Rainbow Flag
Creator of the Rainbow Flag
Gilbert Baker
Born June 2, 1951 d. 2017
American artist, gay rights activist. He designed the Rainbow Flag (1978), known as the gay pride flag, one of the most recognizable symbols of the LGBT community. The original flag had the colors: Hot Pink (Sex), Red (Life), Orange (Healing), Yellow (Sunlight), Green (Nature), Turquoise (Magic/Art), Indigo (Serenity), Violet (Spirit). The flag has undergone changes since the original, with the most common flag having six stripes, omitting turquoise and hot pink mainly for manufacturing reasons.
Baker also designed displays for Dianne Feinstein, the Premier of China, the presidents of France, Venezuela, and the Philippines, and the King of Spain.
Marvin Hamlisch
Born June 2, 1944 d. 2012
American Oscar-Grammy-winning composer. Music: A Chorus Line (1975), The Way We Were (1973), and The Sting (1973).
William Guest
Born June 2, 1941 d. 2015
American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer. One of Gladys Knight's Pips. Music: Midnight Train to Georgia (1973, #1).
Stacy Keach (William Stacy Keach Jr.)
Born June 2, 1941
American actor. TV: Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (Mike Hammer).
left to right: Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Watts, and Mick Jagger.
left to right: Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Watts, and Mick Jagger.
Charlie Watts
Born June 2, 1941 d. 2021
English Hall of Fame rock drummer for the Rolling Stones. Also an accomplished graphic artist, Watts contributed graphic art and comic strips to early Rolling Stones records.
Sally Kellerman
Born June 2, 1937 d. 2022
American actress. Film: M*A*S*H (1970, Hot Lips). TV: Star Trek (1966, episode: Where No Man Has Gone Before) and the Hidden Valley salad dressing commercials.
Pomp and Circumstance
Sir Edward Elgar
Born June 2, 1857 d. 1934
English composer. Famous for his "Pomp and Circumstance" marches, the first four of which were published between 1901 and 1907.
Saint Pius X
Born June 2, 1835 d. 1914
Italian religious leader, 257th Pope (1903-14), canonized in 1954. He is said to have healed a crippled child, cured a child of meningitis, and cured a Cardinal of turbuculosis.
Leo XI
Born June 2, 1535 d. 1605
Italian religious leader, 232nd Pope (April 1605). His papacy lasted only a month.
Deaths
Photo Credit: www.oneillseaodyssey.org
Photo Credit: www.oneillseaodyssey.org
Inventor of the Wetsuit
Jack O'Neill
Died June 2, 2017 b. 1923
American surfer. He is credited with inventing the wetsuit. Wanting to surf longer in the colder waters of Northern California, he developed the first neoprene wetsuit. He established the O'Neill surf wear and gear company (1952). He was known for his eye patch, which he wore due to a surfing accident.
Bo Diddley (Ellas Otha Bates)
Died June 2, 2008 b. 1928
American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rhythm and blues singer, composer. He played a key roll in the transition from blues to rock and roll in the 1950s and 60s.
Music: Who Do You Love? (1956), Pretty Thing (1956), Say Man (1959), and You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover (1962).
First escalator, at Coney Island, NY
First escalator, at Coney Island, NY
Escalator Inventor
Jesse Wilford Reno
Died June 2, 1947 b. 1861
American inventor. He patented the first working escalator (1892). The idea for his "inclined elevator" was originally part of his proposal to build an underground New York City subway. The subway proposal was rejected, but the inclined elevator caught on. It included a rubber-coated moving handrail and a comb of projected fingers on the ends to help prevent feet from getting caught in the mechanism. The first one was demonstrated at Coney Island, New York, and transported some 75,000 people during its two-week stay there. It was then moved to the Manhattan entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Lou Gehrig (Henry Louis Gehrig)
Died June 2, 1941 b. 1903
American Baseball Hall of Famer (1939). Record holder for the most consecutive games played (2,130 from 1925-39) and for the most major-league grand slams (23). He died of the disease which now bears his name.
Richard Dawson
Died June 2, 2012 b. 1932
British-American actor. TV: Hogan's Heroes (Corporal Newkirk) and Family Feud (1976-85, 1994-95, host).
Dorothy DeBorba
Died June 2, 2010 b. 1925
American actress, one of the Little Rascals. She appeared in 24 Our Gang films (1930-33, Chubby's little sister). She was known for her ability to cry on cue.
Mel Ferrer (Melchor Gaston Ferrer)
Died June 2, 2008 b. 1917
American actor, producer.
Imogene Coca (Imogene Fernandez de Coca)
Died June 2, 2001 b. 1908
American actress, comedienne.
Rex Harrison (Reginald Carey Harrison)
Died June 2, 1990 b. 1908
British Tony-Oscar-winning actor. Film: Anna and the King of Siam (1946, the King), My Fair Lady (1964), and Doctor Dolittle (1967).
Leo Gorcey
Died June 2, 1969 b. 1917
American actor. Film: He played Terrence Aloysius "Slip" Mahoney, leader of the hooligans in the movies featuring The Bowery Boys (1946-58) and was also in the Dead End Kids (1934-39) and East Side Kids (1940-45) films.
George S. Kaufman
Died June 2, 1961 b. 1889
American Pulitzer-Tony-winning playwright, humorist. Theater: You Can't Take It with You (1936, Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The film version in 1938 won the Oscar for Best Picture).
Alan Roy Dafoe OBE
Died June 2, 1943 b. 1883
Canadian physician. He delivered the world's first known surviving quintuplets (1934, Dionne quintuplets) and provided care for them as they grew up. There have been several radio, TV shows, and a movie based on his work with the quintuplets.
Saint Eugene I
Died June 2, 657 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 75th Pope (654-657).