On This Day for December 2 - Monroe Doctrine, Georges Seurat is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, [click here to view](. December 02 [A Sunday on La Grande Jatte—1884, oil on canvas by Georges Seurat, 1884–86; in the Art Institute of Chicago.]( FEATURED BIOGRAPHY 1859 Georges Seurat Using the technique of pointillism, French [Neo-Impressionist]( painter [Georges Seurat]( born this day in 1859, created huge shimmering compositions comprising tiny detached colourful strokes indistinguishable from afar. [SEE ALL BORN ON THIS DAY]( [Monroe, James]( FEATURED EVENT 1823 Monroe Doctrine The [Monroe Doctrine]( which declared that the [U.S.]( would not interfere in European affairs but that its sphere of interest included the entire [Western Hemisphere]( was enunciated by President [James Monroe]( this day in 1823. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( Advertisement Advertisement MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2014: Canadian [ice hockey]( player [Jean Béliveau]( considered one of the game's greatest centres, noted for his prolific scoring, died at age 83. 1993: Colombian criminal [Pablo Escobar]( as head of the [Medellín]( [cartel]( was arguably the world's most powerful drug trafficker in the 1980s and early '90s—was killed during a shoot-out with authorities. 1982: The groundbreaking [music video]( for [Michael Jackson]( song Thriller aired on [MTV](. 1981: American singer [Britney Spears]( helped spark the teen-pop phenomenon in the late 1990s and later endured intense public scrutiny for her personal life—was born. 1884: American monologuist and monodramatist [Ruth Draper]( was born in New York City. 1982: William C. DeVries implanted the first permanent [artificial heart]( in Barney Clark; the aluminum and plastic device was called the Jarvik-7. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1983 Aaron Rodgers American football player 1981 Britney Spears American singer 1946 Gianni Versace Italian fashion designer 1923 Maria Callas American singer 1939 Harry Reid United States senator [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( Advertisement FOLLOW: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, [click here](. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2018 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( • [Help](