September 15 - This Day in History

September 15: General Interest
1978: Ali defeats Spinks to win world heavyweight championship

On this day in 1978, boxer Muhammad Ali defeats Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to win the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time in his career, the first fighter ever to do so. Following his victory, Ali retired from boxing, only to make a brief comeback two years later. Ali, who once claimed he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," left the sport permanently in 1981... read more


American Revolution
1779 : French capture British ships
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-capture-british-ships


Automotive
1969 : The Italian Job is released in Sweden
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-italian-job-is-released-in-sweden


Civil War
1862 : Confederates capture Harpers Ferry
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/confederates-capture-harpers-ferry-virginia


Cold War
1959 : Khrushchev arrives in Washington
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/khrushchev-arrives-in-washington


Crime
1990 : A Bible school instructor abducts a teenage girl
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-bible-school-instructor-abducts-a-teenage-girl


Disaster
1958 : Train plunges off bridge
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/train-plunges-off-bridge


General Interest
1916 : Tanks introduced into warfare at the Somme
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tanks-introduced-into-warfare-at-the-somme

1940 : Tide turns in the Battle of Britain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tide-turns-in-the-battle-of-britain

1950 : U.S. forces land at Inchon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-forces-land-at-inchon

1963 : Four black schoolgirls killed in Birmingham
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/four-black-schoolgirls-killed-in-birmingham


Hollywood
1954 : Famous Marilyn Monroe "skirt" scene filmed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/famous-marilyn-monroe-skirt-scene-filmed


Literary
1890 : Agatha Christie is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/agatha-christie-is-born


Music
1962 : The Four Seasons earn their first #1 hit with "Sherry"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-four-seasons-earn-their-first-1-hit-with-quotsherryquot


Old West
1858 : The first transcontinental mail service to San Francisco begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-transcontinental-mail-service-to-san-francisco-begins


Presidential
1794 : James Madison marries Dolley Payne Todd
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-madison-marries-dolley-payne-todd

1857 : Future President William Taft born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/future-president-william-taft-born


Sports
1931 : Athletics clinch pennant
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/athletics-clinch-pennant


Vietnam War
1964 : NLF calls for general military offensive
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nlf-calls-for-general-military-offensive

1972 : South Vietnamese forces retake Quang Tri City
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-forces-retake-quang-tri-city


World War I
1914 : First trenches are dug on the Western Front
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-trenches-are-dug-on-the-western-front


World War II
1935 : Nuremberg race laws imposed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nuremberg-race-laws-imposed