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

September 14 - This Day in History

September 14: General Interest
1901: McKinley dies of infection from gunshot wounds

On this day in 1901, U.S. President William McKinley dies after being shot by a deranged anarchist during the Pan-American Exposition... read more


American Revolution
1779 : Brodhead completes Allegheny River expedition
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/brodhead-completes-allegheny-river-expedition


Automotive
1927 : Dancer Isadora Duncan is killed in car accident
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dancer-isadora-duncan-is-killed-in-car-accident


Civil War
1862 : North and South clash at the Battle of South Mountain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battles-of-south-mountain-and-cramptons-gap


Cold War
1959 : Soviet probe reaches the moon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-probe-reaches-the-moon


Crime
1974 : A song about crime hits the charts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-song-about-crime-hits-the-charts


Disaster
1999 : Millions flee from Hurricane Floyd
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/millions-flee-from-hurricane-floyd


General Interest
1812 : Napoleon enters Moscow
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/napoleon-enters-moscow

1847 : Scott captures Mexico City
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/scott-captures-mexico-city

1975 : American canonized as saint
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-canonized-as-saint


Hollywood
1982 : Hollywood star and real-life princess Grace Kelly dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hollywood-star-and-real-life-princess-grace-kelly-dies


Literary
1914 : Make Way for Ducklings author Robert McCloskey is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/make-way-for-ducklings-author-robert-mccloskey-is-born

1964 : Steinbeck wins the Medal of Freedom
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/steinbeck-wins-the-medal-of-freedom


Music
1955 : Little Richard records "Tutti Frutti"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/little-richard-records-quottutti-fruttiquot


Old West
1901 : An adoptive westerner becomes president of the United States
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/an-adoptive-westerner-becomes-president-of-the-united-states


Presidential
1901 : President William McKinley dies from gunshot wounds
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-william-mckinley-dies-from-gunshot-wounds


Sports
1968 : Denny McLain becomes a 30-game winner
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/denny-mclain-becomes-a-30-game-winner


Vietnam War
1965 : South Vietnamese forces and U.S. advisers conduct parachute assault
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-forces-and-us-advisers-conduct-parachute-assault

1966 : Operation Attleboro is launched in War Zone C
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-attleboro-is-launched-in-war-zone-c


World War I
1916 : Seventh Battle of the Isonzo
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/seventh-battle-of-the-isonzo


World War II
1944 : Americans launch Operation Stalemate—at extraordinary cost
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/americans-launch-operation-stalemate-at-extraordinary-cost 

September 13 - This Day in History

September 13: General Interest
1814: Key pens Star-Spangled Banner

On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The poem, originally titled "The Defence of Fort McHenry," was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by... read more


American Revolution
1806 : American sympathizer Charles James Fox dies in Britain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-sympathizer-charles-james-fox-dies-in-britain


Automotive
2004 : Oprah gives away nearly 300 new cars
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oprah-gives-away-nearly-300-new-cars


Civil War
1862 : Union troops discover Rebels' Antietam battle plan
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-union-discovers-lost-order


Cold War
1976 : New book says war with Russia is greatest U.S. threat
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-book-says-war-with-russia-is-greatest-us-threat


Crime
1971 : Attica prison riot ends
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/attica-prison-riot-ends


Disaster
1989 : Devastating storm heads toward Caribbean
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/devastating-storm-heads-toward-caribbean


General Interest
1759 : Britain victorious on the Plains of Abraham
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/britain-victorious-on-the-plains-of-abraham

1971 : Massacre at Attica Prison
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/massacre-at-attica-prison

1993 : Israel-Palestine peace accord signed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/israel-palestine-peace-accord-signed

1998 : George Wallace dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-wallace-dies


Hollywood
1990 : Law & Order debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/law--order-debuts


Literary
1916 : Children's author Roald Dahl is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/childrens-author-roald-dahl-is-born


Music
1996 : Tupac Shakur dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tupac-shakur-dies


Old West
1847 : General Winfield Scott storms the Chapultepec fortress
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-winfield-scott-storms-the-chapultepec-fortress


Presidential
1980 : President Carter attends Willie Nelson concert at White House
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-carter-attends-willie-nelson-concert-at-white-house



Sports
1936 : Bob Feller strikes out 17 at 17
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bob-feller-strikes-out-17-at-17


Vietnam War
1945 : British troops arrive to disarm the Japanese
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-troops-arrive-to-disarm-the-japanese

1964 : Attempted coup against Khanh government fails
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/attempted-coup-against-khanh-government-fails

1968 : Large operation begins in the DMZ
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/large-operation-begins-in-the-dmz


World War I
1914 : Irish nationalist seeks German support
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/irish-nationalist-seeks-german-support


World War II
1940 : Italy invades Egypt
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italy-invades-egypt 

September 12 - This Day in History

September 12: General Interest
1940: Lascaux cave paintings discovered

Near Montignac, France, a collection of prehistoric cave paintings are discovered by four teenagers who stumbled upon the ancient artwork after following their dog down a narrow entrance into a cavern. The 15,000- to 17,000-year-old paintings, consisting mostly of animal representations, are among the finest examples of art from the Upper Paleolithic period... read more


American Revolution
1777 : Congress receives news of defeat at Brandywine
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-receives-news-of-defeat-at-brandywine


Automotive
1993 : New floating bridge opens in Seattle; I-90 stretches from coast to coast
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-floating-bridge-opens-in-seattle-i-90-stretches-from-coast-to-coast


Civil War
1861 : The First Battle of Lexington, Missouri, begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/siege-of-lexington-missouri-begins


Cold War
1990 : German occupation rights are relinquished
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/german-occupation-rights-are-relinquished


Crime
2002 : Tyco execs indicted
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tyco-execs-indicted


Disaster
1988 : Hurricane Gilbert slams Jamaica
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hurricane-gilbert-slams-jamaica


General Interest
1953 : Khrushchev elected Soviet leader
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/khrushchev-elected-soviet-leader

1953 : JFK marries Jacqueline Bouvier
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-marries-jacqueline-bouvier

1974 : Violence in Boston over racial busing
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/violence-in-boston-over-racial-busing

1977 : Steven Biko dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/steven-biko-dies


Hollywood
2004 : Season One of Entourage--a TV show about life in Hollywood--comes to an end
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/season-one-of-entourage--a-tv-show-about-life-in-hollywood--comes-to-an-end


Literary
1846 : Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning elope
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elizabeth-barrett-and-robert-browning-elope


Music
1944 : Barry White is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/barry-white-is-born


Old West
1972 : Hopalong Cassidy rides off into his last sunset
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hopalong-cassidy-rides-off-into-his-last-sunset


Presidential
1953 : John F. Kennedy marries Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-f-kennedy-marries-jacqueline-bouvier-in-newport-rhode-island


Sports
1951 : Sugar Ray Robinson wins back belt
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sugar-ray-robinson-wins-back-belt


Vietnam War
1959 : Situation deteriorates in South Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/situation-in-south-vietnam-deteriorates

1972 : U.S. intelligence agencies report 100,000 troops in the South
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-intelligence-agencies-report-100000-troops-in-the-south


World War I
1918 : U.S. launches Saint-Mihiel offensive
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-launches-saint-mihiel-offensive


World War II
1942 : The Laconia is sunk
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-laconia-is-sunk

September 11 - This Day in History

September 11: General Interest
2001: Attack on America

At 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper... read more


American Revolution
1777 : The Battle of Brandywine begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-brandywine-begins


Automotive
1915 : Emily Post's By Motor to the Fair appears in Collier's
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/emily-posts-by-motor-to-the-fair-appears-in-colliers


Civil War
1861 : Rebels begin Cheat Mountain campaign
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cheat-mountain-campaign


Cold War
1971 : Nikita Khrushchev dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nikita-khrushchev-dies


Crime
1921 : Silent-film star arrested for murder
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/silent-film-star-arrested-for-murder


Disaster
1991 : Commuter plane crashes
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/commuter-plane-crashes


General Interest
1814 : America victorious on Lake Champlain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/america-victorious-on-lake-champlain

1851 : The Christiana Riot
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-christiana-riot

1973 : Allende dies in coup
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allende-dies-in-coup


Hollywood
1987 : Fatal Attraction premieres
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fatal-attraction-premieres


Literary
1930 : Flowering Judas, by Katherine Anne Porter, is published
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/flowering-judas-by-katherine-anne-porter-is-published


Old West
1857 : Mormons and Paiutes murder 120 emigrants at Mountain Meadows
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mormons-and-paiutes-murder-120-emigrants-at-mountain-meadows


Presidential
2001 : Bush learns of attack on World Trade Center
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bush-learns-of-attack-on-world-trade-center


Sports
1985 : Pete Rose hits into the record books
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pete-rose-hits-into-the-record-books


Vietnam War
1965 : 1st Cavalry Division arrives in country
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/1st-cavalry-division-arrives-in-country

1968 : Heavy fighting rages in Tay Ninh
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavy-fighting-rages-in-tay-ninh


World War I
1915 : Zimmerwald Conference issues a call for immediate peace
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/zimmerwald-conference-issues-a-call-for-immediate-peace


World War II
1940 : Hitler focuses East, sends troops to Romania
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-focuses-east-sends-troops-to-romania

September 10 - This Day in History

September 10: General Interest
1897: First drunk driving arrest

On this day in 1897, a 25-year-old London taxi driver named George Smith becomes the first person ever arrested for drunk driving after slamming his cab into a building. Smith later pled guilty and was fined 25 shillings... read more


American Revolution
1776 : Nathan Hale volunteers to spy behind British lines
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nathan-hale-volunteers-to-spy-behind-british-lines


Automotive
1897 : Londoner George Smith gets caught driving drunk
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/londoner-george-smith-gets-caught-driving-drunk


Civil War
1861 : North and South fight indecisive battle at Carnifex Ferry
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/engagement-at-carnifex-ferry


Cold War
1989 : Hungary allows East Germans refugees to leave
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hungary-allows-east-germans-refugees-to-leave


Crime
1931 : Crime boss Salvatore Maranazano is murdered
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/crime-boss-salvatore-maranazano-is-murdered

1977 : Serial-killing couple meets
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/serial-killing-couple-meets


Disaster
1976 : Jets collide over Zagreb
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jets-collide-over-zagreb


General Interest
1608 : Smith to lead Jamestown
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/smith-to-lead-jamestown

1813 : The Battle of Lake Erie
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-lake-erie

1977 : The guillotine falls silent
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-guillotine-falls-silent

1981 : Guernica returned to Spain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/guernica-returned-to-spain


Hollywood
2000 : Halle Berry wins Emmy for Dandridge
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/halle-berry-wins-emmy-for-dandridge


Literary
1941 : Stephen Jay Gould is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stephen-jay-gould-is-born


Music
1991 : Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is released as a single
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nirvanas-quotsmells-like-teen-spiritquot-is-released-as-a-single


Old West
1881 : Tensions grow in Tombstone, Arizona, after a stage coach robbery
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tensions-grow-in-tombstone-arizona-after-a-stage-coach-robbery


Presidential
1833 : Andrew Jackson shuts down Second Bank of the U.S.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/andrew-jackson-shuts-down-second-bank-of-the-us


Sports
1962 : Rod Laver wins Grand Slam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rod-laver-wins-grand-slam


Vietnam War
1963 : President Kennedy gets mixed signals
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-kennedy-gets-mixed-signals

1964 : President Johnson sends signal to both North and South Vietnamese
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-johnson-sends-signal-to-both-north-and-south-vietnamese


World War I
1919 : New York City parade honors World War I veterans
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-york-city-parade-honors-us-soldiers-from-world-war-i


World War II
1940 : British War Cabinet reacts to the Blitz in kind
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-war-cabinet-reacts-to-the-blitz-in-kind

September 9 - This Day in History

September 9 : General Interest
1893: President's child born in White House

Frances Folsom Cleveland, the wife of President Grover Cleveland, gives birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House... read more


American Revolution
1776 : Congress renames the nation "United States of America"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-renames-the-nation-united-states-of-america


Automotive
1966 : President Johnson signs the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-johnson-signs-the-national-traffic-and-motor-vehicle-safety-act


Civil War
1863 : Yankees capture Chattanooga
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yankees-enter-chattanooga-tennessee


Cold War
1976 : Mao Zedong Dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mao-zedong-dies


Crime
1919 : The Boston police department goes on strike
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-boston-police-department-goes-on-strike


Disaster
1954 : Powerful earthquake rocks Algeria
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/powerful-earthquake-rocks-algeria


General Interest
1971 : Riot at Attica prison
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/riot-at-attica-prison

1976 : Chairman Mao dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chairman-mao-dies


Hollywood
1939 : Audiences are treated to surprise preview of Gone with the Wind
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/audiences-are-treated-to-surprise-preview-of-gone-with-the-wind


Literary
1910 : Alice B. Toklas moves in permanently with Gertrude Stein
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alice-b-toklas-moves-in-permanently-with-gertrude-stein


Music
1963 : Lesley Gore sings "It's My Party" on American Bandstand
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lesley-gore-sings-quotits-my-partyquot-on-american-bandstand


Old West
1850 : California becomes the 31st state in record time
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/california-becomes-the-31st-state-in-record-time


Presidential
1893 : Cleveland baby born in White House
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cleveland-baby-born-in-white-house


Sports
1965 : Sandy Koufax pitches perfect game
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sandy-koufax-pitches-perfect-game


Vietnam War
1967 : Hackney receives Medal of Honor
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hackney-receives-medal-of-honor

1969 : Ho Chi Minh buried in Hanoi
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ho-chi-minh-buried-in-hanoi

1972 : DeBellevue becomes leading American Ace
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/debellevue-becomes-leading-american-ace


World War I
1914 : U.S. Secretary of State Lansing demands recall of Austro-Hungarian ambassador
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-secretary-of-state-lansing-demands-recall-of-austro-hungarian-ambassador


World War II
1942 : Japanese bomb U.S. mainland
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japanese-bomb-us-mainland

1943 : Allies land at Salerno and Taranto
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-land-at-salerno-and-taranto