On This Day in History — September 15

Highlights of September 15

• 2020 — The Abraham Accords were signed in Washington, D.C. (signatories pictured), normalizing relations between Israel and two Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Read more
• 2017 — A homemade bomb partially exploded on an eastbound District line train at Parsons Green tube station in West London, injuring 30 passengers. Read more
• 2013 — The Belarusian serial killer Ivan Kulesh murdered two saleswomen in Lida. Read more
• 2008 — Financial crisis of 2007–2008: The global financial services firm Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy while holding over $600 billion in assets, the largest such filing in U.S. history. Read more
• 1972 — Three armed members of the Croatian National Resistance hijacked Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 130 in an attempt to force the release of those arrested for the assassination of the Yugoslav ambassador the previous year. Read more
• 1963 — The 16th Street Baptist Church, an African-American church in Birmingham, Alabama, was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan, killing four girls and injuring at least 14 other people. Read more
• 1954 — The scene in The Seven Year Itch of Marilyn Monroe standing in a white dress over a subway grate was filmed by Billy Wilder. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: American and Australian forces landed on the Japanese-occupied island of Morotai. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The Greek People's Liberation Army won the Battle of Meligalas and began the execution of many prisoners of war and civilians. Read more
• 1935 — Nazi Germany enacted the Nuremberg Laws (pictured), which deprived Jews of their citizenship. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: Confederate forces captured the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, taking more than 12,000 prisoners. Read more
• 1830 — The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&M) (depicted), the first locomotive-hauled railway to connect two major cities, opened with the Duke of Wellington in attendance.\ Read more
• 1821 — The Province of Guatemala proclaimed the independence of Central America from the Spanish Empire. Read more
• 1795 — French Revolutionary Wars: Great Britain seized the Dutch Cape Colony to use its facilities against the French Navy. Read more
• 1791 — French playwright Olympe de Gouges published the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen, hoping to expose the failures of the French Revolution in the recognition of gender equality. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: British forces made an unopposed amphibious landing at Kips Bay on Manhattan, the American defenders having fled due to artillery fire. Read more
• 1462 — The Ottoman conquest of Lesbos ended upon the surrender of commander Niccolò Gattilusio; the conquering Mehmed II executed 300 Italian soldiers by chopping them in half, claiming he was fulfilling a promise to "spare their heads". Read more

Events

• 2020 — Signing of the Bahrain–Israel normalization agreement occurs in Washington, D.C., normalizing relations between Israel and two Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Read more
• 2017 — The Parsons Green bombing takes place in London. Read more
• 2011 — Four miners are killed in the Gleision Colliery mining accident in the Swansea Valley, Wales. Read more
• 2008 — Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. Read more
• 2004 — National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces lockout of the players' union and cessation of operations by the NHL head office. Read more
• 2001 — During a CART race at the Lausitzring in Germany, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi suffers a heavy accident resulting in him losing both his legs. Read more
• 1995 — Malaysia Airlines Flight 2133 crashes at Tawau Airport in Malaysia, killing 34. Read more
• 1983 — Israeli premier Menachem Begin resigns. Read more
• 1981 — The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Read more
• 1981 — The John Bull becomes the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian Institution operates it under its own power outside Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1978 — At the Superdome in New Orleans, Muhammad Ali outpoints Leon Spinks in a rematch to become the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times. Read more
• 1975 — The French department of "Corse" (the entire island of Corsica) is divided into two: Haute-Corse (Upper Corsica) and Corse-du-Sud (Southern Corsica). Read more
• 1974 — Air Vietnam Flight 706 is hijacked, then crashes while attempting to land with 75 on board. Read more
• 1972 — A Scandinavian Airlines System domestic flight from Gothenburg to Stockholm is hijacked and flown to Malmö Bulltofta Airport. Read more
• 1971 — The first Greenpeace ship departs from Vancouver to protest against the upcoming Cannikin nuclear weapon test in Alaska. Read more
• 1968 — The Soviet Zond 5 spaceship is launched, becoming the first spacecraft to fly around the Moon and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. Read more
• 1966 — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, responding to a sniper attack at the University of Texas at Austin, writes a letter to Congress urging the enactment of gun control legislation. Read more
• 1963 — Baptist Church bombing: Four children are killed in the bombing of an African-American church in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Read more
• 1962 — The Soviet ship Poltava heads toward Cuba, one of the events that sets into motion the Cuban Missile Crisis. Read more
• 1959 — Nikita Khrushchev becomes the first Soviet leader to visit the United States. Read more
• 1958 — A Central Railroad of New Jersey commuter train runs through an open drawbridge at the Newark Bay, killing 48. Read more
• 1954 — Marilyn Monroe's iconic skirt scene is shot during filming for The Seven Year Itch. Read more
• 1952 — The United Nations cedes Eritrea to Ethiopia. Read more
• 1950 — Korean War: The U.S. X Corps lands at Inchon. Read more
• 1948 — The Indian Army captures the towns of Jalna, Latur, Mominabad, Surriapet and Narkatpalli as part of Operation Polo. Read more
• 1948 — The F-86 Sabre sets the world aircraft speed record at 671 miles per hour (1,080 km/h). Read more
• 1947 — Typhoon Kathleen hits the Kantō region, in Japan killing around 1,000-2,000 people. Read more
• 1945 — A hurricane strikes southern Florida and the Bahamas, destroying 366 airplanes and 25 blimps at Naval Air Station Richmond. Read more
• 1944 — Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet in Quebec as part of the Octagon Conference to discuss strategy. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The Battle of Peleliu begins as the United States Marine Corps' 1st Marine Division and the United States Army's 81st Infantry Division hit White and Orange beaches under heavy fire from Japanese infantry and artillery. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Wasp is sunk by Japanese torpedoes at Guadalcanal. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: The climax of the Battle of Britain, when the Luftwaffe launches its largest and most concentrated attack of the entire campaign. Read more
• 1935 — Nazi Germany adopts a new national flag bearing the swastika. Read more
• 1935 — Nazi Germany announces two new laws related to race and the rights of Jews. These became known as the Nuremberg Race Laws. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: Allied troops break through the Bulgarian defenses on the Macedonian front. Read more
• 1916 — World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme. Read more
• 1915 — New Culture Movement: Chen Duxiu establishes the New Youth magazine in Shanghai. Read more
• 1894 — First Sino-Japanese War: Japan defeats the Qing dynasty in the Battle of Pyongyang, causing the Qing army to withdraw to the Chinese border with Korea. Read more
• 1873 — Franco-Prussian War: The last Imperial German Army troops leave France upon completion of payment of indemnity. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: Confederate forces capture Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Read more
• 1835 — HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reaches the Galápagos Islands. The ship lands at Chatham or San Cristobal, the easternmost of the archipelago. Read more
• 1830 — The Liverpool to Manchester railway line opens; British MP William Huskisson becomes the first widely reported railway passenger fatality when he is struck and killed by the locomotive Rocket. Read more
• 1821 — The Captaincy General of Guatemala declares independence from Spain. Read more
• 1820 — Constitutionalist revolution in Lisbon, Portugal. Read more
• 1816 — HMS Whiting runs aground on the Doom Bar. Read more
• 1813 — Followers of the Eight Trigram Sect loyal to Lin Qing attack the Forbidden City in a failed attempt to oust the Jiaqing Emperor of the Qing dynasty. Read more
• 1812 — The Grande Armée under Napoleon reaches the Kremlin in Moscow during the failed French invasion of Russia. Read more
• 1812 — War of 1812: A second supply train sent to relieve Fort Harrison is ambushed in the Attack at the Narrows. Read more
• 1795 — Britain seizes the Dutch Cape Colony in southern Africa to prevent its use by the Batavian Republic. Read more
• 1794 — French Revolutionary Wars: Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) sees his first combat at the Battle of Boxtel during the Flanders Campaign. Read more
• 1789 — The United States "Department of Foreign Affairs", established by law in July, is renamed the Department of State and given a variety of domestic duties. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: British forces successfully land at Kip's Bay, forcing the Continental Army, which was already withdrawing from New York City, to cede control of the lower half of Manhattan Island. Read more
• 1762 — Seven Years' War: Battle of Signal Hill. Read more
• 1556 — Departing from Vlissingen, ex-Holy Roman Emperor Charles V returns to Spain. Read more
• 1530 — Appearance of the miraculous portrait of Saint Dominic in Soriano in Soriano Calabro, Calabria, Italy; commemorated as a feast day by the Roman Catholic Church 1644–1912. Read more
• 1440 — Gilles de Rais, one of the earliest known serial killers, is taken into custody upon an accusation brought against him by Jean de Malestroit, Bishop of Nantes. Read more
• 994 — Major Fatimid victory over the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of the Orontes. Read more
• 608 — Consecration of pope Boniface IV following his approval by the Byzantine emperor. Read more
• 533 — The Byzantine army under Belisarius enters Carthage following their victory over the Vandals at Ad Decimum. Read more

Born on September 15

• 2005 — Annaliese Dragan, Romanian-American rhythmic gymnast Read more
• 2000 — Felix, Australian singer based in South Korea, member of Stray Kids Read more
• 1999 — Jaren Jackson Jr., American basketball player Read more
• 1997 — Quin Houff, American racing driver Read more
• 1995 — Rafael Santos Borré, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1995 — Terry McLaurin, American football player Read more
• 1995 — Joe Ofahengaue, New Zealand-Tongan rugby league player Read more
• 1995 — David Raya, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1993 — Josh Richardson, American basketball player Read more
• 1993 — Dennis Schröder, German basketball player Read more
• 1991 — Lee Jung-shin, South Korean musician and actor Read more
• 1991 — Phil Ofosu-Ayeh, German-Ghanaian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Aaron Mooy, Australian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Matt Shively, American actor Read more
• 1990 — Megan Stalter, American actress and comedian Read more
• 1988 — Chelsea Kane, American actress and singer Read more
• 1988 — Tim Moltzen, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1987 — Vaila Barsley, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1986 — Jenna Marbles, American YouTuber and comedian Read more
• 1986 — Heidi Montag, American reality television personality and singer Read more
• 1984 — Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Read more
• 1984 — Marshal Yanda, American football player Read more
• 1983 — Yuka Hirata, Japanese actress and model Read more
• 1981 — Ben Schwartz, American actor, comedian and writer Read more
• 1980 — David Diehl, American football player and sportscaster Read more
• 1980 — Mike Dunleavy Jr., American basketball player Read more
• 1979 — Dave Annable, American actor Read more
• 1979 — Amy Davidson, American actress Read more
• 1979 — Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1979 — Carlos Ruiz, Guatemalan footballer Read more
• 1979 — Reece Young, New Zealand cricketer Read more
• 1978 — Zach Filkins, American guitarist Read more
• 1978 — Eiður Guðjohnsen, Icelandic footballer Read more
• 1977 — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian author Read more
• 1977 — Angela Aki, Japanese singer-songwriter Read more
• 1977 — Sophie Dahl, English model and author Read more
• 1977 — Tom Hardy, English actor, producer, and screenwriter Read more
• 1977 — Marisa Ramirez, American actress Read more
• 1977 — Jason Terry, American basketball player Read more
• 1976 — Brett Kimmorley, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Read more

Died on September 15

• 2026 — Jodie Allen, American journalist, author, and editor (born 1938) Read more
• 2026 — Annie Dillard, American novelist, essayist, and poet (born 1945) Read more
• 2026 — Gerrit Graham, American stage, television and film actor (born 1948) Read more
• 2026 — Bonnie Greer, American-English playwright and critic (born 1948) Read more
• 2026 — Dakila Cua, Filipino politician (born 1977) Read more
• 2024 — Tito Jackson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1953) Read more
• 2024 — Elias Khoury, Lebanese intellectual, playwright and novelist (born 1948) Read more
• 2023 — Fernando Botero, Colombian painter and sculptor (born 1932) Read more
• 2021 — Lou Angotti, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1938) Read more
• 2019 — Ric Ocasek, American musician (born 1944) Read more
• 2018 — Helen Clare, British singer (born 1916) Read more
• 2017 — Harry Dean Stanton, American actor (born 1926) Read more
• 2015 — Harry J. Lipkin, Israeli physicist and academic (born 1921) Read more
• 2015 — Meir Pa'il, Israeli commander, historian, and politician (born 1926) Read more
• 2015 — Bernard Van de Kerckhove, Belgian cyclist (born 1941) Read more
• 2014 — John Anderson Jr., American lawyer and politician, 36th Governor of Kansas (born 1917) Read more
• 2014 — Eugene I. Gordon, American physicist and engineer (born 1930) Read more
• 2014 — Nicholas Romanov, Prince of Russia (born 1922) Read more
• 2014 — Jürg Schubiger, Swiss psychotherapist and author (born 1936) Read more
• 2014 — Wayne Tefs, Canadian anthologist, author, and critic (born 1947) Read more
• 2013 — Habib Munzir Al-Musawa, Indonesian cleric and scholar (born 1973) Read more
• 2013 — Jerry G. Bishop, American radio and television host (born 1936) Read more
• 2013 — Gerard Cafesjian, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — Jackie Lomax, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1944) Read more
• 2012 — Tibor Antalpéter, Hungarian volleyball player and diplomat, Ambassador of Hungary to the United Kingdom (born 1930) Read more
• 2012 — Nevin Spence, Northern Irish rugby player (born 1990) Read more
• 2012 — Hajra Masroor, Pakistani writer (born 1930) Read more
• 2011 — Frances Bay, Canadian-American actress (born 1919) Read more
• 2010 — Arrow, Caribbean singer-songwriter (born 1949) Read more
• 2009 — Troy Kennedy Martin, Scottish-English screenwriter (born 1932) Read more
• 2008 — Richard Wright, English singer-songwriter and keyboard player (born 1943) Read more
• 2007 — Colin McRae, Scottish race car driver (born 1968) Read more
• 2007 — Jeremy Moore, English general (born 1928) Read more
• 2007 — Aldemaro Romero, Venezuelan pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1928) Read more
• 2007 — Brett Somers, Canadian-American actress and singer (born 1924) Read more
• 2006 — Raymond Baxter, English television host and author (born 1922) Read more
• 2006 — Oriana Fallaci, Italian journalist and author (born 1929) Read more
• 2006 — Pablo Santos, Mexican-American actor (born 1987) Read more
• 2005 — Guy Green, English director and cinematographer (born 1913) Read more
• 2005 — Sidney Luft, American manager and producer (born 1915) Read more

Holidays & observances

Battle of Britain Day (United Kingdom); Christian feast day: Joseph Abibos; Christian feast day: Alpinus (Albinus) of Lyon; Christian feast day: Aprus (Èvre) of Toul; Christian feast day: Blessed Camillus Costanzo; Christian feast day: Catherine of Genoa; Christian feast day: James Chisholm (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day: Saint Dominic in Soriano (formerly); Christian feast day: Mamilian of Palermo; Christian feast day: Mirin; Christian feast day: Nicetas the Goth; Christian feast day: Nicomedes; Christian feast day: Our Lady of Sorrows; Christian feast day: September 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Cry of Dolores, celebrated on the eve of Independence Day (Mexico).; International Day of Democracy; The beginning of German American Heritage Month, celebrated until October 15; The beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated until October 15 (United States); World Lymphoma Awareness Day (International)

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