On This Day in History — September 3

Highlights of September 3

• 2017 — North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test at Punggye-ri, causing a magnitude-6.3 earthquake. Read more
• 2017 — North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test at Punggye-ri, causing a magnitude-6.3 earthquake. Read more
• 2001 — The Troubles: Ulster loyalists resumed a picket outside a Catholic girls' primary school in the Protestant portion of Ardoyne, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Read more
• 1991 — A fire killed 25 people locked inside a burning chicken processing plant in Hamlet, North Carolina, U.S. Read more
• 1987 — While he was abroad, Burundian president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza was deposed in a military coup d'état by Pierre Buyoya. Read more
• 1942 — The Holocaust: In possibly the first Jewish ghetto uprising, residents of the Łachwa Ghetto in occupied Poland, informed of the upcoming "liquidation" of the ghetto, unsuccessfully fought against their Nazi captors. Read more
• 1941 — The mass expulsion of Soviet Germans from the Volga German ASSR began. Read more
• 1936 — The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America was founded in Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada. Read more
• 1935 — On the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, British racing motorist Malcolm Campbell (pictured) became the first person to drive an automobile over 300 mph (480 km/h). Read more
• 1901 — At the Royal Exhibition Building (pictured) in Melbourne, the flag of Australia flew for the first time. Read more
• 1878 — The passenger steamship SS Princess Alice sank in the River Thames after colliding (pictured) with the collier Bywell Castle, killing more than 600 people. Read more
• 1651 — English Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell (pictured) won the Battle of Worcester, the final battle of the English Civil War.* 1777 – American Revolutionary War: The British Army and their Hessian allies defeated an American militia at the Battle of Cooch's Bridge. Read more
• 1650 — Under Oliver Cromwell, the English New Model Army ambushed a poorly prepared Scottish force at the Battle of Dunbar, the first battle of the Third English Civil War. Read more
• 1411 — The Treaty of Selymbria was concluded between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman prince Musa Çelebi. Read more
• 863 — Arab–Byzantine wars: The Byzantine Empire decisively defeated the Emirate of Melitene at the Battle of Lalakaon, beginning the era of Byzantine ascendancy. Read more
• 36 BC — The Sicilian revolt against the Second Triumvirate of the Roman Republic ended when the fleet of Sextus Pompey, the rebel leader, was defeated at the Battle of Naulochus. Read more

Events

• 2017 — North Korea conducts its sixth and most powerful nuclear test. Read more
• 2016 — The U.S. and China, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both formally ratify the Paris global climate agreement. Read more
• 2010 — After taking off from Dubai International Airport, UPS Airlines Flight 6 develops an in-flight fire in the cargo hold and crashes near Nad Al Sheba, killing both crew members on board. Read more
• 2004 — Beslan school siege ends, resulting in over 330 fatalities, including 186 children. Read more
• 2001 — In Belfast, Protestant loyalists begin a picket of Holy Cross, a Catholic primary school for girls. Read more
• 1997 — Vietnam Airlines Flight 815 (Tupolev Tu-134) crashes on approach into Phnom Penh airport, killing 64. Read more
• 1989 — Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046 crashes into a residential area of Havana shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport, killing 150. Read more
• 1989 — Varig Flight 254 crashes in the Amazon rainforest near São José do Xingu in Brazil, killing 12. Read more
• 1987 — In a coup d'état in Burundi, President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza is deposed by Major Pierre Buyoya. Read more
• 1981 — The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, an international bill of rights for women, is instituted by the United Nations. Read more
• 1978 — During the Rhodesian Bush War a group of ZIPRA guerrillas shot down civilian Vickers Viscount aircraft (Air Rhodesia Flight 825) with a Soviet-made SAM Strela-2; of 56 passengers and crew 38 people died in crash, 10 were massacred by the guerrillas at the site. Read more
• 1976 — Viking program: The American Viking 2 spacecraft lands at Utopia Planitia on Mars. Read more
• 1971 — Qatar becomes an independent state. Read more
• 1967 — Dagen H in Sweden: Traffic changes from driving on the left to driving on the right overnight. Read more
• 1954 — The People's Liberation Army begins shelling the Republic of China-controlled islands of Quemoy, starting the First Taiwan Strait Crisis. Read more
• 1950 — "Nino" Farina becomes the first Formula One Drivers' champion after winning the 1950 Italian Grand Prix. Read more
• 1945 — A three-day celebration begins in China, following the Victory over Japan Day on September 2. Read more
• 1944 — Holocaust: Diarist Anne Frank and her family are placed on the last transport train from the Westerbork transit camp to the Auschwitz concentration camp, arriving three days later. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: British and Canadian troops land on the Italian mainland. On the same day, Walter Bedell Smith and Giuseppe Castellano sign the Armistice of Cassibile, although it is not announced for another five days. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: In response to news of its coming liquidation, Dov Lopatyn leads an uprising in the Ghetto of Lakhva (present-day Belarus). Read more
• 1941 — The Holocaust: Karl Fritzsch, deputy camp commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, experiments with the use of Zyklon B in the gassing of Soviet POWs. Read more
• 1939 — World War II: France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia declare war on Germany after the invasion of Poland, forming the Allied nations. The Viceroy of India also declares war, but without consulting the provincial legislatures. Read more
• 1939 — World War II: The United Kingdom and France begin a naval blockade of Germany that lasts until the end of the war. This also marks the beginning of the Battle of the Atlantic. Read more
• 1935 — Sir Malcolm Campbell reaches a speed of 304.331 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, becoming the first person to drive an automobile over 300 mph. Read more
• 1933 — Yevgeniy Abalakov is the first man to reach the highest point in the Soviet Union, Communism Peak (now called Ismoil Somoni Peak and situated in Tajikistan) (7495 m). Read more
• 1925 — USS Shenandoah, the United States' first American-built rigid airship, is destroyed in a squall line over Noble County, Ohio. Fourteen of her 42-man crew perished, including her commander, Zachary Lansdowne. Read more
• 1916 — World War I: Leefe Robinson destroys the German airship Schütte-Lanz SL 11 over Cuffley, north of London; this is the first German airship to be shot down on British soil. Read more
• 1914 — Wilhelm, Prince of Albania leaves the country after just six months due to opposition to his rule. Read more
• 1914 — French composer Albéric Magnard is killed defending his estate against invading German soldiers. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: Start of the Battle of Grand Couronné, a German assault against French positions on high ground near the city of Nancy. Read more
• 1911 — A fire that started on Fraser's Million Dollar Pier destroys six to eight square blocks of Ocean Park, California. Read more
• 1895 — John Brallier becomes the first openly paid professional American football player, when he was paid US$10 by David Berry, to play for the Latrobe Athletic Association in a 12–0 win over the Jeanette Athletic Association. Read more
• 1879 — Siege of the British Residency in Kabul: British envoy Sir Louis Cavagnari and 72 men of the Guides are massacred by Afghan troops while defending the British Residency in Kabul. Their heroism and loyalty became famous and revered throughout the British Empire. Read more
• 1878 — Over 640 die when the crowded pleasure boat Princess Alice collides with the Bywell Castle in the River Thames. Read more
• 1870 — Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Metz begins, resulting in a decisive Prussian victory on October 23. Read more
• 1861 — American Civil War: Confederate General Leonidas Polk invades neutral Kentucky, prompting the state legislature to ask for Union assistance. Read more
• 1855 — American Indian Wars: In Nebraska, 700 soldiers under United States General William S. Harney avenge the Grattan massacre by attacking a Sioux village and killing 100 men, women and children. Read more
• 1843 — King Otto of Greece is forced to grant a constitution following an uprising in Athens. Read more
• 1838 — Future abolitionist Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery. Read more
• 1812 — Twenty-four settlers are killed in the Pigeon Roost Massacre in Indiana. Read more
• 1798 — The week long battle of St. George's Caye begins between Spain and Britain off the coast of Belize. Read more
• 1783 — American Revolutionary War: The war ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain. Read more
• 1777 — American Revolutionary War: During the Battle of Cooch's Bridge, the Flag of the United States is flown in battle for the first time. Read more
• 1666 — The Royal Exchange burns down in the Great Fire of London. Read more
• 1658 — The death of Oliver Cromwell; Richard Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of England. Read more
• 1651 — The Battle of Worcester is the last significant action in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Read more
• 1650 — Victory over the royalists in the Battle of Dunbar opens the way to Edinburgh for the New Model Army during the English invasion of Scotland. Read more
• 1411 — The Treaty of Selymbria is concluded between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice. Read more
• 1335 — At the congress of Visegrád Charles I of Hungary mediates a reconciliation between two neighboring monarchs, John of Bohemia and Casimir III of Poland. Read more
• 1260 — The Mamluks defeat the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in Palestine, marking their first decisive defeat and the point of maximum expansion of the Mongol Empire. Read more
• 1189 — Richard I of England (a.k.a. Richard "the Lionheart") is crowned at Westminster. Read more
• 863 — Major Byzantine victory under general Petronas at the Battle of Lalakaon against an Arab raid under emir Umar al-Aqta, who is killed in battle. Read more
• 673 — King Wamba of the Visigoths puts down a revolt by Hilderic, governor of Nîmes (France) and rival for the throne. Read more
• 590 — Consecration of Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great). Read more
• 301 — San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world's oldest republic still in existence, is founded by Saint Marinus. Read more
• 36 BC — In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompey, son of Pompey, thus ending Pompeian resistance to the Second Triumvirate. Read more

Born on September 3

• 2010 — Tanitoluwa Adewumi, Nigerian-American chess player Read more
• 2003 — Jack Dylan Grazer, American actor Read more
• 2001 — Kaia Gerber, American model and actress Read more
• 2000 — Brandon Williams, English footballer Read more
• 1999 — Rich Brian, Indonesian rapper and singer Read more
• 1998 — Oskar Seuntjens, Belgian politician Read more
• 1997 — Reniece Boyce, West Indian cricketer Read more
• 1997 — Carter Kieboom, American baseball player Read more
• 1997 — Salome Pazhava, Georgian rhythmic gymnast Read more
• 1997 — Devin Singletary, American football player Read more
• 1997 — Bernard Tekpetey, Ghanaian footballer Read more
• 1996 — Joy, South Korean idol and actress Read more
• 1996 — Abrahm DeVine, American swimmer Read more
• 1996 — William Eskelinen, Swedish footballer Read more
• 1996 — Nanda Kyaw, Burmese footballer Read more
• 1996 — Florian Maitre, French cyclist Read more
• 1996 — Callum Moore, Australian footballer Read more
• 1996 — Neilson Powless, American cyclist Read more
• 1996 — Yoane Wissa, French-Congolese footballer Read more
• 1995 — Myles Jack, American football player Read more
• 1995 — Niklas Süle, German footballer Read more
• 1994 — Francis Molo, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1994 — Glen Rea, English-Irish footballer Read more
• 1993 — Lee So-jung, South Korean singer Read more
• 1993 — Dominic Thiem, Austrian tennis player Read more
• 1993 — Lee Seong-jong, South Korean singer Read more
• 1992 — August Alsina, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1992 — Sakshi Malik, Indian wrestler Read more
• 1990 — Mohammad Shami, Indian cricketer Read more
• 1988 — Jérôme Boateng, Ghanaian-German footballer Read more
• 1988 — Hana Makhmalbaf, Iranian director and producer Read more
• 1987 — Allie, Canadian wrestler Read more
• 1987 — Modibo Maïga, Malian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Dawid Malan, English cricketer Read more
• 1987 — James Neal, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1986 — Shaun White, American snowboarder, skateboarder, and guitarist Read more
• 1986 — OMI, Jamaican singer Read more
• 1986 — Capitão Telhada, Brazilian politician Read more
• 1985 — Scott Carson, English footballer Read more
• 1985 — Kelvin Wilson, English footballer Read more

Died on September 3

• 2026 — Ritu Khullar, Canadian jurist (born 1964) Read more
• 2024 — Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun, Scottish peer (born 1930) Read more
• 2024 — Wayne Graham, American baseball player and coach (born 1936) Read more
• 2024 — Charley Johnson, American football player (born 1938) Read more
• 2017 — Walter Becker, American musician, songwriter, and record producer (born 1950) Read more
• 2017 — John Ashbery, American poet (born 1927) Read more
• 2015 — Adrian Cadbury, English rower and businessman (born 1929) Read more
• 2015 — Judy Carne, English actress and comedian (born 1939) Read more
• 2015 — Carter Lay, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1971) Read more
• 2015 — Zhang Zhen, Chinese general and politician (born 1914) Read more
• 2015 — Chandra Bahadur Dangi, world record holder for shortest man (born 1939) Read more
• 2014 — Aarno Raninen, Finnish singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1944) Read more
• 2014 — A. P. Venkateswaran, Indian soldier and politician, 14th Foreign Secretary of India (born 1930) Read more
• 2013 — Ralph M. Holman, American lawyer and judge (born 1914) Read more
• 2013 — Pedro Ferriz Santacruz, Mexican-American journalist (born 1921) Read more
• 2013 — José Ramón Larraz, Spanish director and screenwriter (born 1929) Read more
• 2013 — Janet Lembke, American author and scholar (born 1933) Read more
• 2013 — Don Meineke, American basketball player (born 1930) Read more
• 2013 — Lewis Morley, Hong Kong-Australian photographer (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Griselda Blanco, Colombian drug lord (born 1943) Read more
• 2012 — Harold Dunaway, American race car driver and pilot (born 1933) Read more
• 2012 — Michael Clarke Duncan, American actor (born 1957) Read more
• 2012 — Siegfried Jamrowski, Russian-German soldier and pilot (born 1917) Read more
• 2012 — Sun Myung Moon, Korean religious leader and businessman, founded the Unification Church (born 1920) Read more
• 2012 — Charlie Rose, American lawyer and politician (born 1939) Read more
• 2010 — Noah Howard, American saxophonist (born 1943) Read more
• 2010 — Robert Schimmel, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1950) Read more
• 2008 — Donald Blakeslee, American colonel and pilot (born 1917) Read more
• 2007 — Carter Albrecht, American keyboard player and guitarist (born 1973) Read more
• 2007 — Syd Jackson, New Zealand trade union leader and activist (born 1939) Read more
• 2007 — Jane Tomlinson, English runner (born 1964) Read more
• 2007 — Steve Fossett, American aviator (born 1944) Read more
• 2005 — R. S. R. Fitter, English biologist and author (born 1913) Read more
• 2005 — William Rehnquist, American lawyer and jurist, 16th Chief Justice of the United States (born 1924) Read more
• 2003 — Alan Dugan, American soldier and poet (born 1923) Read more
• 2003 — Rudolf Leiding, German businessman (born 1914) Read more
• 2002 — Kenneth Hare, Canadian climatologist and academic (born 1919) Read more
• 2002 — W. Clement Stone, American businessman, philanthropist, and author (born 1902) Read more
• 2001 — Pauline Kael, American film critic and author (born 1919) Read more
• 2000 — Edward Anhalt, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1914) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Blessed Bartholomew Gutierrez; Christian feast day: Blessed Brigida Morello Zancano; Christian feast day: Mansuetus of Toul; Christian feast day: Marinus; Christian feast day: Phoebe; Christian feast day: Pope Gregory I; Christian feast day: Remaclus; Christian feast day: Prudence Crandall (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day: September 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); China's victory over Japan commemoration related observances: Armed Forces Day (Republic of China); China's victory over Japan commemoration related observances: V-J Day (People's Republic of China); Feast of San Marino and the Republic, celebrates the foundation of the Republic of San Marino in 301.; Flag Day (Australia); Independence Day, celebrates the second independence of Qatar from the United Kingdom in 1971.; Levy Mwanawasa Day (Zambia); Merchant Navy Remembrance Day (Canada); Merchant Navy Day (United Kingdom); National Welsh Rarebit Day (United States); Tokehega Day (Tokelau, New Zealand)

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