On This Day — September 15

Famous events, births, and deaths from September 15 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

Pick a month

Pick a day in September

53 events · 245 births · 101 deaths recorded for September 15.

🕰️ Notable Events on September 15

2017 — The Parsons Green Bombing took place in London, United Kingdom Wikipedia ↗
2008 — Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. Wikipedia ↗
2004 — National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces lockout of the players' union and cessation of operations by the NHL head office. Wikipedia ↗
2001 — President George W. Bush gives his first post September 11th weekly address. Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Israeli premier Menachem Begin resigns. Wikipedia ↗
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 Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Muhammad Ali outpointed Leon Spinks in a rematch to become the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times at the Superdome in New Orleans. Wikipedia ↗
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) Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Air Vietnam Flight 706 is hijacked, then crashes while attempting to land with 75 on board. Wikipedia ↗
1972 — A Scandinavian Airlines System domestic flight from Gothenburg to Stockholm is hijacked and flown to Malmö Bulltofta Airport. Wikipedia ↗
1971 — The first Greenpeace ship sets sail to protest against nuclear testing on Amchitka Island. Wikipedia ↗
1968 — The Soviet Zond 5 spaceship is launched, becoming the first spacecraft to fly around the Moon and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. Wikipedia ↗
1967 — 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. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — 16th Street Baptist Church bombing: Four children killed in the bombing of an African-American church in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Wikipedia ↗
1962 — The Soviet ship Poltava heads toward Cuba, one of the events that sets into motion the Cuban Missile Crisis. Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Nikita Khrushchev becomes the first Soviet leader to visit the United States. Wikipedia ↗
1958 — A Central Railroad of New Jersey commuter train runs through an open drawbridge at the Newark Bay, killing 48. Wikipedia ↗
1952 — The United Nations cedes Eritrea to Ethiopia. Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Korean War: United States forces land at Inchon Wikipedia ↗
1948 — The F-86 Sabre sets the world aircraft speed record at 671 miles per hour (1,080 km/h). Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Typhoon Kathleen hit the Kanto Region in Japan killing 1,077. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — A hurricane strikes southern Florida and the Bahamas, destroying 366 airplanes and 25 blimps at Naval Air Station Richmond. Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet in Quebec as part of the Octagon Conference to discuss strategy. Wikipedia ↗
1944 — 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. Wikipedia ↗
1942 — World War II: U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Wasp is sunk by Japanese torpedoes at Guadalcanal. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: The climax of the Battle of Britain, when the Royal Air Force shoots down large numbers of Luftwaffe aircraft. Wikipedia ↗
1935 — The Nuremberg Laws deprive German Jews of citizenship. Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Nazi Germany adopts a new national flag bearing the swastika. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — World War I: Allied troops break through the Bulgarian defenses on the Macedonian Front. Wikipedia ↗
1916 — World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme. Wikipedia ↗
1915 — The Empire Picture Theatre (now The New Empire Cinema), the oldest running cinema in mainland Australia, opens in Bowral, New South Wales. Wikipedia ↗
1894 — First Sino-Japanese War: Japan defeats Qing dynasty China in the Battle of Pyongyang. Wikipedia ↗
1873 — Franco-Prussian War: The last German troops leave France upon completion of payment of indemnity. Wikipedia ↗
1862 — American Civil War: Confederate forces capture Harpers Ferry, Virginia (present-day Harpers Ferry, West Virginia) Wikipedia ↗
1851 — Saint Joseph's University is founded in Philadelphia. Wikipedia ↗
1835 — HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reaches the Galápagos Islands. The ship lands at Chatham or San Cristobal, the easternmost of the archipelago. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1821 — Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica got independence from Spain after being destroyed by Napoleon. Wikipedia ↗
1820 — Constitutionalist revolution in Lisbon, Portugal. Wikipedia ↗
1816 — HMS Whiting runs aground on the Doom Bar Wikipedia ↗
1812 — The French army under Napoleon reaches the Kremlin in Moscow. Wikipedia ↗
1812 — War of 1812: A second supply train sent to relieve Fort Harrison is ambushed in the Attack at the Narrows. Wikipedia ↗
1795 — Britain seizes the Dutch Cape Colony in southern Africa to prevent its use by the Batavian Republic. Wikipedia ↗
1794 — French Revolutionary Wars: Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) sees his first combat at the Battle of Boxtel during the Flanders Campaign. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1776 — American Revolutionary War: British forces land at Kip's Bay during the New York Campaign. Wikipedia ↗
1762 — Seven Years' War: Battle of Signal Hill. Wikipedia ↗
1616 — The first non-aristocratic, free public school in Europe is opened in Frascati, Italy. Wikipedia ↗
1556 — Departing from Vlissingen, ex-Holy Roman Emperor Charles V returns to Spain. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
994 — Major Fatimid victory over the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of the Orontes. Wikipedia ↗
668 — Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse, Italy. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on September 15

1999 — Nana Owada, Japanese idol, singer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
1996 — Nao Furuhata, Japanese idol and singer Wikipedia ↗
1995 — Joe Ofahengaue, New Zealand-Tongan rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Lee Jung-shin, South Korean rapper and bass player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Phil Ofosu-Ayeh, German-Ghanaian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Oliver Gill, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Aaron Mooy, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Michael Cooper, English rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Clare Maguire, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Tim Moltzen, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Aly Cissokho, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Rhett Titus, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Jenna Marbles, American YouTuber and comedian Wikipedia ↗
1986 — George Watsky, American hip-hop artist, poet and author Wikipedia ↗
1985 — François-Olivier Roberge, Canadian speed skater Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Prince Harry of Wales Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Loek van Mil, Dutch baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Cyhi the Prynce, American rapper and producer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Yuka Hirata, Japanese actress and model Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Luke Hochevar, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — David Diehl, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Mike Dunleavy Jr., American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Dave Annable, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Patrick Marleau, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Carlos Ruiz, Guatemalan footballer Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Reece Young, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Zach Filkins, American guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Eiður Guðjohnsen, Icelandic footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Genki Horiguchi, Japanese wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian novelist, essayist, and short story writer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Angela Aki, Japanese singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Sophie Dahl, English model and author Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Tom Hardy, English actor Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Leander Jordan, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Jason Terry, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Brett Kimmorley, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Paul Thomson, Scottish drummer Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Matt Thornton, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Tom Dolan, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Martina Krupičková, Czech painter Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Arata Iura, Japanese actor, model, and fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland, Swedish prince Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Jimmy Carr, English comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Queen Letizia of Spain Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Lady Victoria, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Nathan Astle, New Zealand cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Josh Charles, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Wayne Ferreira, South African tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Ben Wallers, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Revaz Arveladze, Georgian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Corby Davidson, American radio personality Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Allen Shellenberger, American drummer (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Paul Abbott, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Rodney Eyles, Australian squash player Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Sherman Douglas, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Robert Fico, Slovak academic and politician, 14th Prime Minister of Slovakia Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Steve Watkin, Welsh cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, American guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Pete Myers, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Stephen C. Spiteri, Maltese military historian Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Amanda Wakeley, English fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Terry Lamb, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Helen Margetts, British political scientist Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Dan Marino, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Patrick Patterson, Jamaican cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Ed Solomon, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Mark Kirk, American commander, lawyer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Joel Quenneville, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Wendie Jo Sperber, American actress (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Ross J. Anderson, British academic and educator Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Maggie Reilly, Scottish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Ned Rothenberg, American saxophonist, clarinet player, and composer Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Renzo Rosso, Italian fashion designer and businessman, co-founded Diesel Clothing Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Željka Antunović, Croatian politician, 9th Croatian Minister of Defence Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Abdul Qadir, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Bruce Reitherman, American voice actor, singer, cinematographer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Adrian Adonis, American wrestler (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Hrant Dink, Turkish journalist (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Keiko Takeshita, Japanese actress Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Richard Brodeur, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Paula Duncan, Australian actress Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Ratnajeevan Hoole, Sri Lankan engineer and academic Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Kelly Keagy, American singer and drummer Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Pete Carroll, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Johan Neeskens, Dutch footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Pakistani-English caliph and scholar Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Joe Barton, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Viggo Jensen, Danish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Diane E. Levin, American educator and author Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Theodore Long, American wrestling referee and manager Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Tommy Lee Jones, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Mike Procter, South African cricketer, coach, and referee Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Oliver Stone, American director, screenwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Howard Waldrop, American author and critic Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Carmen Maura, Spanish actress Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Jessye Norman, American soprano Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Hans-Gert Pöttering, German lawyer and politician, 23rd President of the European Parliament Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Ron Shelton, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Mauro Piacenza, Italian cardinal Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Graham Taylor, English footballer and manager (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Lee Dorman, American bass player (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Philip Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham, English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Ksenia Milicevic, French painter and architect Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Flórián Albert, Hungarian footballer and manager (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Signe Toly Anderson, American rock singer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Mirosław Hermaszewski, Polish general, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Yuriy Norshteyn, Russian animator, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Viktor Zubkov, Russian businessman and politician, 37th Prime Minister of Russia Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Merlin Olsen, American football player, sportscaster, and actor (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Subramanian Swamy, Indian economist, academic, and politician, Indian Minister of Law and Justice Wikipedia ↗
1939 — George Walden, English journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Gaylord Perry, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Joey Carew, Trinidadian cricketer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Fernando de la Rúa, Argentinian lawyer and politician, 51st President of Argentina Wikipedia ↗
1937 — King Curtis Iaukea, American wrestler (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Robert Lucas Jr., American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Pino Puglisi, Italian priest and martyr (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Ashley Cooper, Australian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Sara Henderson, Australian farmer and author (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Dinkha IV, Iraqi patriarch (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Tomie dePaola, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Fred Nile, Australian soldier, minister, and politician Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Spanish conductor and composer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Neil Bartlett, English-American chemist and academic (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Brian Henderson, New Zealand-Australian journalist, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Endel Lippmaa, Estonian physicist and academic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Eva Burrows, Australian 13th General of The Salvation Army (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Murray Gell-Mann, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Stan Kelly-Bootle, English singer-songwriter, computer scientist, and author (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Dick Latessa, American actor (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — John Julius Norwich, English historian and author Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Wilbur Snyder, American football player and wrestler (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Mümtaz Soysal, Turkish academic and politician, 30th Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Cannonball Adderley, American saxophonist and bandleader (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Rudolf Anderson, pilot and commissioned officer in the United States Air Force (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Norm Crosby, American comedian and actor Wikipedia ↗
1927 — David Stove, Australian philosopher and academic (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Shohei Imamura, Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Jean-Pierre Serre, French mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Stanley Chapman, English architect and author (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Erika Köth, German soprano (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Carlo Rambaldi, Italian special effects artist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Helle Virkner, Danish actress and singer (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Lucebert, Dutch poet and painter (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — György Lázár, Hungarian politician, 50th Prime Minister of Hungary (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Bobby Short, American singer and pianist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Mordechai Tzipori, Israeli politician and soldier (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗