On This Day: 1 September

1 September in world history

• 2008Iraq War: The United States Armed Forces transfers control of Anbar Province to the Iraqi Armed Forces.
• 2000Speakers' Corner, a free speech area in Hong Lim Park in Singapore, was launched.
• 1985The wreck of the Titanic is discovered by an American-French expedition led by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel.
• 1983Cold War: Korean Air Lines Flight 007 is shot down by a Soviet jet fighter after the commercial aircraft strayed into Soviet airspace, killing all 269 on board, including Congressman Lawrence McDonald.
• 1981Central African President David Dacko is ousted from power in a bloodless military coup led by General André Kolingba.
• 1972In a match widely publicized as a Cold War confrontation, American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer became the 11th World Chess Champion with his victory over Soviet Boris Spassky.
• 1969Muammar Gaddafi led a coup d'état to overthrow King Idris of Libya.
• 1939German forces attacked multiple locations in Poland, including Wieluń and Westerplatte, starting World War II in Europe.
• 1902The first science fiction film, titled A Trip to the Moon and based on From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne, was released in France.
• 1880The army of Mohammad Ayub Khan is routed by the British at the Battle of Kandahar, ending the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
• 1872A small British force commanded by a surgeon fought off a surprise attack by the Maya on Orange Walk Town, British Honduras.
• 1864American Civil War: The Battle of Jonesborough, alongside the overall Atlanta campaign, culminates in a Union victory for General William T. Sherman as Confederate General John Bell Hood orders the evacuation of Atlanta.
• 1862American Civil War: Confederate forces attacked retreating troops (map shown) of the Union army during a rainstorm in Chantilly, Virginia, but the battle ended inconclusively.
• 1859A powerful solar flare caused a coronal mass ejection that struck Earth a few hours later, generating the most intense geomagnetic storm ever recorded and causing bright aurorae visible in the middle latitudes.
• 1774Massachusetts Bay colonists rise up in the bloodless Powder Alarm.
• 1645English Civil War: Scottish Covenanter forces abandon their month-long Siege of Hereford, a Cavalier stronghold, on news of Royalist victories in Scotland.
• 1644Battle of Tippermuir: James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose defeats the Earl of Wemyss's Covenanters, reviving the Royalist cause.
• 1449Tumu Crisis: The Mongols capture the Emperor of China.

Born on 1 September

• 1947P. A. Sangma, Indian lawyer and politician, 11th Speaker of the Lok Sabha (died 2016)India
• 1931Abdul Haq Ansari, Indian theologian and scholar (died 2012)India
• 1907Walter Reuther, American labor union leader and president of the United Auto Workers (died 1970)
• 1896A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Indian religious leader, founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (died 1977)India
• 1868Henri Bourassa, Canadian publisher and politician (died 1952)
• 1855Innokenty Annensky, Russian poet and critic (died 1909)

Died on 1 September

• 2023Jimmy Buffett, American singer-songwriter, musician, author and businessman (born 1946)
• 2022Yang Yongsong, Chinese major general (born 1919)
• 1967Siegfried Sassoon, English soldier and writer (born 1886)
• 1581Guru Ram Das, Sikh 4th of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism (born 1534)India

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 1 September in history?

2008: Iraq War: The United States Armed Forces transfers control of Anbar Province to the Iraqi Armed Forces. 2000: Speakers' Corner, a free speech area in Hong Lim Park in Singapore, was launched. 1985: The wreck of the Titanic is discovered by an American-French expedition led by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel. 1983: Cold War: Korean Air Lines Flight 007 is shot down by a Soviet jet fighter after the commercial aircraft strayed into Soviet airspace, killing all 269 on board, including Congressman Lawrence McDonald.

Which famous people were born on 1 September?

P. A. Sangma, Indian lawyer and politician, 11th Speaker of the Lok Sabha (died 2016) (1947); Abdul Haq Ansari, Indian theologian and scholar (died 2012) (1931); Walter Reuther, American labor union leader and president of the United Auto Workers (died 1970) (1907); A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Indian religious leader, founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (died 1977) (1896).

Which day is observed on 1 September?

Feast of Creation (Christianity); Knowledge Day (Former Soviet Union); Anniversary of Al Fateh Revolution (Gaddafists in Libya); Wattle Day (Australia).