On This Day in History – September 5

From groundbreaking peace accords to cultural milestones and major global incidents, September 5 has consistently marked pivotal moments in world affairs, science, and the arts.

Major Events

• 1666 – Great Fire of London Ends After destroying over 13,000 homes and major landmarks, the four-day Great Fire of London is finally extinguished.
• 1793 – Reign of Terror Begins in France The Jacobins seize control during the French Revolution, marking the start of the Reign of Terror and mass executions.
• 1836 – Sam Houston Elected First President of the Republic of Texas Following Texas’s declaration of independence from Mexico, Sam Houston becomes its first elected leader.
• 1905 – Russo-Japanese War Ends The Treaty of Portsmouth is signed in New Hampshire, ending the war and marking the rise of Japan as a global power.
• 1972 – Munich Massacre at the Olympics Palestinian militants take 11 Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Games. A failed rescue attempt results in all hostages’ deaths.
• 1980 – World’s First Digital Newsstand Launches CompuServe debuts its digital news service, allowing subscribers to access news electronically.
• 1997 – Mother Teresa Dies The Nobel Peace Prize-winning missionary and global humanitarian passes away in Calcutta, India.

Famous Birthdays

• Freddie Mercury (1946–1991) – Legendary frontman of Queen, known for his vocal range and theatrical performance style.
• Werner Herzog (1942) – German filmmaker and documentarian known for Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Grizzly Man.
• Jesse James (1847–1882) – American outlaw and folk hero of the Wild West era.
• Raquel Welch (1940–2023) – American actress and pop culture icon.
• Michael Keaton (1951) – American actor known for roles in Batman, Beetlejuice, and Birdman.
• Bob Newhart (1929) – American comedian and TV actor, known for The Bob Newhart Show.
• Lautaro Martínez (1997) – Argentine footballer who plays for Inter Milan and the national team.
• Rose McGowan (1973) – American actress and activist.

Notable Deaths

• Mother Teresa (1997) – Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic missionary and Nobel laureate, born in 1910.
• Crazy Horse (1877) – Lakota war leader, mortally wounded after surrendering to U.S. troops.
• Earl Warren (1974) – U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice known for landmark civil rights rulings, born in 1891.
• Arthur Koestler (1983) – Hungarian-British author and political thinker, born in 1905.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1915) – Indian political leader and reformer, born in 1866.
• Peter Sellers (1980) – British actor and comedian, star of The Pink Panther series.

Holidays

• Teacher’s Day (India) Celebrated in honor of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday, recognizing the role of educators in society.
• International Day of Charity Established by the United Nations to commemorate Mother Teresa’s death and promote acts of philanthropy.
• National Cheese Pizza Day (U.S.) A lighthearted food observance celebrated by pizza lovers across the country.

Fun Facts

• Freddie Mercury’s birthday is celebrated worldwide by Queen fans, especially at the annual Montreux Mercury Phoenix Trust events.
• The Treaty of Portsmouth was negotiated in part by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize.
• Teacher’s Day in India sees students role-playing as teachers, honoring their mentors in schools across the nation.
• The Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympics changed global security protocols for international sporting events.