On This Day in History – September 15

Major Events

• 1821 — The Captaincy General of Guatemala (modern Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) declares independence from Spain, ending three centuries of colonial rule.
• 1835 — Charles Darwin and HMS Beagle reach the Galápagos Islands, observations that later help shape the theory of evolution by natural selection.
• 1935 — Nazi Germany enacts the Nuremberg Laws, institutionalizing antisemitism by stripping Jews of citizenship and civil rights.
• 1940 — Battle of Britain Day: the RAF decisively repels a major Luftwaffe assault, a turning point that thwarts plans for a German invasion.
• 1950 — The Korean War’s Incheon Landing begins, a daring amphibious operation led by General Douglas MacArthur that shifts momentum to UN forces.
• 1959 — Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev arrives in the United States, the first visit by a Soviet premier, marking a Cold War diplomatic milestone.
• 1963 — A bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama kills four girls, galvanizing support for the U.S. civil rights movement.
• 1971 — Activists set sail from Vancouver toward Amchitka to protest nuclear testing; the voyage becomes the founding action of Greenpeace.
• 1997 — The google.com domain is registered, laying the groundwork for one of the most influential technology companies in history.
• 2008 — Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy protection, a flashpoint of the global financial crisis that reshapes banking and regulation.

Famous Birthdays

• James Fenimore Cooper (American novelist, 1789–1851) — Author of “The Last of the Mohicans.”
• William Howard Taft (27th U.S. President & Chief Justice, 1857–1930) — Only person to lead both the executive and judicial branches.
• Agatha Christie (British crime writer, 1890–1976) — Bestselling author famed for Poirot and Miss Marple.
• Murray Gell-Mann (American physicist, 1929–2019) — Nobel laureate who introduced the quark model.
• Jessye Norman (American soprano, 1945–2019) — One of the great voices of late 20th-century opera.
• Oliver Stone (American filmmaker, b. 1946) — Director known for politically charged cinema.
• Dan Marino (American NFL quarterback, b. 1961) — Hall of Famer renowned for prolific passing.
• Jimmy Carr (British comedian, b. 1972) — Stand-up and television host noted for deadpan delivery.
• Tom Hardy (British actor, b. 1977) — Star of film and television with acclaimed range.
• Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (British royal, b. 1984) — Noted for military service and charitable work.

Notable Deaths

• Isambard Kingdom Brunel (British civil engineer) — Died 1859; born 1806.
• Thomas Wolfe (American novelist) — Died 1938; born 1900.
• Gustaf VI Adolf (King of Sweden) — Died 1973; born 1882.
• Bill Evans (American jazz pianist) — Died 1980; born 1929.
• Robert Penn Warren (American poet and novelist) — Died 1989; born 1905.
• Johnny Ramone (American guitarist, The Ramones) — Died 2004; born 1948.
• Oriana Fallaci (Italian journalist and author) — Died 2006; born 1929.
• Richard Wright (British musician, Pink Floyd) — Died 2008; born 1943.
• Harry Dean Stanton (American actor) — Died 2017; born 1926.
• Ric Ocasek (American singer-songwriter, The Cars) — Died 2019; born 1944.

Holidays

• International Day of Democracy (United Nations observance).
• Independence Day in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
• Battle of Britain Day in the United Kingdom.
• Engineer’s Day in India (birth anniversary of M. Visvesvaraya).
• World Lymphoma Awareness Day (global health observance).

Fun Facts

• The United States begins Hispanic Heritage Month on September 15, aligning with multiple Central American independence days.
• google.com was registered on this date in 1997, years before the company’s IPO and global expansion.
• Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics opened on September 15, showcasing one of the most lauded opening ceremonies.
• Darwin’s arrival in the Galápagos on this day in 1835 provided crucial observations for evolutionary theory.
• Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” received its U.S. release on September 15, 1975.