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.