Today in History — September 18 is a date when palace conspiracies, decisive battles, showpiece explorations and landmark political decisions across centuries meet on a single calendar page. These moments—ancient imperial crises, colonial landings, modern referendums and catastrophic storms—trace how leadership, conflict and culture have repeatedly pivoted on this day.
Major Events on September 18
AD 96 — Assassination of Emperor Domitian
Emperor Domitian was killed in a palace conspiracy in AD 96; accounts name his wife Domitia and two Praetorian prefects among the conspirators. The assassination ended his 15-year rule and prompted immediate political upheaval in Rome.
Senators and the Praetorian Guard quickly proclaimed Nerva emperor, beginning a brief shift in the balance of power that prefaced the Nerva–Antonine era and a change in imperial-senatorial relations.
324 — Battle of Chrysopolis: Constantine Secures Sole Rule
In 324, Constantine the Great decisively defeated Licinius at Chrysopolis, ending the civil war that had split Roman authority. The victory consolidated Constantine’s rule across the east and the west and accelerated administrative and religious reforms.
Chrysopolis helped clear the path for Constantine’s elevation of Christianity within imperial policy and reorganization of the empire’s governance, marking a turning point in late Roman history.
1048 — Battle of Kapetron
A combined Byzantine–Georgian army clashed with Seljuq forces at Kapetron (1048), a notable engagement in the turbulent borderlands of Anatolia and the Caucasus. The battle reflected ongoing Byzantine attempts to check Seljuq incursions during the mid-11th century, a period of shifting power balances in the region.
1066 — Harald Hardrada’s Invasion of England Begins
Norwegian king Harald Hardrada landed with Tostig Godwinson at the mouth of the Humber River to begin his 1066 invasion of England. This campaign culminated in the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where Viking forces were defeated, a clash that weakened English defenses ahead of the Norman invasion. The episode is one of three decisive 1066 events that reshaped English history.
1180 — Philip Augustus Becomes King of France
Philip Augustus (Philip II) ascended to the French throne at age 15 and embarked on a long reign that strengthened royal authority, expanded domains and reformed administration. His policies laid foundations for a more centralized medieval French state, altering the balance among monarchs, nobles and emerging administrative institutions.
1454 — Battle of Chojnice (Thirteen Years’ War)
During the Thirteen Years’ War, Polish forces were defeated at Chojnice by the Teutonic Knights, an engagement that prolonged the conflict over control in the Baltic region. Although tactical gains favored the Teutonic Order at Chojnice, the wider war eventually shifted influence and borders in northern Europe.
1544 — Juan Bautista Pastene Lands in San Pedro Bay, Chile
The expedition of Juan Bautista Pastene made landfall in San Pedro Bay in southern Chile on this date, claiming the shore for Spain. This landing was part of early Spanish Pacific exploration and contributed to Spain’s growing colonial footprint along South America’s western seaboard.
1618 — Twelfth Baktun Begins (Mesoamerican Long Count)
The twelfth baktun in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar began on this date, a calendrical milestone within indigenous timekeeping systems used by civilizations such as the Maya.
1714 — George I Arrives in Great Britain after Accession
Having become king on August 1, George I arrived in Great Britain on September 18, 1714, marking the consolidation of the Hanoverian succession and the start of a new royal house that would influence British politics and the development of cabinet government.
1739 — Treaty of Belgrade Signed
The Treaty of Belgrade (1739) concluded war between Austria and the Ottoman Empire, with Austria ceding lands south of the Sava and Danube rivers to Ottoman control—an important mid-18th-century settlement in Southeast European diplomacy.
1759 — Articles of Capitulation of Quebec Signed
Following the British capture of Quebec, the Articles of Capitulation were signed in 1759, formalizing British control and marking a key moment in the French and Indian War that reshaped North America’s colonial map.
1793 — Cornerstone of the United States Capitol Laid
George Washington laid the first cornerstone of the United States Capitol in 1793, a symbolic act marking the seat of the new nation’s legislature and the growth of American federal institutions.
1809 — Royal Opera House Opens (London)
The Royal Opera House in London opened in 1809, becoming a leading venue for opera and ballet and shaping centuries of British performing arts and cultural life.
1810 — First Government Junta in Chile (Dieciocho / National Day)
On September 18, 1810, Chile’s First Government Junta was formed as a provisional authority during upheaval in Spain. Although initially meant to govern only during the Peninsular crisis, the junta initiated processes that ultimately led to Chilean independence.
September 18 is now celebrated in Chile as Dieciocho, the nation’s principal national day, commemorating the start of the political movement that produced the modern Chilean state.
1812 — Fire of Moscow Subsides
After raging through much of Moscow, the great fire of 1812 died down; the conflagration destroyed large portions of the city during Napoleon’s occupation and contributed to the French army’s disastrous retreat.
1837 — Tiffany & Co. Founded
Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young founded Tiffany & Co. in New York City in 1837 (originally Tiffany & Young), beginning what would become a globally recognized luxury brand, initially marketing stationery and “fancy goods.”
1838 — Anti-Corn Law League Established
Richard Cobden and allies established the Anti-Corn Law League in 1838 to campaign against protectionist grain tariffs in Britain; the movement became a major driver of 19th-century economic and political reform.
1850 — Fugitive Slave Act Passed (United States)
The U.S. Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, strengthening provisions for the capture and return of escaped enslaved people and inflaming sectional tensions in the antebellum United States.
1851 — First Publication of The New-York Daily Times
The New-York Daily Times published its first issue in 1851; the newspaper would later become The New York Times, a major institution of American journalism.
1860 — Second Opium War: Battle of Zhangjiawan
Allied Anglo-French forces, advancing toward Beijing after occupying Tianjin, engaged and defeated a larger Qing army at Zhangjiawan in 1860—a key confrontational episode in the Second Opium War.
1862 — Confederate Thanksgiving (only one celebrated)
In 1862, the Confederate States observed Thanksgiving Day for the first and only time as a national celebration during the American Civil War.
1863 — Battle of Chickamauga Begins
The Battle of Chickamauga (September 18–20, 1863) began between Confederate and Union forces; it resulted in heavy casualties—the second-highest of the war after Gettysburg—and marked a major Confederate tactical victory in the Western Theater.
1864 — Franklin–Nashville Campaign Begins (John Bell Hood)
Confederate General John Bell Hood began the Franklin–Nashville Campaign in 1864 in an attempt to draw Union forces under William Tecumseh Sherman out of Georgia; the campaign ultimately failed and inflicted severe losses on Confederate armies.
1873 — Jay Cooke & Company Bankruptcy Triggers Panic
The failure of Jay Cooke & Company in 1873 contributed to the Panic of 1873, a financial crisis that ushered in an economic depression and global financial contagion.
1879 — Blackpool Illuminations Switched On for First Time
The Blackpool Illuminations in England were switched on for the first time in 1879, beginning an enduring seasonal public spectacle that remains a tourist draw.
1882 — Pacific Stock Exchange Opens
The Pacific Stock Exchange opened in 1882, expanding organized securities trading on the U.S. West Coast.
1898 — Fashoda Incident Sparks Anglo-French Tensions
The Fashoda Incident of 1898 provoked a major diplomatic crisis between Britain and France over colonial claims in the Sudan, representing the last serious war scare between the two powers before their eventual rapprochement.
1906 — Hong Kong Typhoon Kills an Estimated 10,000
A devastating typhoon struck Hong Kong in 1906, killing an estimated 10,000 people and marking one of the deadliest storms in the region’s recorded history.
1914 — Irish Home Rule Act Becomes Law (Delayed)
The Irish Home Rule Act became law in 1914 but its implementation was suspended for the duration of World War I, delaying the transfer of specified powers to an Irish legislature.
1919 — Fritz Pollard Becomes First African American in Major Pro Football
Fritz Pollard became the first African American to play professional football for a major team (the Akron Pros) in 1919, an early milestone in American sports integration.
1922 — Kingdom of Hungary Admitted to League of Nations
The Kingdom of Hungary was admitted to the League of Nations in 1922 as European states reorganized after World War I.
1927 — Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) Goes on Air
CBS began broadcasting in 1927, becoming a major force in American radio and later television broadcasting.
1928 — Juan de la Cierva’s Autogyro Crosses the English Channel
Juan de la Cierva completed the first autogyro crossing of the English Channel in 1928, an advance in rotorcraft experimentation that influenced later aviation developments.
1931 — Mukden Incident: Japan Seizes Manchuria
On September 18, 1931, the Mukden Incident—a staged railway explosion—was used by Japanese forces as a pretext to seize Mukden (Shenyang) and expand control across Manchuria. The event led quickly to the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo and a broader military occupation.
The incident exposed weaknesses in interwar diplomacy and the League of Nations, and it foreshadowed escalating Japanese expansionism that would contribute to wider conflict in East Asia.
1934 — Soviet Union Admitted to League of Nations
The Soviet Union gained admission to the League of Nations in 1934, a significant diplomatic development amid interwar geopolitics.
1939 — Polish Government Flees to Romania; “Germany Calling” Propaganda Begins
As Germany invaded Poland in 1939 the Polish government fled to Romania to avoid capture, and the radio program “Germany Calling” began transmitting Nazi propaganda aimed at Allied and occupied audiences.
1943 — Hitler Orders Deportation of Danish Jews
In 1943 Adolf Hitler ordered the deportation of Danish Jews; Denmark’s resistance and rescue efforts, however, enabled the escape of many to neutral Sweden, saving thousands from Nazi deportation.
1944 — Jun’yō Maru Sunk by HMS Tradewind
The British submarine HMS Tradewind torpedoed the Japanese ship Jun’yō Maru in 1944, causing the deaths of roughly 5,600 people—mostly forced laborers and prisoners of war—in one of the deadliest sinkings of the war.
1944 — Operation Market Garden: Liberation of Eindhoven
Operation Market Garden saw Allied airborne and ground troops liberate Eindhoven on September 18, 1944, a notable early success in the ambitious plan to penetrate into Germany via Dutch bridges. Although Market Garden ultimately failed at Arnhem, Eindhoven’s liberation was an important local victory and a key moment in the Netherlands’ liberation narrative.
1944 — Battle of Arracourt Begins
The Battle of Arracourt began in 1944 between U.S. and German armored forces in France, notable for effective U.S. anti-tank tactics that blunted German counterattacks during the Lorraine campaign.
1945 — General Douglas MacArthur Moves Headquarters to Tokyo
General Douglas MacArthur moved his general headquarters from Manila to Tokyo in 1945, consolidating allied occupation administration in postwar Japan.
1947 — National Security Act Reorganizes U.S. Military & Intelligence
The National Security Act of 1947 reorganized the United States’ military and intelligence structures, creating bodies such as the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency and reshaping postwar national security architecture.
1948 — Operation Polo Ends; Hyderabad Integrated into India
Operation Polo, the Indian Army’s operation to integrate Hyderabad, concluded when Hyderabad’s forces surrendered; the princely state was thereafter integrated into the newly independent India.
1948 — Margaret Chase Smith Elected to U.S. Senate Without Completing a Term
Margaret Chase Smith of Maine became the first woman elected to the United States Senate without first completing another senator’s term, marking a milestone in American electoral history.
1954 — Finnish President Receives Soviet Order of Lenin
Finnish president J. K. Paasikivi became the first Western head of state to be awarded the Soviet Union’s highest honor, the Order of Lenin, in 1954—an episode with Cold War diplomatic resonance.
1960 — Fidel Castro Arrives in New York City for the UN
Fidel Castro visited New York City on September 18, 1960, as head of the Cuban delegation to the United Nations, a high-profile appearance in Cold War diplomacy and hemispheric politics.
1961 — Death of UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld
United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash on September 18, 1961, while en route to mediate during the Congo Crisis; his sudden death provoked international shock and long-running inquiries.
Hammarskjöld’s tenure had strengthened UN peacekeeping and conflict mediation, and the uncertain circumstances of his death—some later investigations suggested the possibility of external attack—left a lingering legacy of unresolved questions.
1962 — Four Nations Admitted to the United Nations
Burundi, Jamaica, Rwanda and Trinidad and Tobago were admitted to the United Nations in 1962, reflecting the rapid expansion of UN membership during decolonization.
1962 — Aeroflot Flight 213 Crash
Aeroflot Flight 213 crashed into a mountain near Chersky Airport on this date, killing 32 people in a tragic aviation accident.
1964 — Royal Wedding of Constantine II and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark
The wedding of Greece’s King Constantine II and Denmark’s Princess Anne-Marie took place in Athens in 1964, an event of European royal and diplomatic significance.
1973 — Bahamas, East Germany and West Germany Admitted to the UN
The Bahamas, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) were admitted to the United Nations in 1973, reflecting diplomatic shifts and broader UN expansion.
1974 — Hurricane Fifi Devastates Honduras
Hurricane Fifi struck Honduras in 1974 with sustained winds of around 110 mph, causing catastrophic flooding and an estimated 5,000 deaths—one of the deadliest storms in Central American history.
1977 — Voyager 1 Takes First Distant Earth–Moon Photograph Together
Voyager 1 captured the first distant photograph showing Earth and the Moon together in 1977, an iconic planetary image that contributed to a broadened human perspective on Earth’s place in space.
1980 — Soyuz 38 Mission to Salyut 6
Soyuz 38 launched two cosmonauts, including the first Cuban cosmonaut, to the Salyut 6 space station in 1980, part of the Soviet Intercosmos program.
1981 — France Abolishes Capital Punishment
The Assemblée Nationale voted to abolish capital punishment in France in 1981, a major development in the country’s legal and human-rights evolution.
1984 — Joe Kittinger Completes First Solo Balloon Atlantic Crossing
Joe Kittinger completed the first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic in 1984, a feat of endurance and aeronautical daring.
1988 — 8888 Uprising in Myanmar Comes to an End; Haitian Coup
The 8888 Uprising in Myanmar, a mass pro-democracy movement, came to an end in 1988 after violent suppression and political upheaval. On the same date in Haiti, General Henri Namphy was ousted by a coup led by General Prosper Avril, reflecting political instability in both countries.
1990 — Liechtenstein Joins the United Nations
Liechtenstein became a United Nations member state in 1990, joining the global diplomatic body.
1992 — Giant Mine Explosion in Yellowknife
An explosion at Giant Mine in Yellowknife in 1992 killed nine replacement workers during a labor dispute, a tragic event tied to industrial conflict.
1997 — Ted Turner Donates US$1 Billion to the United Nations; Mine Ban Convention Adopted
Media magnate Ted Turner pledged US$1 billion to the United Nations in 1997, a landmark philanthropic gift; the same year, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Treaty) was adopted, a major humanitarian arms control milestone.
2001 — First Anthrax Letters Mailed from Trenton, New Jersey
The first mailing of anthrax-laced letters in the 2001 attacks originated from Trenton, New Jersey, triggering widespread fear, investigations and changes to mail security.
2007 — Saffron Revolution: Buddhist Monks Join Protests in Myanmar
In 2007 Buddhist monks joined anti-government protests in Myanmar—events sometimes called the Saffron Revolution—that drew international attention to the country’s political repression.
2011 — Sikkim Earthquake Felt Across the Region
The 2011 Sikkim earthquake on September 18 was felt across northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and southern Tibet, causing damage and regional concern.
2014 — Scotland Votes ‘No’ in Independence Referendum
Scottish voters rejected independence from the United Kingdom by 55% to 45% in a high-turnout referendum on September 18, 2014. The close result reshaped UK politics, intensified debates on devolution and prompted ongoing constitutional conversations.
Although the union held, the referendum’s political aftershocks affected party strategies and discussions about the distribution of powers within the United Kingdom.
2015 — Peshawar Mosque Attack Targets Security Personnel and Worshippers
A Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan attack near a Pakistan Air Force base on the outskirts of Peshawar in 2015 killed two security personnel, 17 worshippers in a mosque, and 13 militants—one of several violent attacks affecting Pakistan in the 2010s.
2016 — Uri Attack in Jammu and Kashmir
The 2016 Uri attack carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed targeted an Indian Army base in Jammu and Kashmir, killing nineteen soldiers and all four attackers; the incident heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
Check Also Important Facts & Events From September 17
Earlier History
- AD 96 — Domitian assassinated; Nerva’s succession.
- 324 — Constantine defeats Licinius (Chrysopolis) and consolidates rule.
- 1180 — Philip Augustus begins a centralizing French reign.
Exploration & Colonial Foundations
- 1544 — Pastene lands in San Pedro Bay (Chile) claiming territory for Spain.
- 1793 — Cornerstone of U.S. Capitol laid by George Washington.
Wars & Politics
- 1066 — Harald Hardrada lands at the Humber (precursor to Stamford Bridge).
- 1454 — Battle of Chojnice (Thirteen Years’ War).
- 1863 — Battle of Chickamauga begins (American Civil War).
- 1931 — Mukden Incident leads to Japanese occupation of Manchuria.
- 1948 — Operation Polo ends; Hyderabad is integrated into India.
Arts & Culture
- 1809 — Royal Opera House opens in London.
- 1837 — Tiffany & Co. founded.
- 1928 — First autogyro English Channel crossing (Juan de la Cierva).
Science, Technology & Media
- 1873 — Jay Cooke & Company collapse triggers financial panic.
- 1927 — CBS goes on the air.
- 1977 — Voyager 1 photographs Earth and Moon together.
Disasters & Human Rights
- 1906 — Hong Kong typhoon kills ~10,000.
- 1944 — Jun’yō Maru sinking kills thousands of forced laborers/POWs.
- 1974 — Hurricane Fifi devastates Honduras.
- 1992 — Giant Mine explosion kills replacement workers.
Notable births (one line each)
- Francesca Caccini (1587) — Italian composer and singer.
- Johann Gottfried Walther (1684) — German composer, lexicographer.
- Samuel Johnson (1709) — English author, critic, lexicographer.
- Adrien-Marie Legendre (1752) — French mathematician.
- François-Juste-Marie Raynouard (1761) — French dramatist, philologist.
- Joseph Story (1779) — Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court.
- Justinus A. C. Kerner (1786) — German poet and mystic.
- Léon Foucault (1819) — French physicist (Foucault pendulum).
- Siegfried Marcus (1831) — German inventor (early petrol engines).
- Anton Mauve (1838) — Dutch painter.
- John Aitken (1839) — Scottish physicist and meteorologist.
- Charles Valentine Riley (1843) — Entomologist and agricultural pioneer.
- James H. Scullin (1876) — Prime Minister of Australia.
- Greta Garbo (1905) — Swedish-American film actress.
- Agnes de Mille (1905) — Choreographer and dancer.
- Edwin M. McMillan (1907) — American physicist, Nobel laureate.
- Peter Smithson (1923) — British architect.
- Scotty Bowman (1933) — Legendary Canadian NHL coach.
- Drew Gilpin Faust (1947) — Historian; first female president of Harvard University.
- Mark Shuttleworth (1973) — South African entrepreneur and space tourist.
Notable deaths (one line each)
- Domitian (AD 96) — Roman emperor (ruled 81–96).
- Louis VII (1180) — King of France.
- Melchior Klesl (1630) — Austrian cardinal and statesman.
- André Dacier (1722) — French classical scholar.
- Justus van Effen (1735) — Dutch writer and journalist.
- Lewis Theobald (1744) — English Shakespeare editor.
- John Langdon (1819) — American statesman.
- William Hazlitt (1830) — English essayist and critic.
- Charles XV (1872) — King of Sweden and Norway.
- Daniel Drew (1879) — American financier.
- Dion Boucicault (1890) — Playwright.
- William Ferrel (1891) — Meteorologist.
- Alexander Bain (1903) — Philosopher and psychologist.
- Vojislav Marinković (1935) — Serbian statesman.
- Gwen John (1939) — Welsh painter.
- Hendrikus Colijn (1944) — Dutch prime minister.
- Dag Hammarskjöld (1961) — UN Secretary-General (died in air crash).
- Sir John D. Cockcroft (1967) — British physicist, Nobel laureate.
- Jimi Hendrix (1970) — Influential American guitarist and songwriter.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2020) — U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice.
Holidays & observances
- National Day / Dieciocho — Chile (commemorates the First Government Junta, 1810).
- Day of National Music — Azerbaijan.
- Island Language Day — Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
- National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day — United States.
- Navy Day — Croatia.
- World Water Monitoring Day.
- Christian feast day (selected): Constantius (Theban Legion), Edward Bouverie Pusey (Episcopal Church), Eustorgius I, Joseph of Cupertino, Juan Macias, Methodius of Olympus, Richardis.
- Eastern Orthodox liturgics — September 18.
Final thoughts on Today in History: September 18
September 18 gathers an unusual cross-section of history: violent palace politics and sweeping naval and land campaigns, scientific curiosities and media milestones, natural catastrophes and civic beginnings.
The date’s entries show how local events—an assassination, a landing, a storm—can have ripples that reach across centuries, shaping institutions, identities and international relations.
FAQs About September 18
Why is September 18 Chile’s national day?
Because Chile’s First Government Junta was formed on September 18, 1810, an event commemorated as the start of the political path to Chilean independence.
What was the Mukden Incident?
The Mukden Incident (September 18, 1931) was a staged railway explosion used as a pretext by Japanese forces to occupy Mukden and expand into Manchuria, leading to the establishment of Manchukuo.
Why does Dag Hammarskjöld’s death still matter?
Hammarskjöld’s 1961 air crash ended the life of a prominent UN secretary-general and left unresolved questions about whether external attack contributed to the accident, making it a long-standing subject of inquiry.
What was the outcome of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?
Scottish voters rejected independence on September 18, 2014, by 55% to 45%, a narrow margin that sustained the union but prompted ongoing constitutional debate.
