1939⚡ Event
World War II Begins
Germany invades Poland, triggering declarations of war from France and the United Kingdom. This event is widely considered the start of World War II.
warpolitics
August 26 – September 1 in History
DayFacts Week 35 · 7 days
This recurring calendar span contains 107 historical entries in the DayFacts collection. The sections below preview entries from these 7 days; use the date links to open each date collection.
Selected Anniversaries
25th Anniversary
Patrick Williams
25th Anniversary
Franz Wagner
25th Anniversary
Kamilla Rakhimova
Explore the Date Pages
Historical Events (August 26 – September 1)(20)
1963⚡ Event
Martin Luther King Jr. delivers 'I Have a Dream' speech
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
politicslawliterature
1964⚡ Event
South Vietnamese Power-Sharing Arrangement
South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyễn Khánh entered into a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement with rival generals Trần Thiện Khiêm and Dương Văn Minh.
politicswar
1968⚡ Event
The Beatles Release "Hey Jude"
The Beatles released "Hey Jude", which became the then-longest single to top the UK charts.
musicentertainment
1969⚡ Event
Bob Dylan performs at Isle of Wight Festival
Bob Dylan appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival 1969, his first gig in three years. The festival was attended by approximately 150,000 people over three days.
musicentertainment
1970⚡ Event
Women's Strike for Equality
Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women organized the Women's Strike for Equality in New York City, in which 50,000 women protested the continuing lack of gender equality.
politicslaw
1972⚡ Event
Fischer defeats Spassky in World Chess Championship
In 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.
sportspoliticsentertainment
1973⚡ Event
Stockholm Hostage Situation Ends
Swedish police ended a seven-day hostage crisis in Stockholm, an event that led to the coining of the term 'Stockholm syndrome' due to the hostages bonding with their captors.
1979⚡ Event
Warrenpoint Ambush and Mountbatten Assassination
During The Troubles, the IRA ambushed and killed 18 British soldiers near Warrenpoint and assassinated Lord Mountbatten on his boat at Mullaghmore.
warpolitics
1980⚡ Event
Harvey's Resort Hotel Bombing
A bomb was planted at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, which the FBI later described as the most complex improvised explosive device ever created.
disasterlaw
1984⚡ Event
Rajneesh movement bioterror attack
Followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh deliberately infected people in The Dalles, Oregon, with Salmonella. This was the first and largest bioterrorist attack in United States history.
disasterreligionlaw
1984⚡ Event
Space Shuttle Discovery Maiden Voyage
Discovery, the third orbiter of NASA's Space Shuttle program, lifted off on its maiden voyage from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
spacetechnologyscience
1987⚡ Event
Ryugyong Hotel Construction Begins
Construction commenced on the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, which would become the country's tallest building.
1990⚡ Event
General Schwarzkopf Issues Order No. 1
Gulf War: US General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. issued General Order No. 1 prohibiting US troops from consuming alcohol or possessing pornographic material.
warpoliticslaw
1990⚡ Event
Stevie Ray Vaughan Helicopter Crash
American musician Stevie Ray Vaughan, a highly influential blues guitarist, died in a helicopter crash. He was known for his role in the 1980s blues revival.
musicdisaster
1991⚡ Event
Libero Grassi murdered
Italian businessman Libero Grassi was killed by the Sicilian Mafia in Palermo. He had taken a public stand against their extortion demands.
lawpolitics
1996⚡ Event
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 crash
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 crashed on approach to Svalbard Airport, Norway. All 141 people on board were killed.
disaster
2002⚡ Event
Typhoon Rusa hits South Korea
Typhoon Rusa made landfall in Goheung, South Korea. It was the most powerful typhoon to hit the country in 43 years, killing at least 236 people.
disaster
2007⚡ Event
Nuclear Missiles Accidentally Transported
A heavy bomber that had been unintentionally loaded with nuclear missiles flew them from North Dakota to Louisiana before they were recognized.
wartechnologydisaster
2010⚡ Event
The Bill broadcast its final episode
The last episode of The Bill, a British police drama, was broadcast. It was the longest-running police drama in British television history.
entertainment
Births (August 26 – September 1)(15)
1993🎂 Birth
Lucas Cruikshank
Lucas Cruikshank is an American YouTuber and actor.
entertainment
1993🎂 Birth
Liam Payne
Liam Payne is an English singer-songwriter from One Direction.
musicentertainment
1994🎂 Birth
Monika Povilaitytė
Monika Povilaitytė, Lithuanian volleyball player, was born.
sports
1996🎂 Birth
Kim Se-jeong
South Korean actress and singer Kim Se-jeong was born.
entertainmentmusic
Deaths (August 26 – September 1)(15)
1997🕊️ Death
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales, her partner Dodi Fayed, and their driver were killed in a car crash in Paris.
disaster
2016🕊️ Death
Cookie (cockatoo)
Cookie was an Australian Major Mitchell's cockatoo, known as the oldest recorded parrot.
2016🕊️ Death
Juan Gabriel
Juan Gabriel, a Mexican singer and songwriter, has died. He was born in 1950.
musicentertainment
2017🕊️ Death
Louise Hay
Louise Hay, an American motivational author, has died. She was born in 1926.
literaturephilosophy
2017🕊️ Death
Mireille Darc
Mireille Darc, a French actress and model, has died. She was born in 1938.
entertainment
2018🕊️ Death
Neil Simon
American playwright and author Neil Simon died. He was born in 1927.
literaturearts
2019🕊️ Death
Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper, an American actress and writer, has died. She was born in 1939.
entertainmentliterature
2020🕊️ Death
Joe Ruby
American animator Joe Ruby died. He was born in 1933.
entertainment
2021🕊️ Death
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Lee "Scratch" Perry was a Jamaican reggae producer.
musicentertainment
2022🕊️ Death
Barbara Ehrenreich
Barbara Ehrenreich, an American writer and journalist, has died. She was born in 1941.
literature
2022🕊️ Death
Yang Yongsong
Yang Yongsong, a Chinese major general, has died. He was born in 1919.
war
2023🕊️ Death
Bob Barker
American television game show host Bob Barker died. He was born in 1923.
entertainment