✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 256th day of the year

September 13

A look at September 13 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Roald Dahl and Daisuke Matsuzaka, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♍ZodiacVirgo ◈BirthstoneSapphire ❀Birth flowerAster
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2008

    Delhi

    Delhi, India, is hit by a series of bomb blasts, resulting in 30 deaths and 130 injuries.

    Megacity and union territory
  2. 1988

    Hurricane Gilbert

    Hurricane Gilbert is the strongest recorded hurricane in the Western Hemisphere, later replaced by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 (based on barometric pressure).

    Category 5 Atlantic hurricane
  3. 1985

    Super Mario Bros.

    Super Mario Bros. is released in Japan for the NES, which starts the Super Mario series of platforming games.

    1985 video game
  4. 1971

    Mao Zedong

    Chairman Mao Zedong's second in command and successor Marshal Lin Biao flees China after the failure of an alleged coup. His plane crashes in Mongolia, killing all aboard.

    Leader of China from
  5. 1962

    James Meredith

    An appeals court orders the University of Mississippi to admit James Meredith, the first African-American student admitted to the segregated university.

    American civil rights activist
  6. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: Second day of the Battle of Edson's Ridge in the Guadalcanal Campaign. U.S. Marines successfully defeat attacks by the Japanese with heavy losses for the Japanese forces.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1848

    Phineas Gage

    Vermont railroad worker Phineas Gage survives an iron rod 1+1⁄4 inches (3.2 cm) in diameter being driven through his brain; the reported effects on his behavior and personality stimulate discussion of the nature of the brain and its functions.

    American brain injury survivor
  8. 1814

    Baltimore

    In a turning point in the War of 1812, the British fail to capture Baltimore. During the battle, Francis Scott Key composes his poem "Defence of Fort McHenry", which is later set to music and becomes the United States' national anthem.

    Largest city in Maryland,
  9. 1812

    War of 1812

    War of 1812: A supply wagon sent to relieve Fort Harrison is ambushed in the Attack at the Narrows.

    1812–1815 conflict in North
  10. -509

    Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

    The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Rome's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September.

    Temple on the Capitoline
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Famous birthday twins

Born on September 13

Roald Dahl

b. 1916

British novelist, poet, and screenwriter

Daisuke Matsuzaka

b. 1980

Japanese baseball player

AD 64

b. 64

Roman daughter of Titus (died AD 91)

John II Komnenos

b. 1087

Byzantine emperor

Thomas Müller

b. 1989

German footballer

Óscar Arias

b. 1940

Costa Rican politician, President of Costa Rica, Nobel Prize laureate

Robert Robinson (chemist)

b. 1886

English chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz

b. 1950

Polish lawyer and politician, 8th Prime Minister of Poland

Deaths

  • 1996Tupac Shakur, American rapper, producer, and actor
  • 1506Andrea Mantegna, Italian painter and engraver
  • 908908, king of Munster (Ireland)
  • 864864, doge of Venice
  • 413413, martyr and saint
  • 81AD 81, Roman emperor (born AD 39)

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Feast of the Cross (Assyrian Church of the East)
  • —Christian feast day: Aimé (Amatus)
  • —Christian feast day: Amé (Amatus) of Remiremont
  • —Christian feast day: Eulogius of Alexandria
  • —Christian feast day: John Chrysostom
  • —Christian feast day: Marcellinus of Carthage
  • —Christian feast day: Maurilius (Maurille) of Angers
  • —Christian feast day: Nectarius of Autun

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