On This Day · The 246th day of the year

September 3

A look at September 3 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Eduardo Galeano and Emperor Go-Sanjō, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2017

    North Korea

    North Korea conducts its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.

    Country in East Asia
  2. 2016

    China

    The U.S. and China, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both formally ratify the Paris global climate agreement.

    Country in East Asia
  3. 1941

    The Holocaust

    The Holocaust: Karl Fritzsch, deputy camp commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, experiments with the use of Zyklon B in the gassing of Soviet POWs.

    Genocide of European Jews
  4. 1939

    World War II

    World War II: France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia declare war on Germany after the invasion of Poland, forming the Allied nations. The Viceroy of India also declares war, but without consulting the provincial legislatures.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  5. 1914

    World War I

    World War I: Start of the Battle of Grand Couronné, a German assault against French positions on high ground near the city of Nancy.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  6. 1878

    Sinking of SS Princess Alice

    Over 640 die when the crowded pleasure boat Princess Alice collides with the Bywell Castle in the River Thames.

    1878 sinking on the
  7. 1777

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: During the Battle of Cooch's Bridge, the Flag of the United States is flown in battle for the first time.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  8. 1658

    Oliver Cromwell

    The death of Oliver Cromwell; Richard Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of England.

    English military and political
  9. 1411

    Treaty of Selymbria

    The Treaty of Selymbria is concluded between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice.

    1411 Venetian-Ottoman treaty
  10. 301

    San Marino

    San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world's oldest republic still in existence, is founded by Saint Marinus.

    Microstate in Southern Europe
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Famous birthday twins

Born on September 3

Eduardo Galeano

b. 1940

Uruguayan journalist and author

Emperor Go-Sanjō

b. 1034

of Japan

Dorothea Lambert Chambers

b. 1878

English tennis player

Ferdinand Porsche

b. 1875

Austrian-German engineer and businessman, founded Porsche

Fritz Pregl

b. 1869

Slovenian chemist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate

Costas Mandylor

b. 1965

Australian actor

Dominic Thiem

b. 1993

Austrian tennis player

Charlie Sheen

b. 1965

American actor and producer

Deaths

  • 2017John Ashbery, American poet
  • 2003Rudolf Leiding, German businessman
  • 1991Frank Capra, Italian-American director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1883Ivan Turgenev, Russian author and playwright
  • 1877Adolphe Thiers, French historian and politician, 2nd President of France
  • 1658Oliver Cromwell, English general and politician, Lord Protector of England

Holidays & observances

  • Christian feast day: Mansuetus of Toul
  • Christian feast day: Marinus
  • Christian feast day: Pope Gregory I
  • Christian feast day: Remaclus
  • Christian feast day: Prudence Crandall (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • Christian feast day: September 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • China's victory over Japan commemoration related observances: Armed Forces Day (Republic of China)
  • China's victory over Japan commemoration related observances: V-J Day (People's Republic of China)

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