13 September 1970. The first New York City Marathon took place. Fireman Gary Muhrucke won. The first event attracted just 127 competitors who ran several loops around the Park Drive of Central Park. Only about 100 spectators watched the race and only 55 runners finished. pic.twitter.com/koNgkCVNxI

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 13, 2022

PHOTO OF THE DAY. The Jedi Library from Star Wars (left) and the Library of Trinity College, Dublin (right). pic.twitter.com/XEa4wagolQ

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 13, 2022

September 14th

1752 Britain and the British Empire (including the American colonies) adopt the Gregorian calendar (no Sept 3 - Sept 13)

1936 1st prefrontal lobotomy in America performed by Walter Freeman and James W. Watts at George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C.

1939 World’s 1st practical helicopter, the VS-300 designed by Igor Sikorsky takes (tethered) flight in Stratford, Connecticut

1949 India's Constituent Assembly adopts Hindi as an official language. Celebrated today as Hindi Day.

1956 IBM introduces the RAMAC 305, 1st commercial computer with a hard drive that uses magnetic disk storage, weighs over a ton

1960 Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi-Arabia and Venezuela form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

2020 Astronomers report possible sign of life on Venus, after detecting phosphine in planets's atmosphere by telescope [1]

2021 1 in 500 Americans have died of COVID-19 as the nation's known death toll reaches 663,913 (Johns Hopkins) [1]

Did You Know?

Francis Scott Key pens the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", later known as "The Star-Spangled Banner" while witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry from a ship in Baltimore harbor

Today in History in 1814

Would You Believe?

14 yr old Texan Ahmed Mohamed arrested at school when home-made clock assumed to be a bomb - Mark Zuckerberg and US President Barack Obama send supportive tweets

Today in History in 2015

https://www.onthisday.com/

This day 412 years ago - 14 September 1607 - the Flight of the Earls took place.

Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Ruairí O'Donnell, Earl of Tír Chonaill, departed for Spain to secure support for their attempt to retain control of lands under Brehon law.

They never returned. pic.twitter.com/INanXpGNSI

— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) September 14, 2019

On this day in 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonised, making her the first saint born in America. A Catholic convert, Seton was a philanthropist and educator, establishing free schools for Catholic girls. pic.twitter.com/TmYdzPHu6b

— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) September 14, 2022

On this day in 1874, 1,500 Confederate veterans opposed to the civil rights goals of Reconstruction attacked New Orleans and overthrew the Louisiana government. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/FLiHpalCQv

— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) September 14, 2022

14 September 1715. French monk, Dom Pérignon, died (aged 76). The famous champagne brand is named after him. He claimed he invented Champagne, but this claim has not been accepted. He did, however, play an important role in developing the method of producing sparkling wine. pic.twitter.com/wMeuFBYe9S

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 14, 2022

Could you not just have typed World Premiere Dublin, Frank? 😉

14 September 1741. George Frideric Handel completed his famous oratorio, Messiah. The composition of this world famous classic work had taken just 24 days. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. pic.twitter.com/LAE70z3SOk

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 14, 2022

14 September 1891. The first penalty kick in an English Football League game was taken by Joseph (“Billy”) Heath of Wolverhampton Wanderers against Accrington. He scored and Wolves won the match 5-0. pic.twitter.com/dcUGjB8G8Z

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 14, 2022

14 September 1901. The US President, William McKinley, died (aged 58), of two gunshot wounds, inflicted by his assassin, the anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, eight days earlier. The gunshot wounds had created gangrene. pic.twitter.com/DoLR3sPo63

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 14, 2022

14 September 1959. Luna II, a Soviet space probe, became the first human-made object to land on the moon. It crashed into the surface. pic.twitter.com/x1J5HirS8Y

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 14, 2022

14 September 1974. Dennis the Menace replaced, Biffo the Bear, on the front cover of the popular British children’s comic, The Beano, and has been there ever since. pic.twitter.com/VYpwZuSics

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 14, 2022

14 September 1982. Princess Grace of Monaco (Grace Kelly), was killed in a car crash (aged 52). She was driving with her daughter to Monaco from her country home when she lost control of her 1971 Rover, which plunged 120 foot down a mountainside. It’s thought she had a stroke. pic.twitter.com/9AtahvkKVF

— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) September 14, 2022

Unimaginable way to die. Never wear a long scarf in a convertible. 

#OnThisDay, 1927, died #IsadoraDuncan... - #Dancer pic.twitter.com/iyYejtpfDQ

— SheenaIsAPunkRocker 🎸 (@77MASH) September 14, 2022

American dancer Isadora Duncan(1877-1927) photographed by Arnold Genthe. She was innovative and ushered in modern dance. Her dance movements were inspired by Greek arts,nature and folk dance.

She caused a scandal by dancing and posing barefoot. She opened several dance schools. pic.twitter.com/gaiJ9zIiMM

— Time For A Film (@TimeForAFilm) September 4, 2022

September 15th

1616 First non-aristocratic, free public school in Europe is opened in Frascati, Italy

1821 Act of Independence of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua declare their independence from the Spanish Empire

1835 HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin on board reaches the Galapagos Islands

1916 first use of tanks in warfare, "Little Willies" at Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme

1928 Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin while studying influenza

1940 Battle of Britain Day: climax of the Battle of Britain, tide begins to turn as the Royal Air Force repulses a major Luftwaffe attack, losing 29 aircraft to the Germans' 57-61

1992 George Soros' Quantum Fund begins selling large amounts of pound sterling, labelled "the man who broke the Bank of England" when pound crashes out of the ERM next day

Did You Know?

The John Bull becomes the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian Institution operates it under its own power outside Washington, D.C.

Today in History in 1981

Would You Believe?

Google.com is registered as a domain name

Today in History in 1997

https://www.onthisday.com/

This day 376 years ago – 15 September 1644 – Pope Innocent X began his papacy.

This would have significant consequences, as Innocent X supported Confederate Ireland during the English Civil War.

He sent Giovanni Battista Rinuccini to Kilkenny with 20,000 pounds of gunpowder. pic.twitter.com/2To52GoWgp

— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) September 15, 2020