GMT

Today in History: September 2

31 BC
Battle of Actium: decisive naval battle that effectively ends the Roman Republic. Octavian's forces defeat those under Mark Antony and Cleopatra off the western coast of Greece.

1666
The Great Fire of London, which devastates the city, begins.

1789
The Treasury Department, headed by Alexander Hamilton, is created in New York City.

1885
In Rock Springs, Wyoming Territory, 28 Chinese laborers are killed and hundreds more chased out of town by striking coal miners.

1945
Vietnam declares its independence and Nationalist leader Ho Chi Minh proclaims himself its first president.

1945
V-J Day, formal Surrender of Japan aboard USS Missouri marks the end of World War II (Japanese date, 1st September in US)

1963
Alabama Governor George Wallace calls state troopers to Tuskegee High School to prevent integration.

1963
The US gets its first half-hour TV weeknight national news broadcast when CBS Evening News expands from 15 to 30 minutes.

1992
The US and Russia agree to a joint venture to build a space station.

2020
Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi tests positive for COVID-19 and is later hospitalized

2021
At least 43 people die as the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the US Northeast with record rains, tornadoes and flooding with New York and New Jersey declaring state of emergency

2023
India successfully launches its first spacecraft, Aditya-L1, to study the sun

Today in History: Born on September 2

1901
Adolph Rupp, basketball coach at the University of Kentucky who achieved a record 876 victories.

1948
Terry Bradshaw, athlete, TV sports analyst, actor; first quarterback to win four Super Bowls (Pittsburgh Steelers); Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1948
Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian passenger on a space mission. During that mission, she and the six other crew members on the space shuttle Challenger perished in an explosion shortly after launch.

1951
Mark Harmon, actor (St. Elsewhere, NCIS TV series).

1952
Jimmy Connors, former World No. 1 tennis player; reached more Grand Slam quarterfinals than any other male.

1964
Keanu Reeves, actor (Speed, The Matrix trilogy)

JOTD
Why does Batman leave his lower face visible?


So cops can see that he's white