The Mayflower Sails from Plymouth for North America
On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth with 102 passengers. The 66-day crossing ended at Cape Cod, not the Hudson.
Handel Finishes the Messiah
On September 14, 1741, Handel completed the oratorio Messiah, written in about 24 days and first performed in Dublin.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Opens
On September 15, 1830, the Liverpool to Manchester railway opened, the first modern intercity line, and killed MP William Huskisson.
Leo Szilard Conceives the Nuclear Chain Reaction
On September 12, 1933, Leo Szilard conceived the nuclear chain reaction while crossing a street in Bloomsbury, London.
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit Is Published
On September 21, 1937, Tolkien's The Hobbit was published in London, with a print run of 1,500 copies that sold out within months.
The Blitz on London Begins
On September 7, 1940, the Luftwaffe bombed London, starting the Blitz, 57 consecutive nights of attacks on the capital.
ITV Goes on Air and Ends the BBC Television Monopoly
On September 22, 1955, ITV launched in London, ending the BBC's 19-year monopoly of British television.
The Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
On September 6, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, was buried from Westminster Abbey after a car crash in Paris; billions watched worldwide.