1935: Campbell exceeds 300 mph
On September 3, 1935, a new land speed record is set by Britain's famed speed
demon, Sir Malcolm
Campbell. On the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Campbell and his car Bluebird made two runs over a one-mile course at speeds averaging 301 miles per hour. After conquering land, he later turned to water and achieved a series of water-speed records in motorboats.
1999
In the final report into the death of Diana,Princess of Wales, French judges blame the car crash in
Paris in 1997 on the chauffeur, Henri Paul and dismiss all charges against the 9 freelance photographers who had been following the car on motorbikes.
1995
Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Hill Norton, backs claims that the British Government is covering up evidence of a UFO sighting in the south of England in 1990.1978
At the Vatican in
Rome, John Paul I is installed as Pope - but dies just 25 days later on September 28th.
1976
The US spacecraft
Viking II lands on
Mars after a journey through space lasting 359 days and begins sending pictures of the planet back to earth.
1966
British soldiers Captain John Ridgway and Sergeant
Chay Blyth become the first Britons to row across the Atlantic.
1962
Opening of the Trans-Canada Highway - a 4,800 mile road from St John's in Newfoundland in the east to Victoria, British Columbia in the west.1944
Liberation of the Belgian capital, Brussels, during
World War II. 1939
In Britain, the formation of the
Citizens' Advice Bureau - established to help people understand and comply with new rules and regulations that are introduced at the start of World War II.
1935
British speed enthusiast Malcolm Campbell sets a new world land speed record of 301.13mph in his Bluebird car at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, in the United States - the first vehicle to travel more than 300 miles an hour on land.1916
Captain Leefe Robinson becomes the first pilot to shoot down a Zeppelin airship - during a
German air raid on London in
World War I. The airship catches fire after being attacked and crashes at Cuffley in Hertfordshire. Robinson is later awarded the
Victoria Cross. 1914
Cardinal Giacomo Della Chiesa is elected Pope
Benedict XV. 1879
Afghan troops massacre the British legation in Kabul - leading to the British invasion of
Afghanistan. 1826
In Moscow,
Nicholas I is crowned Tsar of Russia.
1791
The French National Assembly passes the French Constitution - formerly making France a constitutional monarchy.1783
Britian finally recognises the
United States of America by signing the Treaty of Paris which officially ends the American War of Independence.
1752
What should have been September 3rd becomes September 14th with the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar - named after Pope
Gregory XIII. In Britain crowds flock through the streets calling on Parliament to 'give us back our 11 days'.
1189
Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England at Westminster following the death of his father,
Henry II. 1965
American
actor Charlie Sheen born in New York City - son of Hollywood actor Martin Sheen. Films include 'Wall Street' and 'Platoon'.
1942
American musician Al Jardine. Becomes a member of one of America's most successful pop groups in the 1960s - 'The Beach Boys'.1940
British actress
Pauline Collins. Gains international fame playing the title role in the film 'Shirley Valentine'.
1913
American film actor Alan Ladd is born in Hot Springs,Arkansas. His height - just 5ft 6 ins - doesn't hamper his career. Leading ladies either stand in a trench or he on a box! Films include 'The Blue Dahlia' and 'Shane'. 1991
Italian-born film
director Frank Capra dies aged 94. A winner of three Oscars.
1969
Vietnamese statesman
Ho Chi Minh. Born Nguyen That Thanh in 1890.
1918
Australian explorer and Statesman Sir John Forest. 1658
Lord Protector of England,
Oliver Cromwell, dies of pneumonia. Cromwell, a
Puritan, entered parliament in 1628 and fought against
Charles I in the English Civil War quickly rising to command his own army.
