Unidentified gunmen began a three-day attack on the upmarket Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, resulting in the deaths of 67 people with at least another 175 wounded.
American rock band Green Day releases their seventh studio album, American Idiot, which would become one of their most recognizable albums.
Several British Muslim youths in Peterborough, England, murdered 17-year-old Ross Parker, leading to debate over whether the British media failed to cover racially motivated crimes with white victims.
A 7.7 Mw earthquake struck Jiji, Taiwan, killing 2,415 people, injuring more than 11,000 others and causing about NT$300 billion (US$10 billion) in damage across the island.
The Defense of Marriage Act was passed by the United States Congress, prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriage, while allowing states to adopt any marital definition of their choosing.
The Soviet Union's Zond 5 landed in the Indian Ocean, becoming the first spacecraft to safely return to Earth after travelling around the Moon.
Portugal accepted a diplomatic mission from Southern Rhodesia despite objections by Britain, which had required the colony to implement black majority rule as a condition of independence.
The first section of Interstate 80 in Iowa opened in the Des Moines metropolitan area.
Second World War: The German Army began the Massacre of the Acqui Division on the Greek island of Cephalonia, executing 5,155 Italian soldiers in the next five days.
The Great New England Hurricane made landfall on Long Island, New York, killing an estimated 682 people and injuring 1,754 others.
J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy children's novel The Hobbit, which later served as a prelude to The Lord of the Rings, was first published.
Chandrashekhar Agashe established the Brihan Maharashtra Sugar Syndicate Ltd., one of the oldest companies in India.
The Muroto typhoon, the strongest in Japanese history at the time, made landfall on the mainland, killing more than 3,000 and leaving around 200,000 homeless.
Salvador Lutteroth ran the first Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre event, now the world's oldest professional wrestling promotion in existence, in Mexico City.
World War I: The Battle of Nazareth ended with the British Empire victorious over the Ottomans.
In response to a letter written by eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon, The New York Sun published an editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church stating, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".
American Revolutionary War: The Great Fire of New York (depicted) broke out during the British occupation of New York City, destroying up to 1,000 buildings.
Jacobite risings: Jacobite troops led by Charles Edward Stuart (pictured) defeated Hanoverian forces in Prestonpans, Scotland.
Led by Antonio de Vea, a Spanish naval expedition departed El Callao, Peru, for the fjords and channels of Patagonia to find whether rival colonial powers were in the region.
Norman invasion of Ireland: English and Irish forces conquered Dublin, forcing Ascall mac Ragnaill, the last Norse–Gaelic king of Dublin, into exile.
A 5.6 Mw earthquake shakes the Albanian port of Durrës. Forty-nine people are injured in the capital, Tirana.
LGBT rights activist Zak Kostopoulos is beaten to death on a busy street in Athens
Adventist Health System agreed to pay $118.7 million to settle allegations of fraud. It was the largest a hospital network has ever paid.
Al-Shabaab Islamic militants attack the Westgate shopping mall in Kenya, killing at least 67 people.
Three Egyptian militants open fire on a group of Israeli soldiers in a southern Israel cross-border attack.
The Galileo spacecraft is terminated by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere.
America: A Tribute to Heroes is broadcast by over 35 network and cable channels, raising over $200 million for the victims of the September 11 attacks.
Ross Parker is murdered in Peterborough, England, by a gang of ten British Pakistani youths.
The Chi-Chi earthquake occurs in central Taiwan, leaving about 2,400 people dead.
St. Olaf's Church, a stone church from the 16th century in Tyrvää, Finland, is burnt down by a burglar.
The Defense of Marriage Act is passed by the United States Congress.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin triggers a constitutional crisis when he suspends parliament and scraps the constitution.
A Transair Georgian Airlines Tu-134 is shot down by a missile in the Black Sea near Sokhumi, Georgia.
Armenia gains independence from the Soviet Union.
Brunei joins the United Nations.
Belize is granted full independence from the United Kingdom.
Sandra Day O'Connor is unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate as the first female Supreme Court justice.
Orlando Letelier is assassinated in Washington, D.C., at the order of Augusto Pinochet.
Seychelles joins the United Nations.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos begins authoritarian rule by declaring martial law.
Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations.
Mexicana de Aviación Flight 801, a Boeing 727-100 passenger plane, crashes during a landing attempt in Mexico City, killing 27 of the 118 occupants.
The Gambia, Maldives and Singapore are admitted as members of the United Nations.
Malta gains independence from the United Kingdom, but remains in the Commonwealth.
The North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the world's fastest bomber, makes its maiden flight from Palmdale, California.
Pamir, a four-masted barque, was shipwrecked and sank off the Azores during Hurricane Carrie.
Lieutenant No Kum-sok, a North Korean pilot, defects to South Korea with his jet fighter.
The Holocaust in Ukraine: On the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Nazis send over 1,000 Jews of Pidhaitsi to Bełżec extermination camp.
The Holocaust in Ukraine: In Dunaivtsi, Ukraine, Nazis murder 2,588 Jews.
The Holocaust in Poland: At the end of Yom Kippur, Germans order Jews to permanently move from Konstantynów to Biała Podlaska.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress makes its maiden flight.
Romanian Prime Minister Armand Călinescu is assassinated by the Iron Guard.
The Great Hurricane of 1938 makes landfall on Long Island in New York. The death toll is estimated at 500–700 people.
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is published for the first time. (September 22 is celebrated by some fans as Hobbit Day, however.)
A large typhoon hits western Honshū, Japan, killing more than 3,000 people.
Salvador Lutteroth establishes Mexican professional wrestling.
A storage silo in Oppau, Germany, explodes, killing 500–600 people.
Empress Dowager Cixi seizes power and ends the Hundred Days' Reform in China.
Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan: British forces under the command of Horatio Kitchener take Dongola.
Taiping Rebellion: The Ever Victorious Army defeats Taiping forces at the Battle of Cixi.
Second Opium War: An Anglo-French force defeats Chinese troops at the Battle of Palikao.
The crew of schooner Ancud, led by John Williams Wilson, takes possession of the Strait of Magellan on behalf of the Chilean government.
War of 1812: British forces abandon their unsuccessful siege of Fort Erie.
British Secretary of War Lord Castlereagh and Foreign Secretary George Canning meet in a duel on Putney Heath, with Castlereagh wounding Canning in the thigh.
French Revolution: The National Convention abolishes the monarchy.
American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold gives the British the plans to West Point.
Part of New York City is burned shortly after being occupied by British forces.
A British government army led by Sir John Cope is defeated in less than 15 minutes by the Jacobite forces of Prince Charles Edward Stuart.
The Treaty of Arras is promulgated, causing Burgundy to switch sides in the Hundred Years' War.
Livonian Crusade: The Estonian leader Lembitu and Livonian leader Caupo of Turaida are killed in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day.
Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland: The Kingdom of Dublin falls to Anglo-Norman invaders.
Emperor Avitus enters Italy with a Gallic army and consolidates his power.
Wang Junkai, Chinese singer
Alexander Isak, Eritrean-Swedish professional footballer
Máscara de Bronce, Mexican wrestler
Yainer Díaz, Dominican baseball player
Bruno Caboclo, Brazilian basketball player
Devin Williams, American baseball player
Kirsty Gilmour, Scottish badminton player
Kwon Mina, South Korean singer and actress
Ante Rebić, Croatian footballer
Kim Jong-dae, South Korean singer-songwriter
Rodrigo Godínez, Mexican footballer
Devyn Marble, American basketball player
Anastassia Kovalenko, Estonian motorcycle racer
Carlos Martínez, Dominican baseball player
Al-Farouq Aminu, American basketball player
Danny Batth, English footballer
Rob Cross, English darts player
Ivan Dorschner, American-Filipino model and actor
Sam Kasiano, New Zealand rugby league player
Allison Scagliotti, American actress and musician
Christian Serratos, American actress
Jason Derulo, American singer-songwriter
Sandor Earl, Australian rugby league player
Manny Harris, American basketball player
Emma Watkins, Australian singer and actress
Doug Baldwin, American football player
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistani politician
Jimmy Clausen, American football player
Anthony Don, Australian rugby league player
Marcelo Estigarribia, Paraguayan footballer
Ryan Guzman, American actor and model
Murilo Maccari, Brazilian footballer
Ashley Paris, American basketball player
Courtney Paris, American basketball player
Michał Pazdan, Polish footballer
Ivelisse Vélez, Puerto Rican wrestler
Faris Badwan, English singer-songwriter
Lindsey Stirling, American violinist and composer
Justin Durant, American football player
Dwayne Bowe, American football player
Ahna O'Reilly, American actress
Ben Wildman-Tobriner, American swimmer
Wale, American rapper
Ndiss Kaba Badji, Senegalese athlete
Fernando Cavenaghi, Argentine footballer
Francesco Dracone, Italian race car driver
Scott Evans, American actor
Anna Favella, Italian actress
Maggie Grace, American actress
Cristian Hidalgo, Spanish footballer
Greg Jennings, American football player
Joseph Mazzello, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
Anna Meares, Australian track cyclist
Reggie Nelson, American football player
Rafael Marques Pinto, Brazilian footballer
Eduardo Azevedo, Brazilian race car driver
Dominic Perrottet, Australian politician, 46th Premier of New South Wales
Christos Tapoutos, Greek basketball player
Rowan Vine, English footballer
Nicole Richie, American actress, fashion designer, and author
Sarah Whatmore, English singer-songwriter
Nyree Kindred, Welsh swimmer
Tomas Scheckter, South African race car driver
Autumn Reeser, American actress
Kareena Kapoor, Indian actress
James Allan, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist
Richard Dunne, Irish footballer
Chris Gayle, Jamaican cricketer
Julian Gray, English footballer
Monika Merl, German runner
Paulo Costanzo, Canadian actor, director, and producer
Luke Godden, Australian footballer
Doug Howlett, New Zealand rugby player
Kārlis Lācis, Latvian pianist and composer
Andre Pärn, Estonian basketball player
Kohei Sato, Japanese wrestler
Brian Tallet, American baseball player
Jonas Bjerre, Danish singer-songwriter and guitarist
Poul Hübertz, Danish footballer and manager
Doug Davis, American baseball player
Bryce Drew, American basketball player and coach
Andy Todd, English footballer and manager
Vanessa Grigoriadis, American journalist and author
Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spanish tennis player
Oswaldo Sánchez, Mexican footballer
Olivia Bonamy, French actress
Liam Gallagher, English singer-songwriter
Jon Kitna, American football player and coach
John Crawley, English cricketer and academic
James Lesure, Americana actor
Alfonso Ribeiro, American actor, director, and comedian
Luke Wilson, American actor, director, and screenwriter
Rob Benedict, American actor, screenwriter, and musician
Melissa Ferrick, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Samantha Power, Irish-American journalist, academic, and diplomat, 28th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Anne Burrell, American chef and television host
Jason Christiansen, American baseball player
Curtis Leschyshyn, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster
Billy Porter, American actor and singer
Kevin Buzzard, British mathematician
David Jude Jolicoeur, American rapper, songwriter, and producer (died 2023)
Ricki Lake, American actress, producer, and talk show host
Faith Hill, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
Suman Pokhrel, Nepali poet, lyricist and playwright
Tyler Stewart, Canadian drummer
Kerrin Lee-Gartner, Canadian skier and journalist
Frédéric Beigbeder, French author and critic
Cheryl Hines, American actress
Johanna Vuoksenmaa, Finnish director and screenwriter
Jorge Drexler, Uruguayan singer-songwriter
Lester Quitzau, Canadian guitarist
Curtly Ambrose, Antiguan cricketer and bass player
Cecil Fielder, American baseball player and manager
Angus Macfadyen, Scottish actor and screenwriter
Mamoru Samuragochi, Japanese composer
Trevor Steven, English footballer
David J. Wales, British academic and educator
Rob Morrow, American actor
Billy Collins, Jr., American boxer (died 1984)
Dan Borislow, American businessman and inventor (died 2014)
Serena Scott Thomas, English actress and producer
Nancy Travis, American actress and producer
David James Elliott, Canadian-American actor and director
Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iranian journalist, politician and scientist, first woman Vice President of Iran
Kelley Eskridge, American author and screenwriter
Musalia Mudavadi, Kenyan politician and Former Deputy Prime Minister
Graham Southern, English art dealer and gallery owner
Maurizio Cattelan, Italian sculptor
Crin Antonescu, Romanian educator and politician, former Interim President of Romania
Andrzej Buncol, Polish footballer
Dave Coulier, American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter
Danny Cox, English-American baseball player and coach
Corinne Drewery, English singer-songwriter and fashion designer
Rick Mahorn, American basketball player and coach
Simon Mayo, English radio host
Ethan Coen, American director, producer, and screenwriter
Mark Levin, American lawyer, radio host, and author
Sidney Moncrief, American basketball player and coach
Kevin Rudd, Australian politician and diplomat, 26th Prime Minister of Australia
Jack Givens, American basketball player and sportscaster
Marta Kauffman, American screenwriter and producer
Ricky Morton, American wrestler
Richard Hieb, American engineer and astronaut
Israel Katz, Israeli politician
Mika Kaurismäki, Finnish director, producer, and screenwriter
Shinzo Abe, Japanese lawyer and politician, 90th Prime Minister of Japan (died 2022)
Julia Grant, British transgender activist (died 2019)
Thomas S. Ray, American ecologist and academic
Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, English rock drummer (died 2015)
Arie Luyendyk, Dutch race car driver and sportscaster
Reinhard Marx, German cardinal
Dave Gregory, English guitarist and keyboard player
John Taylor, Baron Taylor of Warwick, English lawyer and politician
Bruce Arena, American soccer player and manager
Aslan Maskhadov, Chechen general and politician, 3rd President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (died 2005)
Charles Clarke, English economist and politician, Secretary of State for Education
Bill Murray, American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter
Henry Butler, American pianist and photographer (died 2018)
Artis Gilmore, American basketball player and radio host
Odilo Scherer, Brazilian cardinal
Jack Dromey, English union leader and politician (died 2022)
Mitsuo Momota, Japanese wrestler
John B. O'Reilly Jr., American politician (died 2025)
Don Felder, American musician and songwriter
Keith Harris, English ventriloquist and singer (died 2015)
Rupert Hine, English musician, songwriter, and record producer (died 2020)
Stephen King, American author and screenwriter
Ed Nimmervoll, Austrian-Australian journalist, historian, and author (died 2014)
Marsha Norman, American playwright and author
Rose Garrard, English sculptor and author
Moritz Leuenberger, Swiss lawyer and politician, 87th President of the Swiss Confederation
Mart Siimann, Estonian psychologist and politician, 12th Prime Minister of Estonia
Richard Childress, American race car driver and businessman
Shaw Clifton, Northern Irish 18th General of The Salvation Army (died 2023)
Kay Ryan, American poet and educator
Steve Beshear, American lawyer and politician, 61st Governor of Kentucky
Marcus Binney, English historian and author
Fannie Flagg, American actress, comedian, and author
Hamilton Jordan, American politician, 8th White House Chief of Staff (died 2008)
Bobby Tench, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2024)
David Hood, American session bassist and trombone player
Jerry Bruckheimer, American film and television producer
Sam McDowell, American baseball player
Jack Brisco, American wrestler and manager (died 2010)
R. James Woolsey, Jr., American scholar and diplomat, 16th Director of Central Intelligence
Ron Fenton, English footballer, coach, and manager (died 2013)
Hermann Knoflacher, Austrian engineer and academic
Bill Kurtis, American journalist and producer
Agnivesh, Indian philosopher, academic, and politician (died 2020)
Doug Moe, American basketball player and coach
Olu Falae, Nigerian politician and government official
John D'Amico, Canadian ice hockey player and referee (died 2005)
Ian Albery, English manager and producer
Dickey Lee, American pop-country singer-songwriter and guitarist
Yury Luzhkov, Russian soldier and politician, 2nd Mayor of Moscow (died 2019)
Diane Rehm, American journalist and radio host
Jimmy Armfield, English footballer and manager (died 2018)
Henry Gibson, American actor (died 2009)
Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer-songwriter and poet (died 2016)
María Rubio, Mexican actress (died 2018)
Allan Jeans, Australian footballer and coach (died 2011)
Dick Simon, American race car driver
Shirley Conran, English journalist and author (died 2024)
Marjorie Fletcher, English Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service (died 2008)
Don Preston, American keyboard player and composer
Larry Hagman, American actor, director, and producer (died 2012)
John Morgan, Welsh-Canadian actor and screenwriter (died 2004)
Bob Stokoe, English footballer and manager (died 2004)
Sándor Kocsis, Hungarian footballer and manager (died 1979)
Edgar Valter, Estonian author and illustrator (died 2006)
Bernard Williams, English-Italian philosopher and academic (died 2003)
Don Dunstan, Fijian-Australian lawyer and politician, 35th Premier of South Australia (died 1999)
Donald A. Glaser, American physicist and neurobiologist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2013)
Fereydoon Moshiri, Iranian poet and critic (died 2000)
Hermann Buhl, Austrian mountaineer (died 1957)
Fred Hunt, British jazz pianist (died 1986)
John McHale, American baseball player and manager (died 2008)
Kenneth McAlpine, British race car driver (died 2023)
Mario Bunge, Argentinian-Canadian physicist and philosopher (died 2020)
Herman Fowlkes, Jr., American trumpet player and educator (died 1993)
Fazlur Rahman Malik, Pakistani philosopher and scholar (died 1988)
John Gofman, American physicist, chemist, and biologist (died 2007)
Karl Slover, American actor (died 2011)
Juan José Arreola, Mexican writer and academic (died 2001)
Phyllis Nicolson, English mathematician and academic (died 1968)
Françoise Giroud, Swiss-French journalist and politician, French Minister of Culture (died 2003)
Chuck Jones, American animator, producer, and screenwriter (died 2002)
György Sándor, Hungarian pianist and composer (died 2005)
Meinrad Schütter, Swiss composer (died 2006)
Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanaian educator and politician, 1st President of Ghana (died 1972)
Henry Beachell, American biologist and botanist (died 2006)
Robert Lebel, Canadian businessman and politician (died 1999)
Hans Hartung, German-French painter (died 1989)
Preston Tucker, American engineer and businessman, designed the Tucker Sedan (died 1956)
Luis Cernuda, Spanish poet and critic (died 1963)
Allen Lane, English publisher, founded Penguin Books (died 1970)
Howie Morenz, Canadian ice hockey player (died 1937)
Frederick Coutts, Scottish 8th General of The Salvation Army (died 1986)
Frances Mary Albrier, American civil rights activist (died 1987)
Anton Piëch, Austrian lawyer and businessman (died 1952)
Erna Scheffler, German lawyer and justice of the Federal Constitutional Court (died 1983)
Max Immelmann, German lieutenant and pilot (died 1916)
Charles William Train, English sergeant, Victoria Cross recipient (died 1965)
Dénes Kőnig, Hungarian mathematician and theorist (died 1944)
Geevarghese Ivanios, Indian metropolitan (died 1953)
Peter McWilliam, Scottish-English footballer and manager (died 1951)
Gustav Holst, English composer and educator (died 1934)
Papa Jack Laine, American drummer and bandleader (died 1966)
Henry Tingle Wilde, English chief officer on the RMS Titanic (died 1912)
Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe, English politician, 4th Governor-General of New Zealand (died 1958)
Henry L. Stimson, American colonel, lawyer, and politician, 46th United States Secretary of State (died 1950)
Charles Nicolle, French-Tunisian microbiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1936)
H. G. Wells, English novelist, historian, and critic (died 1946)
John Bunny, American actor (died 1915)
James E. Talmage, English-American religious leader and author (died 1933)
Francesc Macià, Catalan colonel and politician, 122nd President of Catalonia (died 1933)
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, Dutch physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1926)
Fanny Searls, American biologist (died 1939)
Maurice Barrymore, American actor (died 1905)
Mihály Kolossa, Hungarian-Slovene author and poet (died 1906)
Abdul Hamid II, 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (died 1918)
Murad V, Ottoman sultan (died 1904)
Princess Louise Marie Thérèse of Artois (died 1864)
John Fitchett, English poet (died 1838)
Antoine Barnave, French politician and orator (died 1793)
Ivan Dmitriev, Russian poet and politician, Minister of Justice for Imperial Russia (died 1837)
Christopher Gore, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 8th Governor of Massachusetts (died 1827)
Polyxena of Hesse-Rotenburg (died 1735)
Louis Jolliet, Canadian explorer (died 1700)
Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, younger son of Louis XIII of France and his wife (died 1701)
Philip Howard, English cardinal (died 1694)
Cigoli, Italian painter and architect (died 1613)
Barbara Longhi, Italian painter (died 1638)
Hedwig Jagiellon, Duchess of Bavaria, Polish princess (died 1502)
Girolamo Savonarola, Italian priest and philosopher (died 1498)
Guillaume Fichet, French scholar and academic (died 1480)
Jingtai Emperor of China (died 1457)
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor (died 1493)
Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, English politician, Lord Protector of England (died 1460)
Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara, Italian noble (died 1450)
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg (died 1440)
Bertha of Savoy (died 1087)
Abu Ishaq Ibrahim, Buyid prince
Pope Vitalian (died 672)
Raquel Blandón, Guatemalan lawyer and activist, First Lady of Guatemala (born 1943)
Benny Golson, American saxophonist and composer (born 1929)
Eddie Low, New Zealand country singer and musician (born 1943)
Mercury Morris, American football player (born 1947)
Walewska Oliveira, Brazilian volleyball player and Olympic champion (born 1979)
Raju Srivastav, Indian comedian, actor and politician (born 1963)
Willie Garson, American actor (born 1964)
Arthur Ashkin, American scientist and Nobel laureate (born 1922)
Trần Đại Quang, President of Vietnam (born 1956)
Vitaliy Masol, Ukrainian Former Prime Minister (born 1928)
Yoram Gross, Polish-Australian director and producer (born 1926)
Ray Warleigh, Australian-English saxophonist and flute player (born 1938)
Richard Williamson, American footballer and coach (born 1941)
Michael Harari, Israeli intelligence officer (born 1927)
Caldwell Jones, American basketball player and coach (born 1950)
Sheldon Patinkin, American director and playwright (born 1935)
Kofi Awoonor, Ghanaian author, poet, and diplomat (born 1935)
Michel Brault, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1928)
Harl H. Haas, Jr., American lawyer, jurist, and politician (born 1932)
Walter Wallmann, German lawyer and politician, Minister-President of Hesse (born 1932)
Ko Wierenga, Dutch lawyer and politician (born 1933)
José Curbelo, Cuban-American pianist and manager (born 1917)
Yehuda Elkana, Israeli historian and philosopher (born 1934)
Sven Hassel, Danish-German soldier and author (born 1917)
Bill King, English commander, sailor, and author (born 1910)
Tom Umphlett, American baseball player and manager (born 1930)
John Du Cann, English guitarist (born 1946)
Jun Henmi, Japanese author and poet (born 1939)
Pamela Ann Rymer, American lawyer and judge (born 1941)
Robert Ginty, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1948)
Hallgeir Brenden, Norwegian skier (born 1929)
Alice Ghostley, American actress (born 1923)
Rex Humbard, American evangelist and television host (born 1919)
Tasos Athanasiadis, Greek author (born 1913)
Bob Mason, English actor and screenwriter (born 1952)
Robert L. Forward, American physicist and science fiction author (born 1932)
Jacques Flynn, Canadian lawyer and politician, 35th Canadian Minister of Justice (born 1915)
Leonid Rogozov, Russian physician and surgeon (born 1934)
Florence Griffith Joyner, American sprinter (born 1959)
Rudy Perpich, American dentist and politician, 34th Governor of Minnesota (born 1928)
Tarachand Barjatya, Indian film producer, founded Rajshri Productions (born 1914)
Gordon Bashford, English engineer (born 1916)
Takis Kanellopoulos, Greek director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1933)
Rajini Thiranagama, Sri Lankan physician and academic (born 1954)
Glenn Robert Davis, American lieutenant and politician (born 1914)
Jaco Pastorius, American bass player, composer, and producer (born 1951)
Gu Long, Chinese author and screenwriter (born 1937)
Andrew Brewin, Canadian politician (born 1907)
Bob Donham, American basketball player (born 1926)
Bada Rajan, Indian mobster (born unknown)
Birgit Tengroth, Swedish actor (born 1915)
Willy Trenk-Trebitsch, Austrian actor (born 1902)
Xavier Zubiri, Basque philosopher (born 1898)
Ivan Bagramyan, Russian general (born 1897)
Benjamin Graham, British-American economist, professor, and investor (born 1894)
Orlando Letelier, Chilean economist and politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Chile (born 1932)
Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, Turkish painter and poet (born 1911)
Walter Brennan, American actor (born 1894)
Jacqueline Susann, American author and actress (born 1918)
Henry de Montherlant, French essayist, novelist, and dramatist (born 1896)
Bernardo Houssay, Argentinian physiologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1887)
Paul Reynaud, French lawyer and politician, 118th Prime Minister of France (born 1878)
Josef Müller, Croatian entomologist (born 1880)
Paulino Masip, Spanish author, playwright, and screenwriter (born 1899)
Bo Carter, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1892)
Ed Oliver, American golfer (born 1915)
Peter Whitehead, English race car driver (born 1914)
Haakon VII of Norway (born 1872)
Bill Struth, Scottish footballer and manager (born 1875)
Mikimoto Kōkichi, Japanese businessman (born 1858)
Necmettin Sadak, Turkish publisher and politician, 10th Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1890)
Harry Carey, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1878)
Alexander Koshetz, Ukrainian choral conductor, arranger, composer (born 1875)
Artur Phleps, Romanian general (born 1881)
John Symes, English cricketer (born 1879)
Armand Călinescu, Romanian economist and politician, 39th Prime Minister of Romania (born 1893)
Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, Croatian author and poet (born 1874)
Osgood Perkins, American actor (born 1892)
Kenji Miyazawa, Japanese author and poet (born 1896)
Léon Charles Thévenin, French engineer (born 1857)
Samuel Arnold, American conspirator (born 1838)
Nikolay Benardos, Ukrainian inventor (born 1842)
Chief Joseph, American tribal leader (born 1840)
Manuel Montt, Chilean scholar and politician, 6th President of Chile (born 1809)
Jean-Baptiste Élie de Beaumont, French geologist and engineer (born 1798)
Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher and author (born 1788)
Walter Scott, Scottish novelist, playwright, and poet (born 1771)
Emanuel Schikaneder, German actor and playwright (born 1751)
George Read, American lawyer and politician, 3rd Governor of Delaware (born 1733)
François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers, French general (born 1769)
John Balguy, English philosopher and author (born 1686)
Jai Singh II, Indian king (born 1688)
Johann Heinrich Acker, German historian and academic (born 1647)
Ivan Mazepa, Ukrainian statesman, Hetman of Zaporizhian Host (born 1639)
Emperor Hong Taiji of China (born 1592)
William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (born 1602)
Jan Pieterszoon Coen, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (born 1587)
Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, French cardinal and diplomat (born 1517)
Gerolamo Cardano, Italian mathematician, physician, and astrologer (born 1501)
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (born 1500)
Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel, English admiral (born 1346)
Edward II of England (born 1284)
William of Kilkenny, Lord Chancellor of England
Andrew II of Hungary (born 1175)
Lembitu, Estonian king and military leader
Caupo of Turaida
Otto-William, Count of Burgundy
Pope Conon (born 630)
Flavius Aetius, Roman general and politician (born 396)
Virgil, Roman poet (born 70 BC)
Autumnal equinox observances in the Northern Hemisphere, vernal equinox observances in the Southern Hemisphere (see September 22): Spring Day (Argentina)
Christian feast day: Ephigenia of Ethiopia
Christian feast day: Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert (one of the Korean Martyrs)
Christian feast day: Matthew the Evangelist (Western Church)
Christian feast day: Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Church, Julian calendar)
Christian feast day: September 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Arbor Day (Brazil)
Commemoration of the Declaration of Martial Law (Philippines)
Customs Service Day (Poland)
Founder's Day and National Volunteer Day (Ghana)
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Armenia from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Belize from the United Kingdom in 1981.
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Malta from the United Kingdom in 1964.
International Day of Peace (International)
Student's Day (Bolivia)
Victory over the Golden Horde in the Battle of Kulikovo (Russia)