Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
September 2 Wednesday, September 2, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 2 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
6
Holidays
1561
Royalty 465 years ago
Entry of Mary, Queen of Scots into Edinburgh, a spectacular civic celebration for the Queen of Scotland, marred by religious controversy.
Mary, Queen of Scots enters Edinburgh amid grand civic pageantry, though Protestant reformers object to Catholic elements of the celebration.
History
What happened on September 2
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -44World history
Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion.
Cleopatra VII names her son Ptolemy XV Caesarion as co-ruler of Egypt.
- -31War
Final War of the Roman Republic: Battle of Actium: Off the western coast of Greece, forces of Octavian defeat troops under Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
Octavian defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra in a naval battle off Greece's western coast.
- 1192War
The Treaty of Jaffa is signed between Richard I of England and Saladin, leading to the end of the Third Crusade.
Richard I signs a truce with Saladin in Jaffa, ending the Third Crusade.
- 1561Royalty
Entry of Mary, Queen of Scots into Edinburgh, a spectacular civic celebration for the Queen of Scotland, marred by religious controversy.
Mary, Queen of Scots enters Edinburgh amid grand civic pageantry, though Protestant reformers object to Catholic elements of the celebration.
- 1601War
4th Spanish Armada makes landfall in Ireland at Kinsale.
Spanish forces arrive in Kinsale, marking a significant event in the Nine Years' War.
- 1666Disaster
The Great Fire of London breaks out and burns for three days, destroying 10,000 buildings, including Old St Paul's Cathedral.
The Great Fire of London destroys 10,000 buildings, including Old St Paul's Cathedral, over three days.
- 1752UK history
Great Britain, along with its overseas possessions, adopts the Gregorian calendar.
Great Britain and its colonies adopt the Gregorian calendar, skipping eleven days to align with most of Europe.
- 1789US history
The United States Department of the Treasury is founded.
The United States Department of the Treasury is established to manage government revenue, public debt, and federal finances.
- 1856War
The Tianjing incident takes place in Nanjing, China.
British and French forces capture the Qing Imperial Palace during the Second Opium War.
- 1885US history
Rock Springs massacre: In Rock Springs, Wyoming, 150 white miners, who are struggling to unionize so they could strike for better wages and work conditions, attack their Chinese fellow workers, killing 28, wounding 15 and forcing several hundred more out of town.
White miners in Rock Springs attack Chinese workers, killing 28 and displacing hundreds.
- 1998Disaster
Swissair Flight 111 crashes near Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia; all 229 people on board are killed.
Swissair Flight 111 crashes off the coast of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, killing all 229 passengers and crew.
- 2019Disaster
Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 hurricane, devastates the Bahamas, killing at least five.
Hurricane Dorian devastates the Bahamas, causing widespread destruction and claiming at least five lives.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 2
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 39
Scott Moir
Canadian ice dancer
Scott Moir, the Canadian ice dancer who with partner Tessa Virtue won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2018 and claimed three World Championship titles, turns 39 today.
Born
1987
Turns 39
today
Andreas Embirikos
Greek psychoanalyst and poet
1901 – 1975
Bill Shankly
Scottish footballer and manager
1913 – 1981
Cleveland Amory
American author and critic
1917 – 1997
Jimmy Connors
American tennis player, coach, and sportscaster
b. 1952 · 74
Eric Dickerson
American football player and sportscaster
b. 1960 · 66
Keisuke Kato
Japanese actor and singer
b. 1988 · 38
Music
The number one songs on September 2
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 2, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport September 2, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 2, 2023
India's first solar observation mission: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launches Aditya-L1 from Satish Dhawan space centre.
The Indian Space Research Organisation launches Aditya-L1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre to study the Sun.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Democracy Day (Tibet)
International
The Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE), officially the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration, is the unicameral and highest legislative organ of the Central Tibetan Administration, the gove
Independence Day (Transnistria, unrecognized)
International
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end o
Independence Day (Artsakh, unrecognized)
International
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end o
National Blueberry Popsicle Day (United States)
International
This is a list of food days by country
National Day, celebrates the independence of Vietnam from Japan and France in 1945
International
Independence Day is a national holiday in Vietnam observed on 2 September, commemorating President Hồ Chí Minh reading the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam from France and Japan at Ba Đình Squar
Victory over Japan Day (United States)
International
Victory over Japan Day is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end