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 25 Friday, September 25, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 25 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
5
Holidays
1690
US history 336 years ago
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, the first newspaper to appear in the Americas, is published for the first and only time.
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick becomes the first newspaper published in the Americas but is immediately suppressed by colonial authorities after its initial issue.
History
What happened on September 25
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 275World history
For the last time, the Roman Senate chooses an emperor; they elect 75-year-old Marcus Claudius Tacitus.
Marcus Claudius Tacitus is elected as the final emperor by the Roman Senate.
- 762World history
Led by Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya, the Hasanid branch of the Alids begins the Alid Revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate.
Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya leads the Hasanid branch of the Alids in a revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate.
- 1066UK history
In the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Harald Hardrada, the invading King of Norway, is defeated by King Harold II of England.
King Harold II defeats Harald Hardrada in the Battle of Stamford Bridge, ending Norway's invasion of England.
- 1237UK history
England and Scotland sign the Treaty of York, establishing the location of their common border.
England and Scotland establish their common border through the Treaty of York.
- 1396War
Ottoman Emperor Bayezid I defeats a Christian army at the Battle of Nicopolis.
Bayezid I defeats a Christian army, marking a significant victory for the Ottoman Empire.
- 1513World history
Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches what would become known as the Pacific Ocean.
Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa becomes the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean from the New World, crossing the Isthmus of Panama.
- 1555European history
The Peace of Augsburg is signed by Emperor Charles V and the princes of the Schmalkaldic League.
The Peace of Augsburg allows German rulers to choose Lutheranism or Catholicism for their territories, ending religious conflict.
- 1690US history
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, the first newspaper to appear in the Americas, is published for the first and only time.
Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick becomes the first newspaper published in the Americas but is immediately suppressed by colonial authorities after its initial issue.
- 1775War
American Revolutionary War: Ethan Allen surrenders to British forces after attempting to capture Montreal in the Battle of Longue-Pointe during the invasion of Quebec.
Ethan Allen surrenders to British forces after his attempt to capture Montreal fails in the Battle of Longue-Pointe.
- 1789US history
The United States Congress passes twelve constitutional amendments: the ten known as the Bill of Rights, the (unratified) Congressional Apportionment Amendment, and the Congressional Compensation Amendment.
The U.S. Congress approves twelve constitutional amendments, ten of which become the Bill of Rights while two remain unratified for decades.
- 1804US history
The Teton Sioux (a subdivision of the Lakota) demand one of the boats from the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a toll for allowing the expedition to move further upriver.
The Teton Sioux demand one of the boats from the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a toll for passage upriver.
- 1992Technology
NASA launches the Mars Observer. Eleven months later, the probe would fail while preparing for orbital insertion.
NASA launches the Mars Observer; eleven months later, the probe fails during preparations for orbital insertion.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 25
7 this date All birthdays
Jessica Anderson
Australian author and playwright
Jessica Anderson, the Australian novelist and short story writer who won acclaim for "Tirra Lirra by the River," was born today in 1916.
Born
1916
Died
2010
Ralph Jordan
American football player and coach
1910 – 1980
bell hooks
American author and activist
1952 – 2021
John A. List
American economist and academic
b. 1968 · 58
Hansie Cronje
South African cricketer
1969 – 2002
Matt Hasselbeck
American football player
b. 1975 · 51
Chauncey Billups
American basketball player
b. 1976 · 50
Music
The number one songs on September 25
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 25, 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 25, 1977
About 4,200 people take part in the first running of the Chicago Marathon.
About 4,200 runners participate in the inaugural Chicago Marathon.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 25, 1906
Leonardo Torres Quevedo demonstrates the Telekino in the Bilbao Abra (Spain), guiding an electric boat from the shore with people on board, which was controlled at a distance over 2 km (1.2 mi), in what is considered to be the origin of modern wireless remote-control operation principles.
Leonardo Torres Quevedo demonstrates the Telekino, guiding an electric boat with people on board over 2 km using wireless signals.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Armed Forces Day or Revolution Day (Mozambique)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Bangladeshi Immigration Day (United States)
International
On 25 September 1974, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York City to the member states' representatives at the Gene
Day of National Recognition for the Harkis (France)
International
Harki is the generic term for native Muslim Algerians who served as auxiliaries alongside the French Army during the Algerian War from 1954 to 1962
National Research Administrators Day (United States)
International
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U
National Youth Day (Nauru)
International
This is a list of holidays in Nauru, an island nation in Micronesia