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 6 Sunday, September 6, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 6 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
1620
US history 406 years ago
The Pilgrims sail from Plymouth, England on the Mayflower to settle in North America. (Old Style date; September 16 per New Style date.)
The Pilgrims depart Plymouth, England aboard the Mayflower, bound for the New World to establish a colony in what becomes Massachusetts.
History
What happened on September 6
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 394War
Battle of the Frigidus: Roman emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills Eugenius the usurper. His Frankish magister militum Arbogast escapes but commits suicide two days later.
Roman emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the usurper Eugenius at the Battle of the Frigidus; his Frankish general Arbogast escapes but commits suicide two days later.
- 1492World history
Christopher Columbus sails from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, his final port of call before crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.
Christopher Columbus sets sail from La Gomera, beginning his historic transatlantic voyage.
- 1522World history
The Victoria returns to Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain, the only surviving ship of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition and the first known ship to circumnavigate the world.
The Victoria returns to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, becoming the first ship to complete a global circumnavigation.
- 1620US history
The Pilgrims sail from Plymouth, England on the Mayflower to settle in North America. (Old Style date; September 16 per New Style date.)
The Pilgrims depart Plymouth, England aboard the Mayflower, bound for the New World to establish a colony in what becomes Massachusetts.
- 1634War
Thirty Years' War: In the Battle of Nördlingen, the Catholic Imperial army defeats Swedish and German Protestant forces.
The Catholic Imperial army defeats the Swedish and German Protestant forces in the Battle of Nördlingen.
- 1781War
American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Groton Heights takes place, resulting in a British victory.
British forces capture Fort Griswold in Connecticut, massacring many American defenders after they surrendered in one of the war's bloodiest episodes.
- 1803Science
British scientist John Dalton begins using symbols to represent the atoms of different elements.
John Dalton introduces symbols to represent different chemical elements, laying foundational work for modern chemistry.
- 1885European history
Eastern Rumelia declares its union with Bulgaria, thus accomplishing Bulgarian unification.
Eastern Rumelia joins Bulgaria, completing Bulgarian unification.
- 1936War
Spanish Civil War: The Interprovincial Council of Asturias and León is established.
The Interprovincial Council of Asturias and León is established to govern the region during the Spanish Civil War.
- 1991World history
The Russian parliament approves the name change of Leningrad back to Saint Petersburg. The change is effective October 1.
The Russian parliament renames Leningrad to Saint Petersburg.
- 2018Politics
Supreme Court of India decriminalised all consensual sex among adults in private, making homosexuality legal on the Indian lands.
The Supreme Court of India decriminalized consensual same-sex relations in private, legalizing homosexuality across the country.
- 2022War
Russo-Ukrainian war: Ukraine begins its Kharkiv counteroffensive, surprising Russian forces and retaking over 3,000 square kilometers of land, recapturing the entire Kharkiv Oblast west of the Oskil River, within the next week.
Ukraine launches a counteroffensive that surprises Russian forces and recaptures over 3,000 square kilometers of land in Kharkiv Oblast.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 6
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 63
Mark Chesnutt
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Mark Chesnutt, American country music singer and songwriter who charted eight albums between 1990 and 1999 on MCA and Decca Records, turns 63 today.
Born
1963
Turns 63
today
Zelia Nuttall
American archeologist and historian
1857 – 1933
Jessie Willcox Smith
American illustrator
1863 – 1935
Joan Tower
American pianist, composer, and conductor
b. 1938 · 88
Wendi Richter
American wrestler
b. 1961 · 65
Saeed Anwar
Pakistani cricketer
b. 1968 · 58
Joe Harris
American basketball player
b. 1991 · 35
Music
The number one songs on September 6
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 6, 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 6, 1995
Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles plays in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking a record that had stood for 56 years.
Cal Ripken Jr. breaks Lou Gehrig's record by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game for the Baltimore Orioles.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 6, 2013
The first Minotaur V rocket is launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, carrying NASA's LADEE spacecraft.
The first Minotaur V rocket launches from Wallops Island, carrying NASA’s LADEE spacecraft.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
The earliest date on which the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is performed
International
The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is a folk dance which takes place each September in the village of Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire, England
Armed Forces Day (São Tomé and Príncipe)
International
This is a list of holidays in São Tomé and Príncipe
Defence Day or Army Day (Pakistan)
International
Defence Day is celebrated in Pakistan as a national day to commemorate the sacrifices made by Pakistani soldiers in defending its borders
Flag Day (Bonaire)
International
Bonaire is a Caribbean island in the Leeward Antilles
Independence Day (Swaziland), celebrates the independence of Eswatini from the United Kingdom in 1968
International
This is a list of holidays in Eswatini
Unification Day (Bulgaria)
International
Unification Day on 6 September is a national holiday of Bulgaria