2017 North Korean nuclear test
North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test at Punggye-ri, causing a magnitude-6.3 earthquake.
What happened on September 3
35 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 7 observances. From 36 BCE to 2024.
Standout on September 3
2016
China
The U.S. and China, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both formally ratify the Paris global climate agreement.
About September 3
September 3 is the 246th day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 246 of 365 (247 in leap years)119 days left in the year (119 in leap years)
- Falls on
- Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029, Tuesday in 2030
- Week
- ISO week 36 of 2026 · Q3
- Zodiac sign
- ♍ Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
- Season
- Summer in the north · Winter in the south
- September birthstone
- Sapphirewisdom, loyalty and nobility
- September birth flower
- Aster / Morning glorypatience, wisdom and affection
- Next occurrence
- In 311 days
- Roman numerals
- III.IXday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 375thRoundhead1651
- 125thRoyal Exhibition Building1901
- 90thThe Guild of Carillonneurs in North America1936
- 50thViking program1976
- 30thAbrahm DeVine1996
- 30thCallum Moore (Australian footballer)1996
- 30thFlorian Maitre1996
- 30thJoy (singer)1996
September 3 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- China
- 25 years ago2001
- The Troubles · Belfast · Kaia Gerber
- 50 years ago1976
- Viking program
- 100 years ago1926
- Nothing recorded
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on September 3 — ages this year
- 2010Tanitoluwa Adewumiturns 16
- 2003Jack Dylan Grazerturns 23
- 2001Kaia Gerberturns 25
- 2000Brandon Williams (footballer)turns 26
- 1999Rich Brianturns 27
- 1998Oskar Seuntjensturns 28
Historical events 35
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
North Korea
North Korea conducts its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
China
The U.S. and China, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both formally ratify the Paris global climate agreement.
Dubai International Airport
After taking off from Dubai International Airport, UPS Airlines Flight 6 develops an in-flight fire in the cargo hold and crashes near Nad Al Sheba, killing both crew members on board.
Beslan school siege
Beslan school siege ends, resulting in over 330 fatalities, including 186 children.
The Troubles
The Troubles: Ulster loyalists resumed a picket outside a Catholic girls' primary school in the Protestant portion of Ardoyne, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Belfast
In Belfast, Protestant loyalists begin a picket of Holy Cross, a Catholic primary school for girls.
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines Flight 815 (Tupolev Tu-134) crashes on approach into Phnom Penh airport, killing 64.
Hamlet chicken processing plant fire
A fire killed 25 people locked inside a burning chicken processing plant in Hamlet, North Carolina, U.S.
Varig Flight 254
Varig Flight 254 crashes in the Amazon rainforest near São José do Xingu in Brazil, killing 12.
Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046
Cubana de Aviación Flight 9046 crashes into a residential area of Havana shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport, killing 150.
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
While he was abroad, Burundian president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza was deposed in a military coup d'état by Pierre Buyoya.
1987 Burundian coup d'état
In a coup d'état in Burundi, President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza is deposed by Major Pierre Buyoya.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, an international bill of rights for women, is instituted by the United Nations.
Rhodesian Bush War
During the Rhodesian Bush War a group of ZIPRA guerrillas shot down civilian Vickers Viscount aircraft (Air Rhodesia Flight 825) with a Soviet-made SAM Strela-2; of 56 passengers and crew 38 people died in crash, 10 were massacred by the guerrillas at the site.
Viking program
Viking program: The American Viking 2 spacecraft lands at Utopia Planitia on Mars.
Qatar
Qatar becomes an independent state.
Dagen H
Dagen H in Sweden: Traffic changes from driving on the left to driving on the right overnight.
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army begins shelling the Republic of China-controlled islands of Quemoy, starting the First Taiwan Strait Crisis.
Giuseppe Farina
"Nino" Farina becomes the first Formula One Drivers' champion after winning the 1950 Italian Grand Prix.
Victory over Japan Day
A three-day celebration begins in China, following the Victory over Japan Day on September 2.
Diary
Holocaust: Diarist Anne Frank and her family are placed on the last transport train from the Westerbork transit camp to the Auschwitz concentration camp, arriving three days later.
Operation Baytown
World War II: British and Canadian troops land on the Italian mainland. On the same day, Walter Bedell Smith and Giuseppe Castellano sign the Armistice of Cassibile, although it is not announced for another five days.
Łachwa Ghetto
World War II: In response to news of its coming liquidation, Dov Lopatyn leads an uprising in the Ghetto of Lakhva (present-day Belarus).
The Holocaust
The Holocaust: In possibly the first Jewish ghetto uprising, residents of the Łachwa Ghetto in occupied Poland, informed of the upcoming "liquidation" of the ghetto, unsuccessfully fought against their Nazi captors.
Deportation of Soviet Germans (1941–1942)
The mass expulsion of Soviet Germans from the Volga German ASSR began.
The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America
The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America was founded in Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada.
Bonneville Salt Flats
On the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, British racing motorist Malcolm Campbell (pictured) became the first person to drive an automobile over 300 mph (480 km/h).
Royal Exhibition Building
At the Royal Exhibition Building (pictured) in Melbourne, the flag of Australia flew for the first time.
Sinking of SS Princess Alice
The passenger steamship SS Princess Alice sank in the River Thames after colliding (pictured) with the collier Bywell Castle, killing more than 600 people.
Roundhead
English Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell (pictured) won the Battle of Worcester, the final battle of the English Civil War.* 1777 – American Revolutionary War: The British Army and their Hessian allies defeated an American militia at the Battle of Cooch's Bridge.
Oliver Cromwell
Under Oliver Cromwell, the English New Model Army ambushed a poorly prepared Scottish force at the Battle of Dunbar, the first battle of the Third English Civil War.
Treaty of Selymbria
The Treaty of Selymbria was concluded between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman prince Musa Çelebi.
Arab–Byzantine wars
Arab–Byzantine wars: The Byzantine Empire decisively defeated the Emirate of Melitene at the Battle of Lalakaon, beginning the era of Byzantine ascendancy.
War between Sextus Pompey and the Second Triumvirate
The Sicilian revolt against the Second Triumvirate of the Roman Republic ended when the fleet of Sextus Pompey, the rebel leader, was defeated at the Battle of Naulochus.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun
Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun, Scottish peer (born 1930)
Walter Becker
Walter Becker, American musician, songwriter, and record producer (born 1950)
Chandra Bahadur Dangi
Chandra Bahadur Dangi, world record holder for shortest man (born 1939)
A. P. Venkateswaran
A. P. Venkateswaran, Indian soldier and politician, 14th Foreign Secretary of India (born 1930)
Pedro Ferriz Santa Cruz
Pedro Ferriz Santacruz, Mexican-American journalist (born 1921)
Holidays & observances 7
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
Mansuetus (bishop of Toul)
Christian feast day: Mansuetus of Toul
Phoebe (biblical figure)
Christian feast day: Phoebe
Pope Gregory I
Christian feast day: Pope Gregory I
Saint Marinus
Christian feast day: Marinus
Prudence Crandall
Christian feast day: Prudence Crandall (Episcopal Church (USA))
Beatification
Christian feast day: Blessed Bartholomew Gutierrez
Remaclus
Christian feast day: Remaclus
Spread across the centuries
- 1st century BCE1
- 9th century1
- 15th century1
- 17th century2
- 19th century1
- 20th century39
- 21st century30
Earliest: War between Sextus Pompey and the Second Triumvirate (36 BCE). Most recent: Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun (2024).
What the categories mean, and how the standout is chosen
- Historical events
- A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Births
- A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
- Deaths
- A notable person who died on this day.
- Milestones
- A first, a founding or a turning point our editors flagged as a landmark moment.
- Holidays & observances
- A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
- Standout / notable
- Editor-written entries come first, then entries covered by the most Wikipedia language editions. For the standout tile we prefer an entry that has a picture.
Dates before the year 1 are given on the proleptic Julian calendar. Day-level precision for ancient events is traditional rather than documented.
Nearby and related
Questions about September 3
What day of the year is September 3?
September 3 is the 246th day of the year, with 119 days left after it.
What star sign is September 3?
September 3 falls under Virgo (August 23 – September 22), a earth sign ruled by Mercury. The birthstone for the month is Sapphire.
How many things happened on September 3?
We record 82 entries for September 3: 35 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 7 observances. From 36 BCE to 2024.
Who was born on September 3?
Tanitoluwa Adewumi (2010) is among the notable births on September 3. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the September 3 page updated?
The day is filled the first time anyone opens it and then re-checked for new entries about every 90 days. Computed facts such as the weekday and the anniversaries update every year.
Get a daily entry like September 3
One short email a day from this calendar. Kept for this site only.
Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.