On This Day in History: September 14

September 14 marks an array of memorable moments in world history, spanning classical antiquity, pivotal treaties, historic technological breakthroughs, and notable cultural milestones across multiple continents.

81 — Domitian Becomes Roman Emperor

Titus Flavius Domitianus, known as Domitian, became the emperor of the Roman Empire on September 14, 81. Domitian ascended to the imperial seat following the sudden death of his older brother, Emperor Titus, cementing the rule of the Flavian dynasty.

1752 — Great Britain and Its Colonies Adopt the Gregorian Calendar

On September 14, 1752, Great Britain and the British colonies formally aligned their calendar system with the Gregorian calendar. Under the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750, the country skipped eleven days to correct the drift of the Julian calendar, advancing directly from September 2 to September 14.

1812 — Napoleon Bonaparte Enters Moscow

During the French invasion of Russia, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte led the French Grande Armée into the city of Moscow on September 14, 1812. The arrival occurred shortly after the Battle of Borodino, finding the city largely evacuated and soon engulfed in devastating fires set by Russian defenders.

1814 — Francis Scott Key Pens the Poem Behind 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

On the morning of September 14, 1814, American lawyer Francis Scott Key was moved by the sight of the United States flag still flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, following a 25-hour bombardment by British naval forces during the War of 1812. His verses, originally titled 'Defence of Fort M'Henry,' were later set to music and became the national anthem of the United States.

1829 — The Treaty of Edirne Concludes the Russo-Turkish War

On September 14, 1829, representatives of the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Edirne (also known as the Treaty of Adrianople). The agreement ended the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829, granting Russia expanded control along the eastern Black Sea coast, opening the Danube river mouth, and securing autonomous status for Serbia and the Danubian Principalities.

1847 — General Winfield Scott Captures Mexico City

United States forces under the command of General Winfield Scott marched into the central square of Mexico City on September 14, 1847. The capture of the Mexican capital followed fierce fighting at the Battle of Chapultepec, effectively ending major combat operations in the Mexican-American War.

1949 — The Constituent Assembly of India Adopts Hindi as an Official Language

On September 14, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi written in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union government of India. The compromise measure was incorporated into Article 343 of the Constitution of India, and the date is recognized annually across India as Hindi Diwas (National Hindi Day).

1956 — IBM Unveils the 305 RAMAC with the First Commercial Hard Disk Drive

On September 14, 1956, International Business Machines (IBM) publicly introduced the IBM 305 RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control). The system incorporated the IBM 350 disk storage unit, marking the introduction of the first commercial computer utilizing a magnetic hard disk drive for secondary data storage.

1959 — Soviet Spacecraft Luna 2 Reaches the Moon

On September 14, 1959, the Soviet Union's robotic space probe Luna 2 completed its mission by impacting the lunar surface east of Mare Serenitatis. Luna 2 became the first human-made object to travel from Earth and make contact with another celestial body.

1975 — Elizabeth Ann Seton Is Canonized as the First Native-Born American Saint

On September 14, 1975, Pope Paul VI presided over the canonization ceremony in Saint Peter's Square in Rome, declaring Elizabeth Ann Seton a saint. Seton, who founded the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph in Emmitsburg, Maryland, became the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

1985 — 'The Golden Girls' Premieres on American Television

On September 14, 1985, the comedy television series 'The Golden Girls' debuted on the NBC network in the United States. Starring Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, the critically acclaimed sitcom depicted the lives of four older women living together in Miami, Florida, and earned multiple Primetime Emmy Awards during its run.

2003 — Estonia Votes to Join the European Union

On September 14, 2003, citizens of Estonia participated in a national referendum to decide whether the Baltic nation would enter the European Union. Voters approved the accession treaty with approximately 67 percent voting in favor, clearing the way for Estonia to formally join the bloc on May 1, 2004.