September 15th

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection – the largest in U.S. history.

President George W. Bush, addressing the nation from storm-ravaged New Orleans, acknowledged the government failed to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina and urged Congress to approve a massive reconstruction program.

National Hockey League owners agreed to lock out the players. (The 2004-05 season was eventually canceled.).

President George W. Bush identified Osama bin Laden as the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and told Americans to prepare for a long, difficult war against terrorism.

The Summer Olympics opened in Sydney, Australia.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Penn Warren, the first poet laureate of the United States, died.

The first edition of the USA Today newspaper was published.

John Bull becomes the oldest operable locomotive. The steam locomotive manufactured by the British and operated in New Jersey, US became the world's oldest and still operable locomotive when the Smithsonian operated it on this day. It was first put to use on September 15, 1831.

A church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, killed four young black girls.

During the Korean War, United Nations forces landed at Inchon in the south and began their drive toward Seoul.

The Royal Air Force inflicted heavy losses on the Luftwaffe as the tide turned in the Battle of Britain during World War II.

The Nuremberg Laws deprived German Jews of their citizenship and made the swastika the official symbol of Nazi Germany.

Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin while studying influenza.

Russia was proclaimed a republic by Alexander Kerensky, the head of a provisional government.

First use of tanks in warfare, "Little Willies" at Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme.

Battle of Pyongyang ends with decisive Japanese victory. The battle was a major land battle took place between the forces of Meiji Japan and Qing China during the First Sino-Japanese War.

William Howard Taft, the 27th president who later served as chief justice, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin on board reaches the Galapagos Islands.

Act of Independence of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua declare their independence from the Spanish Empire.

The U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs changed its name to the Department of State.

British forces occupied New York City during the American Revolution.

Mayflower departs from Plymouth England with 102 pilgrims [OS May 8].

First non-aristocratic, free public school in Europe is opened in Frascati, Italy.