September 18th

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in defiance of Iran's Islamic leadership, clashing with police and confronting state-run anti-Israel rallies.

Sammy Sosa became the first player in major league baseball history to hit 60 homers in two seasons.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is founded. Author Esther Dyson became the first chairperson of the now nonprofit organization, which was initially under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2009, the Department of Commerce gave up its control over ICANN, which is responsible for maintaining the Domain Name System (DNS) on the Internet.

Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse agreed to merge to create the world's biggest accounting firm.

Mao Zedong's funeral takes place in Beijing.

Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

West Germany adopts the Deutsche Mark. This action replaced the East German Mark and helped complete the economic reunification part of the union between East and West Germany.

Rock musician Jimi Hendrix died of a drug overdose at age 27.

Secretary-General of the UN Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia).

Vanguard 3 is launched into Earth's orbit. The geocentric satellite was launched into Earth's orbit by a Vanguard rocket, built by Glenn L. Martin Company, which is now known as Lockheed-Martin.

The National Security Act, which unified the Army, Navy and newly formed Air Force into a national military establishment, went into effect.

The order for 'extermination asocials through labour' is approved by Otto Thierack, Nazi minister of justice.

USSR joins the League of Nations. It was expelled just a few years later for its aggressive actions towards Finland.

To create a pretext for the invasion of Manchuria, China, a railway explosion is faked by the Japanese.

The Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System (later CBS) debuted with a network of 16 radio stations.

Irish Home Rule bill receives Royal assent.

Actress Greta Garbo was born in Stockholm, Sweden.

Government bond agent Jay Cooke & Co collapses, causing panic on Wall St, the start of the panic of 1873 and the Long depression.

Oscar II becomes King of Norway and Sweden. He succeeded his brother Charles XV and IV

The first edition of The New York Daily Times, which later became The New York Times, was published.

Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which allowed slaveowners to reclaim slaves who had escaped to other states.

Great Fire of Moscow burns out after 5 day, 75% of the city destroyed and 12,000 killed.

British expeditionary army conquers Dutch Indies.

Chile declared its independence from Spain.

President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.

French Quebec surrendered to the British after the Sept. 13 battle on the Plains of Abraham, the last battle of the French and Indian Wars. French general Montcalm and British general Wolfe died in the fray.