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Major Events of September 1985: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 1985 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of September 1985: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1985 RMS Titanic Wreckage Discovered: A joint US-French expedition located the wreckage of the RMS Titanic on the ocean floor approximately 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. This historic discovery solved one of the greatest maritime mysteries and provided unprecedented insights into the legendary shipwreck.
  • 02 Sep 1985 Assassination of Tamil Politicians during Sri Lankan Civil War: On September 2, 1985, two prominent Sri Lankan Tamil politicians and former Members of Parliament, M. Alalasundaram and V. Dharmalingam, were assassinated. This event highlights the intense political violence and ethnic tensions that characterized the Sri Lankan Civil War, which lasted from 1983 to 2009.
  • 03 Sep 1985 Space Shuttle Discovery 6 Mission Return: The 20th Space Shuttle Mission (51-I) saw the Discovery 6 spacecraft successfully return to Earth, marking another milestone in NASA's space exploration program during the 1980s.
  • 04 Sep 1985 Discovery of Buckminsterfullerene: Scientists discovered Buckminsterfullerene (C60), a groundbreaking carbon molecule with a unique spherical structure resembling a soccer ball, marking a significant milestone in nanoscience and molecular chemistry.
  • 05 Sep 1985 John Howard Becomes Australian Opposition Leader: John Howard replaced Andrew Peacock as the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Federal Parliament, marking a significant moment in Australian political history. This leadership change would later prove pivotal, as Howard would eventually become Prime Minister from 1996 to 2007.
  • 06 Sep 1985 Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105 Crash: A tragic aviation disaster occurred when Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105, a Douglas DC-9, crashed near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin, resulting in the loss of all 31 people on board. The crash marked a significant moment in aviation safety history.
  • 07 Sep 1985 Nobel Prize Winner Rodney Porter Commemorated: Rodney Robert Porter, a distinguished English biochemist, was remembered on this date. Porter, who was born in 1917, was a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking work in immunology.
  • 08 Sep 1985 Pete Rose Ties Ty Cobb's Historic Hit Record: Baseball legend Pete Rose achieves a monumental milestone by tying Ty Cobb's legendary record of 4,191 hits, a testament to his extraordinary batting skills and enduring legacy in Major League Baseball.
  • 09 Sep 1985 Executive Order 12532: US Sanctions on South Africa: US President Ronald Reagan signed Executive Order 12532, implementing comprehensive trade sanctions against South Africa. The order, effective October 11, targeted the country's apartheid regime and included directives for the Treasury to study the potential issuance of American gold bullion coins.
  • 10 Sep 1985 Death of Legendary Scottish Football Manager Jock Stein: Jock Stein, one of the most influential and pioneering football managers in Scottish and European football history, tragically passed away on September 10, 1985. Stein was most famously known for leading Celtic Football Club to become the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967, a monumental achievement that brought international recognition to Scottish football. His sudden death occurred while managing the Scottish national team during a World Cup qualifying match against Wales in Cardiff, marking a profound loss for the football community.
  • 11 Sep 1985 Pete Rose Breaks Ty Cobb's Career Hit Record: At Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Major League Baseball player and manager Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds achieved his historic 4,192nd career hit, surpassing Ty Cobb's long-standing record. This milestone was accomplished by hitting a single off Eric Show of the San Diego Padres, marking a significant moment in baseball history.
  • 12 Sep 1985 Lotto 6/49 Expands to Twice-Weekly Draws in Canada: On September 12, 1985, the Canadian national lottery Lotto 6/49 significantly expanded its operations by introducing a second weekly draw, adding a Wednesday evening drawing to its existing format. This change provided more opportunities for Canadians to participate in the popular lottery, increasing excitement and potential jackpot opportunities for players across the country.
  • 13 Sep 1985 Super Mario Bros. Global Video Game Release: Nintendo releases the Super Mario Bros. video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), launching a revolutionary platforming game that would become a global cultural phenomenon and define video game design for decades to come.
  • 14 Sep 1985 Penang Bridge Opens: The Penang Bridge, the longest bridge in Malaysia, connects the island of Penang to the mainland, significantly improving transportation infrastructure and regional connectivity. This engineering marvel spans approximately 13.5 kilometers, facilitating easier movement between Penang Island and the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia.
  • 15 Sep 1985 Robert Bork Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings Begin: The Senate Judiciary Committee commenced hearings for Robert Bork's controversial Supreme Court nomination, which would become a pivotal moment in judicial appointment history.
  • 16 Sep 1985 Ozone Hole Discovery Announced: Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey publicly announce the groundbreaking discovery of the ozone hole, a critical environmental finding that would later spark global environmental awareness and policy changes regarding chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and atmospheric protection.
  • 17 Sep 1985 Alexander Ovechkin Birth: Alexander Ovechkin, a renowned Russian professional ice hockey player, was born on September 17, 1985. He would later become one of the most prolific goal scorers in NHL history, playing for the Washington Capitals and becoming a global sports icon.
  • 18 Sep 1985 Steve Jobs Resigns from Apple Computer: Steve Jobs voluntarily steps down from his position at Apple Computer, marking a significant moment in the company's early history and his personal career trajectory.
  • 19 Sep 1985 1985 Mexico City Earthquake: A catastrophic earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 struck Mexico City at 07:17:50 CST on September 19, 1985. The seismic event caused widespread destruction across central Mexico, resulting in massive loss of life, infrastructure damage, and long-term societal impact. The earthquake triggered multiple aftershocks, including a significant 7.5 magnitude tremor on September 20, 1985, which further compounded the devastation.
  • 20 Sep 1985 Mexico City Earthquake Aftershock: A devastating aftershock with a magnitude of 7.5 struck Mexico City on September 20, 1985, compounding the destruction from the previous day's 8.0 magnitude earthquake. This seismic event caused significant additional damage to the already devastated urban infrastructure and likely resulted in further loss of life.
  • 21 Sep 1985 Mexico Earthquake of 1985: A devastating magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck near the coast of Guerrero, Mexico, causing significant casualties and extensive damage in Mexico City and central Mexico. A local tsunami was recorded at Acapulco with a maximum wave amplitude of 1.4 metres, further compounding the disaster's impact.
  • 22 Sep 1985 Plaza Accord Signed: The Plaza Accord was signed in New York City, a landmark international financial agreement between France, West Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The accord aimed to depreciate the U.S. dollar in relation to other major currencies, significantly impacting global economic dynamics and trade relationships.
  • 23 Sep 1985 Murder of Giancarlo Siani by Camorra: Italian crime reporter Giancarlo Siani was assassinated by the Camorra, a powerful Neapolitan organized crime syndicate, highlighting the dangerous landscape for investigative journalists in Italy during the 1980s.
  • 24 Sep 1985 Record-Breaking English Channel Relay Crossing: A relay team sets a new record for the fastest English Channel crossing, completing the challenging swim in an impressive 15 hours and 30 minutes, demonstrating extraordinary endurance and teamwork.
  • 25 Sep 1985 Rickey Henderson Sets Baseball Record: Rickey Henderson of the New York Yankees set a new Major League Baseball record by stealing his 75th base of the season, showcasing his exceptional speed and base-running skills.
  • 26 Sep 1985 Tunisia Severs Diplomatic Ties with Libya: On September 26, 1985, Tunisia officially terminated its diplomatic relations with Libya, marking a significant moment of tension in North African geopolitical relations. This diplomatic rupture was likely due to ongoing political conflicts and regional power struggles between the two neighboring countries, potentially involving disputes over territorial boundaries, ideological differences, or strategic regional interests.
  • 27 Sep 1985 Hurricane Gloria Strikes US East Coast: Hurricane Gloria, a powerful Category 2 hurricane, made landfall on the Atlantic coast of the United States with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. The storm swept through the Outer Banks of North Carolina, then rapidly moved across Long Island, New England, and into Canada. This was the first significant hurricane to impact New England in 25 years, causing extensive damage with heavy rainfall and high winds across the Mid-Atlantic region.
  • 28 Sep 1985 Dorothy Groce Shooting Sparks Brixton Race Riots: The shooting of Dorothy 'Cherry' Groce by the Metropolitan Police triggered significant race riots in Brixton, a predominantly Black neighborhood in South London. The incident highlighted tensions between the local community and law enforcement, exposing systemic racial discrimination and police misconduct. Groce was shot during a police raid while searching for her son, who was wanted for a suspected firearms offense. The shooting left her permanently paralyzed from the waist down and hospitalized for over a year, becoming a pivotal moment in British race relations.
  • 29 Sep 1985 Tylenol Cyanide Poisoning Tragedy: The first of five victims dies from cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules, marking a significant public health and product safety crisis that shocked the United States and led to major changes in pharmaceutical packaging and consumer protection.
  • 30 Sep 1985 Brixton Riots Sparked by Police Shooting of Dorothy Groce: Riots erupted in Brixton, London, following the police shooting of Dorothy Groce during a search for her son, who was suspected of a firearms offence. The incident, where Groce was permanently paralyzed from the waist down, highlighted tensions between law enforcement and the community, particularly in racially diverse urban areas.