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Major Events of September 1998: 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 1998 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of September 1998: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1998 Google Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin: Google Inc. was established by Stanford University PhD students Larry Page and Sergey Brin in Menlo Park, California. The company began as a research project to develop a more efficient search engine, which would eventually revolutionize internet search and digital information retrieval.
  • 02 Sep 1998 Swissair Flight 111 Tragedy: Swissair Flight 111, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft, crashed near Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, resulting in the tragic loss of all 229 passengers and crew. The disaster shocked the international aviation community and led to significant investigations into aircraft safety.
  • 03 Sep 1998 Establishment of Jubaland as Independent Region in Somalia: On September 3, 1998, the southern Somali port of Kismayo was declared the capital of an independent Jubaland region, led by Muhamed Said Hersi. This event highlighted the complex political fragmentation and regional autonomy movements within Somalia during the late 1990s, reflecting the ongoing challenges of state-building in the country.
  • 04 Sep 1998 Google Founded by Stanford Students: Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two PhD candidates at Stanford University, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most influential technology companies in the world. Initially a research project, the company was established in Menlo Park, California, with the goal of organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful.
  • 05 Sep 1998 North Korea Solidifies Military Dictatorship: On September 5, 1998, North Korea formally consolidated its political structure as a military dictatorship, marking a significant moment in the nation's post-Korean War governance. This event symbolized the complete entrenchment of the Kim dynasty's authoritarian rule, with the military playing a central role in state administration and national policy-making.
  • 06 Sep 1998 Death of Akira Kurosawa: Legendary Japanese film director, screenwriter, and producer Akira Kurosawa passed away at the age of 88. Known for iconic films like 'Seven Samurai' and 'Rashomon', Kurosawa profoundly influenced global cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers worldwide.
  • 07 Sep 1998 Google Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin: Google, Inc. was established in Menlo Park, California, by Stanford University Ph.D. candidates Larry Page and Sergey Brin. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of what would become one of the world's most influential technology companies, revolutionizing internet search and digital information access.
  • 08 Sep 1998 Mark McGwire Breaks MLB Single-Season Home Run Record: On September 8, 1998, Saint Louis Cardinals' first baseman Mark McGwire made baseball history by breaking the Major League Baseball single-season home-run record. McGwire hit his record-breaking 62nd home run in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium, surpassing Roger Maris' long-standing record of 61 home runs set in 1961. McGwire ultimately finished the season with an incredible 70 home runs, setting a new benchmark for power hitting in baseball.
  • 09 Sep 1998 Kenneth Starr Submits Clinton Impeachment Report: Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr submitted a comprehensive report to the House of Representatives, presenting evidence and arguments for potentially impeaching President Bill Clinton on 11 different grounds. This report was a critical moment in the Monica Lewinsky scandal and subsequent impeachment proceedings.
  • 10 Sep 1998 Google's Incorporation: Google, Inc. is formally incorporated by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Stanford University graduate students, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most influential technology companies in the world. This pivotal moment laid the foundation for a revolutionary internet search and technology enterprise that would fundamentally transform global information access and digital communication.
  • 11 Sep 1998 Starr Report Accuses President Clinton: Independent counsel Kenneth Starr submitted a comprehensive report to the U.S. Congress, formally accusing President Bill Clinton of 11 potential impeachable offenses. This report was a pivotal moment in the Monica Lewinsky scandal and set the stage for potential presidential impeachment proceedings.
  • 12 Sep 1998 Arrest of the Cuban Five Intelligence Agents: Five Cuban intelligence agents were arrested in Miami, Florida, on charges of espionage. The agents, later known as the Cuban Five, claimed their surveillance was targeted at Cuban exile groups in Miami rather than the U.S. government. Their arrest and subsequent trial became a significant point of tension between the United States and Cuba, highlighting the complex geopolitical relationship between the two countries.
  • 13 Sep 1998 Death of George Wallace, Controversial Alabama Governor: George Wallace, a prominent and controversial American politician from Alabama, passed away. Known for his segregationist stance during the Civil Rights era and later serving multiple terms as governor, Wallace was a significant figure in 20th-century American political history.
  • 14 Sep 1998 Microsoft Becomes America's Most Valuable Company: At the close of stock market trading, Microsoft emerged as America's most valuable company, with a market capitalization of US$261.1 billion. Despite a stock market plunge that affected both Microsoft and General Electric, Microsoft demonstrated remarkable resilience, positioning itself at the top of corporate valuations.
  • 15 Sep 1998 WorldCom and MCI Communications Merger: WorldCom and MCI Communications completed a landmark telecommunications merger, creating MCI WorldCom, a telecommunications giant that would later become infamous for one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in United States history. The merger represented a significant consolidation in the telecommunications industry during the late 1990s, reflecting the rapid technological and business transformations of that era.
  • 16 Sep 1998 Google's Incorporation: Google was formally incorporated by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Stanford University graduate students, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most influential technology companies in the world. Founded in a garage in Menlo Park, California, the company started with a mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.
  • 17 Sep 1998 U.S. Terrorism Suspects Linked to Embassy Bombings: U.S. authorities identified two new suspects connected to terrorist attacks, accusing an Islamic extremist of being the primary planner for the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya. Additionally, they arrested a Texan who was reportedly a former personal secretary to Osama bin Laden, expanding the international investigation into these terror activities.
  • 18 Sep 1998 FDA Approves New AIDS Medication: The Food and Drug Administration approves a once-daily, easier-to-swallow medication designed to improve treatment adherence and quality of life for AIDS patients, marking a significant advancement in HIV/AIDS medical care.
  • 19 Sep 1998 ICANN Established to Govern Internet Naming Systems: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was officially formed, marking a pivotal moment in internet governance. This non-profit organization was created to coordinate and maintain several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the internet, ensuring the network's stable and secure operation.
  • 20 Sep 1998 'Will & Grace' Television Premiere: The groundbreaking sitcom 'Will & Grace' debuts, marking a significant moment in television history by featuring prominent LGBTQ+ characters and themes, helping to increase mainstream representation and understanding.
  • 21 Sep 1998 U.S. Secretary of Energy Addresses IAEA Conference: Secretary Bill Richardson delivered a significant speech at the 42nd session of the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference. He outlined six critical legacies from the first half-century of the nuclear age and detailed the United States' strategic approach to addressing complex nuclear challenges and international security concerns.
  • 22 Sep 1998 Assassination of Emperor Zhaozong by Zhu Quanzong: In a pivotal moment of political upheaval during the late Tang dynasty, the powerful warlord Zhu Quanzong orchestrated the assassination of Emperor Zhaozong, effectively ending the monarch's reign and signaling the imminent collapse of imperial authority. This brutal act was part of a larger power struggle that would ultimately contribute to the fragmentation of the Tang dynasty, marking a critical turning point in Chinese imperial history.
  • 23 Sep 1998 UN Security Council Warns Milosevic Over Kosovo Attacks: The United Nations Security Council issued a stern warning to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, demanding an immediate cessation of Serbian military actions against ethnic Albanian civilians in Kosovo. The resolution threatened potential international intervention, with China being the sole dissenting voice in the vote.
  • 24 Sep 1998 Iran Retracts Fatwa Against Salman Rushdie: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami officially withdrew the fatwa issued against author Salman Rushdie, which had been in place since 1989. The government stated it would 'neither support nor hinder assassination operations on Rushdie', effectively ending the long-standing threat against the author of 'The Satanic Verses'.
  • 25 Sep 1998 Long-Term Capital Management Bailout: From September 25 to 28, 1998, major creditors of Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM), a prominent Greenwich, Connecticut-based hedge fund, engaged in intense negotiations. With informal mediation by Federal Reserve officials, they ultimately agreed on terms for the fund's recapitalization, averting a potential financial crisis that could have significantly impacted global markets.
  • 26 Sep 1998 Rare Simultaneous Atlantic Hurricane Event: In a remarkable meteorological occurrence, four hurricanes - Georges, Ivan, Jeanne, and Karl - were simultaneously spinning in the Atlantic basin. This event was historically significant, as it was the first time such a phenomenon had been observed since 1893, underscoring the complex and unpredictable nature of Atlantic hurricane seasons.
  • 27 Sep 1998 Google's Founding: Google was first established on this date, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most influential technology companies in the world. The company was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University.
  • 28 Sep 1998 Discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming: In 1928, Scottish scientist Sir Alexander Fleming made a groundbreaking medical discovery by identifying penicillin, the first antibiotic. While working at St. Mary's Hospital in London, Fleming noticed that a mold contaminating one of his petri dishes had killed surrounding bacteria. This accidental discovery would revolutionize modern medicine, saving millions of lives by providing an effective treatment against bacterial infections.
  • 29 Sep 1998 U.S. Congress Passes Iraq Liberation Act: The U.S. Congress passed the Iraq Liberation Act, a significant foreign policy legislation that officially declared the United States' intention to remove Saddam Hussein from power and establish a democratic government in Iraq. This act was a precursor to future military interventions in the region and marked a critical moment in U.S. Middle Eastern foreign policy.
  • 30 Sep 1998 Death of Bruno Munari, Influential Italian Designer: Bruno Munari, a renowned Italian industrial designer, graphic artist, and visual communicator, passed away on September 30, 1998. Born in 1907, Munari was a pivotal figure in the Italian design movement, known for his innovative approach to design, art, and visual communication. His work significantly influenced modern design principles, particularly in graphic design, industrial design, and visual arts.