This Day In History : September 13

1850 United Kingdom

The main-belt asteroid "12 Victoria" is discovered by J R Hind

The main-belt asteroid "12 Victoria" was discovered by the English astronomer John Russell Hind on September 13, 1850. It was one of several asteroids he discovered during his career as an astronomer, contributing significantly to the understanding of celestial objects in the solar system.

Also on This Day in History September 13

Discover what happened on September 13 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, September 13
  • 1857 Milton S. Hershey

    American businessman who founded The Hershey Company

  • 1755 Oliver Evans

    American inventor who pioneered high-pressure steam engine

  • 1866 Adolf Meyer

    American psychiatrist and neurologist (pioneered mental hygiene)

  • 1927 Samuel Smith

    American chemist and co-inventor of Scotchgard

  • 1970 Akiko Iwasaki

    American immunologist and long Covid researcher

Deaths on This Day, September 13
  • 1931 Charles Seeberger

    American inventor (coined term escalator and designed 1st commercially produced escalator)

  • 1971 Lin Biao

    Chinese military officer, politician, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China

  • 1949 August Krogh

    Danish zoophysiologist (arterioles and capillaries, Nobel 1920)

  • 1967 Russell L. Rogers

    American electrical engineer and astronaut (X-20)

  • 2004 Luis E. Miramontes

    Mexican chemist, co-inventor of the combined oral contraceptive pill

2007

The United Nations General Assembly adopts the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13, 2007. This declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples around the world, addressing issues such as culture, identity, language, education, health, and land rights.
1899

First U.S. car accident fatality

Henry Bliss is recorded as the first person in the United States to die from an automobile accident. This tragic event occurred on September 13, 1899, in New York City. His death highlighted the dangers associated with the emerging automobile industry and led to increased awareness and safety measures for pedestrians and drivers alike.
1959

USSR's Luna 2 becomes 1st probe to contact another celestial body

The USSR's Luna 2 became the first spacecraft to reach and impact another celestial body, specifically the Moon, on September 13, 1959. This historic achievement marked the first successful mission to make physical contact with the lunar surface, demonstrating Soviet technological prowess in space exploration during the early Space Race era.
1997

Mother Teresa's State Funeral held in India

Mother Teresa's state funeral on September 13, 1997, in Kolkata, India, honored her profound humanitarian legacy with thousands attending, including dignitaries from around the world. She devoted her life to serving the poor and vulnerable through the Missionaries of Charity organization, earning global admiration for her compassion and selfless dedication.
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