This Day In History : September 3

1976 United Kingdom

The Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) was signed

In 1976, the Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) was signed on September 3. INMARSAT was established to provide satellite communications services for maritime purposes, ensuring reliable communication at sea for safety, operational efficiency, and distress alerts. The organization has since evolved into a global network providing satellite communication services across various sectors, including maritime, aviation, and land-based mobile communications.

Also on This Day in History September 3

Discover what happened on September 3 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, September 3

1869 Fritz Pregl

Austrian chemist awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for developing techniques in the microanalysis of organic compounds.
1856 Louis Sullivan

Louis (Henry) Sullivan was an American architect who is identified with the aesthetics and innovation of early skyscraper design.
1875 Ferdinand Porsche

Austrian automotive engineer who designed the popular Volkswagen car.
1833 Harold DeForest Arnold

American physicist whose research led to the development of long-distance telephony and radio communication.
1905 Carl David Anderson

American physicist who shared (with Victor Francis Hess of Austria) the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1936 for his discovery of the positron, or positive electron, the first known particle of antimatter.

Deaths on This Day, September 3

2024 Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell was an English statesman, politician, and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of the British Isles.
2005 William Rehnquist

American lawyer, jurist, 16th Chief Justice of the United States
1854 Henry Fourdrinier

English inventor of paper-making machinery
2002 W. Clement Stone

American entrepreneur (positive mental attitude philosophy)
2007 Steve Fossett

American adventurer who became 1st person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon

1996

David Slowinski and Paul Gage discovered 2^1257787-1 (34th known Mersenne prime)

In 1996, David Slowinski and Paul Gage discovered that

2^{1257787} - 1

is a Mersenne prime. This number is the 34th known Mersenne prime, a special class of prime numbers that are one less than a power of two (i.e., of the form

2^n - 1

where

n

is a prime number). Mersenne primes are of particular interest in mathematics and computer science due to their properties and applications in number theory and cryptography.

2017

North Korea conducts its sixth and most powerful nuclear test

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on September 3, 2017. This test involved a hydrogen bomb and caused a significant seismic event, raising global concerns over North Korea's nuclear capabilities and escalating tensions in the region. The test prompted international condemnation and led to increased sanctions against North Korea by the United Nations and various countries.

1953

European Convention on Human Rights goes into effect

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) went into effect on September 3, 1953. This international treaty established fundamental rights and freedoms for individuals in Europe, aiming to protect human rights and uphold democratic principles across member states.

1971

Qatar regains complete independence from Britain

Qatar regained complete independence from Britain on September 3, 1971. This marked the end of a treaty relationship that had existed since 1916, when Qatar became a British protectorate. Qatar's independence allowed the country to fully govern its internal and external affairs without British interference, although Qatar maintains strong diplomatic and economic ties with various nations, including the United Kingdom.