September 2, Japan surrenders to end World War II
Today in History: Sept. 2
On this day in history, Japan formally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, marking the end of World War II in 1945.
Other Notable Events on Sept. 2:
– The Great Fire of London began in 1666, destroying over 13,000 homes and iconic structures like St Paul’s Cathedral.
– The United States Treasury Department was established in 1789.
– Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s forces occupied Atlanta during the Civil War in 1864.
– A Category 5 hurricane hit the Florida Keys in 1935, claiming over 400 lives.
– President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Defense Education Act in 1958.
– Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace prevented the integration of Tuskegee High School in 1963.
– The birth of the Internet was marked in 1969 when two computers at UCLA passed test data through a cable.
– A Swissair MD-11 jetliner crashed off Nova Scotia in 1998, killing all 229 people on board.
Birthdays on Sept. 2:
- Former MLB commissioner Peter Ueberroth turns 88.
- Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw celebrates his 77th birthday.
- Basketball Hall of Famer Nate Archibald also turns 77.
- Actor Mark Harmon is 74 today.
- Tennis Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors turns 73.
- Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson celebrates his 65th birthday.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is 63.
- Actor Keanu Reeves turns 61.
- Boxing Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis celebrates his 60th birthday.
- Actor Salma Hayek turns 59.
- R&B singer K-Ci is 56.
- Electronic music DJ/producer Zedd celebrates his 36th birthday.
