September 29 is the 272nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 93 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about September 29th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about September 29th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- National Biscotti Day
- World Heart Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – September 29
1994: Sinking of MS Estonia
MS Estonia, a passenger and car ferry, sank in the Baltic Sea killing more than 800 passengers. It is considered to be the worst maritime peace-time disaster of the 20th century.
1991: Coup in Haiti
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was deposed in a military coup. Aristide had been elected in a national election held 8 months before the coup.
1972: First Canadian Satellite
Canada launched its first ever satellite, Alouette 1, on this day from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, United States. A joint venture between NASA and Defence Research and Development Canada, the satellite was sent to study the Earth’s ionosphere.
1954: CERN established
The European Organization for Nuclear Research, popularly known as CERN, was established by 12 European governments.
1941: Babi Yar massacre
About 33,000 Soviet Jews were killed at the Babi Yar ravine in Kiev by the Nazis in a two-day massacre that started on this day.
1955: Anarchist and antifrancoist guerrilla Quico Sabaté with his homemade mortar. In September 29 1955, he used it from an open roofed taxi to launch propaganda leaflets against the regime, during Franco’s visit to Barcelona.

1944: Seven-foot-tall German soldier, Jacob Naken, speaking with the Canadian soldier who captured him at Calais, France, September 29, 1944. (Colorized)

Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, September 29
1961: Julia Gillard, Australian politician, 27th Prime Minister of Australia
1951: Michelle Bachelet, Chilean politician, 34th President of Chile
1936: Silvio Berlusconi, Italian politician, 50th Prime Minister of Italy
1901: Enrico Fermi, Italian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate
1511: Michael Servetus, Spanish theologian, physician, cartographer
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, September 29
2009: Pavel Popovich, Soviet astronaut
1997: Roy Lichtenstein, American painter, sculptor
1981: Bill Shankly, Scottish footballer, manager
1973: W. H. Auden, English/American poet
1902: Émile Zola, French author, critic