Major Events of September 1985: 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 1985 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of September 1985: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Sep 1985 RMS Titanic wreckage discovered in the North Atlantic: On September 1, 1985, the wreckage of the RMS Titanic was discovered by a Franco-American expedition led by Robert Ballard. The ship sank on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg, and its discovery provided significant insights into maritime history and underwater exploration. The wreck lies about 12,500 feet below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean, and its discovery sparked renewed interest in the Titanic's tragic story. source: britannica.com
02 Sep 1985 Assassination of Tamil Politicians M. Alalasundaram and V. Dharmalingam in Sri Lanka: On September 2, 1985, former Members of Parliament M. Alalasundaram and V. Dharmalingam were abducted and subsequently found murdered in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Alalasundaram's body was discovered near his home in Kalliyankadu, while Dharmalingam's body was found in a cemetery in Thavady, Manipay. The perpetrators were not officially identified, but various sources suggest involvement of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), possibly under the direction of the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). source: en.wikipedia.org
03 Sep 1985 Space Shuttle Discovery STS-51I mission returns to Earth: On September 3, 1985, Space Shuttle Discovery completed its sixth mission, STS-51I, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The mission lasted 7 days, 2 hours, 17 minutes, and 42 seconds, during which Discovery deployed three communications satellites into orbit. The crew included Commander Joe H. Engle, Pilot Richard O. Covey, and Mission Specialists James D.A. van Hoften, John M. Lounge, and William F. Fisher. source: nasa.gov
04 Sep 1985 Discovery of Buckminsterfullerene (C60): On September 4, 1985, chemists Robert Curl, Harold Kroto, and Richard Smalley announced the discovery of Buckminsterfullerene, a molecule composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a spherical structure resembling a soccer ball. This discovery opened new avenues in materials science and nanotechnology, leading to significant advancements in various fields, including chemistry and physics. source: britannica.com
05 Sep 1985 John Howard becomes Australian Opposition Leader: On September 5, 1985, John Howard was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in Australia, succeeding Andrew Peacock. This leadership change marked a significant shift in the Liberal Party's direction, with Howard advocating for economic liberalism and social conservatism. His tenure as Opposition Leader lasted until 1989, after which he returned to the role in 1995, eventually becoming Prime Minister in 1996. source: naa.gov.au
06 Sep 1985 Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105 crashes shortly after takeoff in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: On September 6, 1985, Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-14, crashed into an open field near General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was en route to Atlanta, Georgia, carrying 27 passengers and 4 crew members; all 31 occupants perished. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that an uncontained engine failure led to the crash, with the crew's response to the emergency contributing to the loss of control. source: ntsb.gov
07 Sep 1985 Hana Mandlíková defeats Martina Navratilova in 1985 US Open Women's Singles Final: On September 7, 1985, Hana Mandlíková won the US Open Women's Singles title by defeating two-time defending champion Martina Navratilova with a score of 7–6^(7–3), 1–6, 7–6^(7–2). This victory marked Mandlíková's third major singles title and ended Navratilova and Chris Evert's record streak of 15 consecutive major titles between them. source: itftennis.com
08 Sep 1985 Pete Rose ties Ty Cobb's historic hit record: On September 8, 1985, Pete Rose tied Ty Cobb's major league record of 4,191 career hits by singling off Chicago Cubs pitcher Reggie Patterson at Wrigley Field. The game was suspended due to darkness after nine innings, resulting in a 5–5 tie. Rose would surpass Cobb's record three days later, on September 11, 1985, with his 4,192nd hit. source: washingtonpost.com
09 Sep 1985 Executive Order 12532: US sanctions on South Africa: On September 9, 1985, President Ronald Reagan signed Executive Order 12532, declaring a national emergency due to the threat posed by the policies and actions of the Government of South Africa. The order imposed sanctions including prohibitions on U.S. bank loans to the South African government, exports of computers and related technology to certain government agencies, nuclear exports, and imports of arms, ammunition, or military vehicles produced in South Africa. source: reaganlibrary.gov
10 Sep 1985 Death of legendary Scottish football manager Jock Stein: Jock Stein, a prominent Scottish football manager known for his successful tenure at Celtic FC, passed away on September 10, 1985. He was celebrated for leading Celtic to numerous victories, including the European Cup in 1967, making him a legendary figure in Scottish football history. His death occurred shortly after a match, leaving a significant impact on the football community. source: bbc.com
11 Sep 1985 International Cometary Explorer's flyby of Comet Giacobini-Zinner: On September 11, 1985, NASA's International Cometary Explorer (ICE) spacecraft conducted the first-ever encounter with a comet, passing through the tail of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner at a distance of approximately 7,800 kilometers from its nucleus. This historic mission provided valuable data on the composition and structure of cometary tails, supporting the 'dirty snowball' theory of comet composition. ICE later flew past Comet Halley in 1986. source: esa.int
13 Sep 1985 Super Mario Bros. released in Japan on September 13, 1985: Super Mario Bros. was first released in Japan on September 13, 1985, for the Family Computer (Famicom). It was later released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in October 1985, with exact dates varying by region. source: en.wikipedia.org
14 Sep 1985 Penang Bridge opens to traffic: The Penang Bridge, a 13.5 km dual carriageway toll bridge connecting Perai on the mainland to Gelugor on Penang Island, was officially opened to traffic on September 14, 1985. This bridge was the first road link between the peninsula and the island, significantly easing transportation and boosting economic activities in the region. source: en.wikipedia.org
15 Sep 1985 Olof Palme's Social Democrats win 1985 Swedish general election: In the 1985 Swedish general election held on September 15, Prime Minister Olof Palme's Social Democratic Party secured 159 of the 349 seats in the Riksdag, maintaining their position as the largest party. Despite a narrow victory, Palme formed a minority government with support from the Left Party Communists. The Social Democrats received 44.68% of the vote, while the opposition parties garnered 55.32%. source: csmonitor.com
16 Sep 1985 Discovery of the ozone hole announced: On September 16, 1985, scientists announced the discovery of a significant depletion of ozone in the stratosphere over Antarctica, termed the 'ozone hole.' This finding raised global awareness about the dangers of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and led to international efforts to address ozone layer depletion, culminating in the Montreal Protocol in 1987. source: nasa.gov
17 Sep 1985 Alexander Ovechkin's birth date confirmed: Alexander Ovechkin, the renowned Russian professional ice hockey player, was born on September 17, 1985, in Moscow, Russia. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time, known for his scoring ability and leadership on the ice. Ovechkin has had a significant impact on the NHL and is a key player for the Washington Capitals. source: britannica.com
18 Sep 1985 Song and Dance musical opens on Broadway: The musical 'Song and Dance' opened on Broadway at the Royale Theatre on September 18, 1985. The production, directed by Richard Maltby Jr. and choreographed by Peter Martins, starred Bernadette Peters as Emma. The show ran for 474 performances, closing on November 8, 1986. Peters received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. source: broadwayworld.com
19 Sep 1985 1985 Mexico City earthquake: On September 19, 1985, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Mexico City at 7:18 am, causing widespread destruction and resulting in at least 5,000 deaths. The epicenter was located off the coast of Michoacán, approximately 200 miles from Mexico City. The unique geological conditions of Mexico City, built on an ancient lakebed, amplified the seismic waves, leading to severe damage. The earthquake also triggered a tsunami with waves up to 3 meters high. source: britannica.com
20 Sep 1985 7.5 magnitude aftershock strikes Mexico City following 1985 earthquake: On September 20, 1985, a magnitude 7.5 aftershock struck Mexico City, causing further structural damage and leading to the collapse of 20 additional buildings. The aftershock also generated a tsunami in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, with waves reaching 1.5 meters in height. source: britannica.com
21 Sep 1985 CIA officer Edward Lee Howard defects to Soviet Union: On September 21, 1985, Edward Lee Howard, a former CIA officer, defected to the Soviet Union. Howard had been dismissed from the CIA in 1983 due to issues related to drug use and mental instability. After his defection, he was granted political asylum in the Soviet Union, marking the first known case of a CIA officer defecting to the USSR. His actions were considered highly damaging to U.S. intelligence operations. source: washingtonpost.com
22 Sep 1985 Plaza Accord signed to address trade imbalances: The Plaza Accord was an agreement signed on September 22, 1985, by five nations: the United States, Japan, West Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The accord aimed to depreciate the U.S. dollar in relation to the Japanese yen and the German Deutsche Mark to correct trade imbalances and stabilize the global economy. This agreement marked a significant moment in international economic policy. source: brookings.edu
23 Sep 1985 Giancarlo Siani assassinated by Camorra in Naples: On September 23, 1985, Italian crime reporter Giancarlo Siani was killed by the Camorra in Naples. He was ambushed and shot ten times in the head while driving his Citroën Méhari near his home in the Vomero district. Siani was known for his investigative journalism exposing links between organized crime and politics. source: upi.com
24 Sep 1985 Andre Dawson's historic three-home-run game against the Cubs: On September 24, 1985, Montreal Expos outfielder Andre Dawson hit three home runs, including two three-run shots in a 12-run fifth inning, leading the Expos to a 17-15 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This performance marked the second time Dawson hit two home runs in a single inning, joining Willie McCovey as the only players to achieve this feat twice. source: mlb.com
25 Sep 1985 Rickey Henderson steals 75th base of the season, setting Yankees record: On September 25, 1985, Rickey Henderson stole his 75th base of the season, setting a new New York Yankees record for stolen bases in a single season. This achievement highlighted Henderson's exceptional speed and baserunning skills, contributing significantly to the Yankees' performance that year. source: brainyhistory.com
26 Sep 1985 Tunisia severs diplomatic relations with Libya over expulsions: On September 26, 1985, Tunisia severed diplomatic relations with Libya following the expulsion of approximately 30,000 Tunisian workers by the Libyan government. The expulsions were part of a broader pattern of tensions between the two nations, including accusations of Libyan support for subversive activities within Tunisia. The severance of ties marked a significant deterioration in bilateral relations. source: washingtonpost.com
27 Sep 1985 Hurricane Gloria strikes US East Coast: Hurricane Gloria, a powerful Cape Verde hurricane, made landfall on the US East Coast on September 27, 1985. It first struck the Outer Banks of North Carolina, then Long Island, New York, and Connecticut, causing extensive damage and resulting in 14 fatalities. The storm was the first significant system to strike the northeastern United States since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. source: weather.gov
28 Sep 1985 Brixton riots sparked by police shooting of Dorothy Groce: On September 28, 1985, the Brixton riots erupted in South London following the police shooting of Dorothy "Cherry" Groce. Officers had raided her home seeking her son, Michael Groce, in connection with an armed robbery. During the raid, Mrs. Groce was shot and left paralysed from the waist down. The incident led to widespread unrest, with shops looted, cars destroyed, and fires set. The riots lasted for two days, resulting in numerous injuries and over 200 arrests. source: theguardian.com
29 Sep 1985 MacGyver TV series premieres on September 29, 1985: The television series 'MacGyver' premiered on September 29, 1985. The show starred Richard Dean Anderson as Angus MacGyver, a resourceful secret agent known for his ability to solve problems using everyday materials. It became a cultural icon and ran for seven seasons, concluding in 1992. source: imdb.com
30 Sep 1985 Howard Stern fired from WNBC Radio: On September 30, 1985, Howard Stern was abruptly dismissed from WNBC Radio in New York City due to "conceptual differences" with management. Despite achieving the station's highest ratings in four years, Stern's controversial on-air antics led to his termination. He later signed a five-year contract with Infinity Broadcasting to host a show on WXRK, beginning in November 1985. source: washingtonpost.com