September 3rd in History

301 - San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world's oldest republic still in existence, is founded by St. Marinus.

590 - Consecration of Pope Gregory I

1189 - Richard I of England (Richard "the Lionheart") is crowned at Westminster Abbey.

1651 - Third English Civil War: Battle of Worcester – Charles II of England is defeated in the last main battle of the war.

1658 - Richard Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of England

1783 - American Revolutionary War: the war ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain.

1870 - Franco-Prussian War: the Siege of Metz begins, resulting in a decisive Prussian victory on October 23rd

1914 - William, Prince of Albania leaves the country after just six months due to opposition to his rule.

1935 - Sir Malcolm Campbell reaches a speed of 304.331 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, becoming the first person to drive an automobile over 300 mph

1939 - World War II: France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia declare war on Germany after the invasion of Poland, forming the Allies.

1943 - World War II: The Allied invasion of Italy begins.

1944 - Holocaust: diarist Anne Frank and her family are placed on the last transport train from the Westerbork transit camp to the Auschwitz concentration camp, arriving three days later.

1945 - Three-day celebration was held in China, following the Victory over Japan Day on September 2nd.

1971 - Qatar becomes an independent state

2001 - In Belfast, Protestant loyalists begin a picket of Holy Cross, a Catholic primary school for girls. For the next 11 weeks, riot police escort the schoolchildren and their parents through hundreds of protesters, some of whom hurl missiles and abuse. The protest sparks fierce rioting and grabs world headlines.

Famous Birthdays

1034 - Emperor Go-Sanjō of Japan

1724 - Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, soldier and Governor of Quebec

1851 - Olga Konstantinovna of Russia, Queen of Greece

1899 - Frank Macfarlane Burnet, biologist, Nobel laureate

1925 - Bengt Lindström, artist

1943 - Valerie Perrine, actress

1949 - Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria, 129th Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa

1964 - Nigel Rhodes, actor

1976 - Ashley Jones, actress

1981 - Fearne Cotton, television presenter