Important Events From Today in History – 05 September

Today in History

• 1977 Voyager 1 probe is launched

  NASA launched the Voyager 1 probe from Florida. It is currently the farthest man-made object in Space.

• 1972 Massacre at the Munich Olympics

  Several days after the XX Olympic Summer Games began, Palestinian militants from the terrorist group Black September stormed the apartment where Israeli athletes were staying at the Olympic Village in Munich, Germany. They killed two athletes and took nine hostages in exchange for releasing over 230 Arab prisoners held in Israel. The ensuing hostage-taking violence resulted in the deaths of all nine hostages and five militants. All Olympic events were halted for a day to mourn and pay tribute to the Israeli delegation’s slain members.

• 1957 On the Road is Hits the Bookshelves for the First Time

  American author Jack Kerouac wrote the iconic book based on his and his friends’ travels across America. The book is a prime example of the Beat Generation, a group of authors and artists who investigated and studied American culture after WWII.

• 1944 Benelux is Formed

  Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg comprise the political and economic union. The name is formed by combining the first two letters, or three in the case of Luxemburg, of the member countries.

• 1836 Sam Houston is Elected President of Texas

  He was appointed Head of State of the Republic of Texas after colonists defeated the Mexican government and established an independent and sovereign nation. Houston was responsible for Texas’ victory over Mexican forces during the Battle of San Jacinto. Houston was the only person to be elected president of the Republic of Texas twice and governor of two states – Texas and Tennessee.