September 28, Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

Welcome to Saturday, September 28, 2024, the 272nd day of the year with 94 days remaining.

Today in History:

On this day in 1928, Alexander Fleming, a Scottish medical researcher, discovered penicillin, revolutionizing the field of antibiotics.

Other notable events on this date include:

– In 1781, American forces, aided by a French fleet, began the successful siege of Yorktown, Virginia during the Revolutionary War.

– In 1924, three U.S. Army planes completed the first round-the-world trip by air, landing in Seattle after 175 days.

– In 1941, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox became the most recent American League player to hit over .400 for a season, boasting a .406 batting average.

– In 1962, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett was found in civil contempt for obstructing the admission of James Meredith, a Black student, to the University of Mississippi.

– In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat signed an accord at the White House, marking the end of Israel’s military occupation of West Bank cities.

– In 2000, the U.S. government approved the use of the abortion pill RU-486 after a 12-year battle.

– In 2020, the global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic reached 1 million, as reported by Johns Hopkins University.

– In 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm, prompting the evacuation of 2.5 million people.

Notable Birthdays Today:

• Actor Brigitte Bardot turns 90.
• Filmmaker John Sayles celebrates his 74th birthday.
• Football Hall of Famer Steve Largent is 70.
• Zydeco musician C.J. Chenier turns 67.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr is 62.
• Actor-comedian Janeane Garofalo is 60.
• Actor Maria Canals-Barrera celebrates her 58th birthday.
• Actor Mira Sorvino turns 57.
• Actor Naomi Watts celebrates her 56th birthday.
• Olympic gold medal swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg is 49.
• Rapper Jeezy turns 47.
• Golf Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak celebrates her 47th birthday.
• Pop-rock singer St. Vincent is 42.
• Actor Hilary Duff turns 37.
• Boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford is 37.
• Tennis player Marin Čilić celebrates his 36th birthday.
• Actor Keir Gilchrist turns 32.