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September 3
5 moments across history
eBay Is Founded
On September 3, 1995, Pierre Omidyar launched AuctionWeb, an online auction site later renamed eBay. It mattered because it enabled individuals and businesses to buy and sell goods through a large online marketplace. Its founding came as public internet use was expanding and the World Wide Web was emerging as a platform for commerce.
eBay Is Founded
Viking 2 Lands on Mars
Viking 2 Lands on Mars
Year: 1976
On September 3, 1976, NASA’s Viking 2 lander successfully touched down in Mars’s Utopia Planitia region. It returned images and scientific data on the Martian surface, atmosphere, and soil, including results from experiments designed to search for signs of life. Together with Viking 1, it formed part of NASA’s pioneering Viking program, which achieved the first successful U.S. landings on Mars.
Qatar Gains Independence
Qatar Gains Independence
Year: 1971
On September 3, 1971, Qatar ended its special treaty relationship with Britain and became a fully independent sovereign state. Independence gave Qatar control over its foreign affairs and national development, including management of its oil and gas resources. The change came amid Britain’s withdrawal from the Persian Gulf, when Bahrain also became independent and the United Arab Emirates was formed.
Sweden Switches to Right-Hand Traffic
Sweden Switches to Right-Hand Traffic
Year: 1967
On 3 September 1967, “Dagen H,” Sweden switched all road traffic from the left side to the right. The change aligned Sweden with its neighbors and most of continental Europe, simplifying cross-border travel and vehicle use. It followed years of planning and a nationwide information campaign, despite Swedish voters rejecting the switch in a 1955 referendum.
Allied Invasion of Mainland Italy
Allied Invasion of Mainland Italy
Year: 1943
On September 3, 1943, British and Canadian troops crossed the Strait of Messina from Sicily and landed in Calabria during Operation Baytown. The invasion established an Allied foothold on mainland Italy, forcing German forces to withdraw northward while the Allies advanced up the peninsula. It followed the conquest of Sicily and occurred the day Italy secretly signed an armistice with the Allies, although Germany continued the Italian campaign.