September 28

September 28: This Day in History

• 1066— William the Conqueror landed in England at Pevensey with an invasion force of Normans, beginning the conquest of England.
• 1542— Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo became the first European to set foot on the west coast of North America, landing in present-day San Diego.
• 1928— Alexander Fleming noticed mold killing bacteria in a petri dish, leading to the discovery of penicillin.
• 1978— Pope John Paul I was found dead in his bed at the Vatican just 33 days into his papacy.
• 1994— The MS Estonia ferry sank in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 of the 989 people aboard in one of the deadliest maritime disasters of the 20th century.

Famous Birthdays on September 28

• Brigitte Bardot (1934) — French actress and animal rights activist
• Ben E. King (1938) — soul singer known for Stand By Me
• Naomi Watts (1968) — Australian actress known for Mulholland Drive
• Mira Sorvino (1967) — Oscar-winning actress
• Janeane Garofalo (1964) — actress and comedian

What Happens on September 28?

Did You Know? September 28 Fun Facts

• Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin was accidental — he left petri dishes out before going on vacation and returned to find the mold had killed surrounding bacteria.
• The Norman conquest began exactly nine days before the Battle of Hastings, giving William's forces just enough time to rest and prepare.

Count Down to Events on September 28

• How many days until Paris Fashion Week?