On This Day: September 15

Updated September 14, 2012, 2:28 pm

On Sept. 15, 1963, four black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, in the deadliest act of the civil rights era.

Go to article »

On Sept. 15, 1857, William Howard Taft, the only person to serve as both United States president and chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, was born. Following his death on March 8, 1930, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

Historic Birthdays

William Howard Taft 9/15/1857 – 3/8/1930 27th president of the United States and 10th chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.Go to obituary »

61 James Fenimore Cooper 9/15/1789 – 9/14/1851
American novelist

85 Bruno Walter 9/15/1876 – 2/17/1962
German conductor

81 Frank Gannett 9/15/1876 – 12/3/1957
American newspaper publisher

65 Ettore Bugatti 9/15/1881 – 8/21/1947
Italian builder of racing and luxury automobiles

56 Robert Benchley 9/15/1889 – 11/21/1945
American drama critic, actor and humorist

85 Dame Agatha Christie 9/15/1890 – 1/12/1976
English detective novelist and playwright

84 Jean Renoir 9/15/1894 – 2/12/1979
French-born American film director

89 Roy Acuff 9/15/1903 – 11/23/1992
American country music singer and songwriter

74 Irving Jaffee 9/15/1906 – 3/20/1981
American Olympic gold medal-winning speed skater (1932)

73 Margaret Lockwood 9/15/1916 – 7/15/1990
English actress

75 John Newton Mitchell 9/15/1913 – 11/9/1988
American attorney general under Nixon (1969-72)

47 Cannonball Adderley 9/15/1928 – 8/8/1975
American jazz saxophonist and bandleader

61	James Fenimore Cooper 9/15/1789 – 9/14/1851 American novelist
85	Bruno Walter 9/15/1876 – 2/17/1962 German conductor
81	Frank Gannett 9/15/1876 – 12/3/1957 American newspaper publisher
65	Ettore Bugatti 9/15/1881 – 8/21/1947 Italian builder of racing and luxury automobiles
56	Robert Benchley 9/15/1889 – 11/21/1945 American drama critic, actor and humorist
85	Dame Agatha Christie 9/15/1890 – 1/12/1976 English detective novelist and playwright
84	Jean Renoir 9/15/1894 – 2/12/1979 French-born American film director
89	Roy Acuff 9/15/1903 – 11/23/1992 American country music singer and songwriter
74	Irving Jaffee 9/15/1906 – 3/20/1981 American Olympic gold medal-winning speed skater (1932)
73	Margaret Lockwood 9/15/1916 – 7/15/1990 English actress
75	John Newton Mitchell 9/15/1913 – 11/9/1988 American attorney general under Nixon (1969-72)
47	Cannonball Adderley 9/15/1928 – 8/8/1975 American jazz saxophonist and bandleader