Date with History: September 28

A Norman duke wades ashore, and centuries later a private rocket finally reaches orbit.

One paperback for one calendar date: what happened on September 28, and who was born on it.

What happened on September 28

1066: William the Conqueror's army lands at Pevensey Bay

On September 28, 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, landed at Pevensey Bay with up to 15,000 men, opening the campaign that would end at Hastings weeks later. The invasion reshaped the English language, legal system, and national identity.

2008: SpaceX's Falcon 1 becomes the first private rocket in orbit

On September 28, 2008, SpaceX's Falcon 1 reached orbit, becoming the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to do so. After three earlier failures, the success proved that spaceflight no longer required a national government's budget.

Famous birthdays on September 28

551 BCE — Confucius
Confucius, born 551 BCE, taught a philosophy of moral governance still felt in Chinese life.

1901 — Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan, born 1901, introduced Elvis, the Beatles, and generations of Black artists on live TV.

Nearby dates

September 27 · September 29 · All September dates

Part of Date with History, a 366-book collection with one book for every date of the year. 5″×8″ paperback, cream paper.

Historical selections are editorially researched. This is a date-specific book, not a personalized or custom-made product.