Historical milestones occurring on September 1st

September 1st marks several significant historical milestones. In 1666, the Great Fire of London began at Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane, eventually destroying 80 percent of the city. The fire was eventually halted by a change in wind direction and the use of gunpowder to create firebreaks.

In 1878, Emma Nutt became the world’s first female telephone operator at the Edwin Holmes Telephone Dispatch Company, marking a shift in workforce demographics as companies began hiring women to replace male workers who were deemed unsuitable for the role.

On this day in 1939, the German invasion of Poland commenced, triggering the start of World War II. This event led to the mobilization of over 100 million soldiers and the division of global powers into the Allied and Axis forces.