Search icon
ReadWrite
see notifications
Notifications
see more
    paint-brush

    On This Day in Tech History

    Stories Published September 6 Throughout History

    2024

    Historic Tech Events

    The First True Supermarket

    The First True Supermarket
    1916

    In 1916, on September 6th, Clarence Saunders had the vision to change the way people shopped for groceries. He opened the first true supermarket, Piggly Wiggly, in Memphis, Tennessee. This revolutionary concept allowed customers to browse aisles filled with a wide variety of products, select their own items, and pay at a central checkout counter. Prior to Piggly Wiggly, shoppers had to rely on clerks to gather items for them. The supermarket concept caught on quickly, and soon, other retailers followed Saunders' lead, changing the retail industry forever.

    Swaziland Gains Independence

    Swaziland Gains Independence
    1968

    After a protracted struggle for freedom, Swaziland was granted independence from the United Kingdom on September 6, 1968.. The small landlocked country in southern Africa was ruled by the British for over sixty years, during which time it faced political and social challenges. Finally, after years of activism, Swaziland became a sovereign nation, with King Sobhuza II as its first monarch. The country went on to face further obstacles, including a fight for democracy, but its independence day remains a symbol of hope and pride for the Swazi people.

    The First Tank

    The First Tank
    1915

    On September 6, 1915, the first tank was produced by the British Army. It was called the "Little Willie" and was designed to navigate the treacherous terrain of World War I battlefields. With caterpillar tracks, armour plating, and machine guns, the tank was a game-changer in modern warfare. Although "Little Willie" was not used in combat, it paved the way for future tank development and influenced the outcome of many battles. The tank remains an iconic symbol of military might and technological advancement to this day.

    GeoEye-1 Launch

    GeoEye-1 Launch
    2008

    On September 6, 2008, the GeoEye-1 satellite was launched into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This high-resolution imaging satellite was owned and operated by GeoEye, a company that provided satellite imagery to the U.S. government and commercial customers, including Google. The satellite's powerful camera allowed for extremely detailed images of the Earth's surface, which were used for a variety of purposes, including mapping, environmental monitoring, and national security.

    2023

    2022

    2021

    2020

    2019

    2018