On This Day in History — April 9

Highlights of April 9

• 2021 — Myanmar civil war: Burmese military and police forces killed at least 82 civilians in the Bago massacre, including people protesting a recent coup d'état. Read more
• 2021 — Prince Philip, the consort of Queen Elizabeth II, died at Windsor Castle aged 99. Read more
• 2005 — Charles, Prince of Wales, married Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall. Read more
• 2003 — Invasion of Iraq: Coalition forces captured Baghdad and the statue of Saddam Hussein in Firdos Square was toppled. Read more
• 1999 — Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara, President of Niger, was shot dead by soldiers in Niamey. Read more
• 1993 — Iranian filmmaker Morteza Avini was killed by a land mine in Fakkeh while producing a documentary. Read more
• 1980 — Iraqi philosopher Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr (pictured) and his sister Amina were executed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Read more
• 1976 — The first EMD F40PH, Amtrak's most widespread diesel locomotive for many years, entered into service. Read more
• 1967 — The Boeing 737 took its maiden flight, eventually becoming the most produced commercial passenger jet airliner in the world. Read more
• 1959 — NASA announced the selection of the Mercury Seven, the first astronauts in Project Mercury. Read more
• 1948 — Palestine war: Fighters from the Zionist paramilitary groups Irgun and Lehi attacked the village of Deir Yassin near Jerusalem, killing more than 100 Palestinian Arabs. Read more
• 1947 — Sixteen white and black men began a two-week journey in the American South, acting in defiance of local laws that enforced segregated seating on public buses. Read more
• 1947 — The Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes killed 181 people and injured 970 others in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Read more
• 1945 — The German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer (pictured), the most successful capital-ship surface raider of the Second World War, was sunk by British bombers in port in Kiel. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: Japanese forces defeated Allied troops at the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines before beginning to forcibly transfer more than 90,000 prisoners of war to prison camps in the Bataan Death March. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: During the German invasion of Norway, Vidkun Quisling attempted to seize power in the first coup to be broadcast over radio. Read more
• 1939 — After being denied permission to perform at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution, African-American singer Marian Anderson gave an open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1917 — First World War: The Canadian Corps began the first wave of attacks of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in Vimy, France. Read more
• 1860 — Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville recorded himself singing "Au clair de la lune" on his phonautograph, producing the oldest known recording of an audible human voice (audio featured). Read more
• 1388 — Despite being vastly outnumbered, forces of the Old Swiss Confederacy defeated an Austrian army at the Battle of Näfels. Read more
• 475 — Basiliscus issued the Enkyklikon, a circular letter to bishops supporting the Monophysitism position. Read more
• 193 — Year of the Five Emperors: Septimius Severus was proclaimed Roman emperor by his troops at Carnuntum in modern-day Austria. Read more

Events

• 2021 — Burmese military and security forces commit the Bago massacre, during which at least 82 civilians are killed. Read more
• 2021 — Soyuz MS-18 is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying three members of the Expedition 64 crew to the International Space Station. Read more
• 2020 — Soyuz MS-16 is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying the Expedition 62/63 crew to the International Space Station. Read more
• 2017 — The Palm Sunday church bombings at Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria, Egypt, take place. Read more
• 2014 — A student stabs 20 people at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania. Read more
• 2013 — A 6.1–magnitude earthquake strikes Iran killing 32 people and injuring over 850 people. Read more
• 2013 — At least 13 people are killed and another three injured after a man goes on a spree shooting in the Serbian village of Velika Ivanča. Read more
• 2011 — Six people and the perpetrator are killed and 17 injured in a mass shooting at a shopping mall in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands. Read more
• 2009 — In Tbilisi, Georgia, up to 60,000 people protest against the government of Mikheil Saakashvili. Read more
• 2003 — Iraq War: Baghdad falls to American forces. Read more
• 1994 — Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-59. Read more
• 1992 — A U.S. Federal Court finds former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega guilty of drug and racketeering charges. He is sentenced to 30 years in prison. Read more
• 1991 — Georgia declares independence from the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1990 — An IRA bombing in County Down, Northern Ireland, kills three members of the UDR. Read more
• 1990 — The Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement is signed for 180,000 square kilometres (69,000 mi2) in the Mackenzie Valley of the western Arctic. Read more
• 1990 — An Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia collides in mid-air with a Cessna 172 over Gadsden, Alabama, killing both of the Cessna's occupants. Read more
• 1989 — Tbilisi massacre: An anti-Soviet peaceful demonstration and hunger strike in Tbilisi, demanding restoration of Georgian independence, is dispersed by the Soviet Army, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Read more
• 1981 — The U.S. Navy nuclear submarine USS George Washington accidentally collides with the Nissho Maru, a Japanese cargo ship, sinking it and killing two Japanese sailors. Read more
• 1980 — The Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein kills philosopher Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and his sister Bint al-Huda after three days of torture. Read more
• 1969 — The first British-built Concorde 002 makes its maiden flight from Filton to RAF Fairford with Brian Trubshaw as the test pilot. Read more
• 1967 — The first Boeing 737 (a 100 series) makes its maiden flight. Read more
• 1960 — Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd, Prime Minister of South Africa and architect of apartheid, narrowly survives an assassination attempt by a white farmer, David Pratt in Johannesburg. Read more
• 1959 — Project Mercury: NASA announces the selection of the United States' first seven astronauts, whom the news media quickly dub the "Mercury Seven". Read more
• 1957 — The Suez Canal in Egypt is cleared and opens to shipping following the Suez Crisis. Read more
• 1952 — Hugo Ballivián's government is overthrown by the Bolivian National Revolution, starting a period of agrarian reform, universal suffrage and the nationalization of tin mines Read more
• 1952 — Japan Air Lines Flight 301 crashes into Mount Mihara, Izu Ōshima, Japan, killing 37. Read more
• 1948 — Jorge Eliécer Gaitán's assassination provokes a violent riot in Bogotá (the Bogotazo), and a further ten years of violence in Colombia. Read more
• 1948 — Fighters from the Irgun and Lehi Zionist terror groups attacked Deir Yassin near Jerusalem, killing over 100 Palestinians. Read more
• 1947 — The Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes kill 181 and injure 970 in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Read more
• 1947 — The Journey of Reconciliation, the first interracial Freedom Ride begins through the upper South in violation of Jim Crow laws. The riders wanted enforcement of the United States Supreme Court's 1946 Irene Morgan decision that banned racial segregation in interstate travel. Read more
• 1947 — United Nations Security Council Resolution 22 relating to Corfu Channel incident is adopted. Read more
• 1946 — About 500 postal workers in Tel Aviv and Jaffa went on strike. Read more
• 1945 — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran pastor and anti-Nazi dissident, is executed by the Nazi regime. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer is sunk by the Royal Air Force. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The Battle of Königsberg, in East Prussia, ends. Read more
• 1945 — The United States Atomic Energy Commission is formed. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The Battle of Bataan ends and the Bataan Death March begins. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: An Indian Ocean raid by Japan's 1st Air Fleet sinks the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and the Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Operation Weserübung: Germany invades Denmark and Norway. Read more
• 1940 — Vidkun Quisling seizes power in Norway. Read more
• 1939 — African-American singer Marian Anderson gives a concert at the Lincoln Memorial after being denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Read more
• 1937 — The Kamikaze arrives at Croydon Airport in London. It is the first Japanese-built aircraft to fly to Europe. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: The Battle of the Lys: The Portuguese Expeditionary Corps is crushed by the German forces during what is called the Spring Offensive on the Belgian region of Flanders. Read more
• 1917 — World War I: The Battle of Arras: The battle begins with Canadian Corps executing a massive assault on Vimy Ridge. Read more
• 1909 — The U.S. Congress passes the Payne–Aldrich Tariff Act. Read more
• 1865 — American Civil War: Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia (26,765 troops) to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the war. Read more
• 1860 — On his phonautograph machine, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville makes the first known recording of an audible human voice. Read more
• 1784 — The Treaty of Paris, ratified by the United States Congress on January 14, 1784, is ratified by King George III of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ending the American Revolutionary War. Copies of the ratified documents are exchanged on May 12, 1784. Read more
• 1682 — Robert Cavelier de La Salle discovers the mouth of the Mississippi River, claims it for France and names it Louisiana. Read more
• 1609 — Eighty Years' War: Spain and the Dutch Republic sign the Treaty of Antwerp to initiate twelve years of truce. Read more
• 1609 — Philip III of Spain issues the decree of the "Expulsion of the Moriscos". Read more
• 1511 — Resettled Shiite Muslims rise up in the Şahkulu rebellion under the leadership of Şahkulu against the Ottoman Empire. Read more
• 1454 — The Treaty of Lodi is signed, establishing a balance of power among northern Italian city-states for almost 50 years. Read more
• 1438 — The Council of Ferrara begins with its first session in presence of the Patriarch of Constantinople, representatives of the Patriarchal Sees of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem and Pope Eugene IV presiding. Read more
• 1388 — Despite being outnumbered 16:1, forces of the Old Swiss Confederacy are victorious over the Archduchy of Austria in the Battle of Näfels. Read more
• 1387 — The Byzantine city of Thessalonike surrenders to the Ottomans, though rule reverts back to the Byzantines after the battle of Ankara. Read more
• 1288 — Mongol invasions of Vietnam: Yuan forces are defeated by Trần forces in the Battle of Bach Dang in present-day northern Vietnam. Read more
• 1241 — Battle of Liegnitz: Mongol forces defeat the Polish and German armies. Read more
• 537 — Siege of Rome: The Byzantine general Belisarius receives his promised reinforcements, 1,600 cavalry, mostly of Hunnic or Slavic origin and expert bowmen. Despite shortages, he starts raids against the Gothic camps and Vitiges but is forced into a stalemate. Read more
• 475 — Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (Enkyklikon) to the bishops of his empire, supporting the Monophysite christological position. Read more

Born on April 9

• 2004 — TommyInnit, English YouTuber and streamer Read more
• 2003 — Hwang Do-yun, South Korean footballer Read more
• 2001 — Nika Mühl, Croatian basketball player Read more
• 2000 — Tiago Djaló, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 2000 — Jackie Evancho, American singer Read more
• 1999 — Stanley Nsoki, French footballer Read more
• 1999 — Lil Nas X, American rapper Read more
• 1999 — Rúben Vinagre, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1998 — Elle Fanning, American actress Read more
• 1997 — Luis Arráez, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
• 1996 — Jayden Brailey, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1996 — Giovani Lo Celso, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1995 — Domagoj Bošnjak, Croatian basketball player Read more
• 1995 — Robert Bauer, German-Kazakhstani footballer Read more
• 1995 — Demi Vermeulen, Dutch Paralympic equestrian Read more
• 1994 — Bladee, Swedish rapper and singer Read more
• 1994 — Joey Pollari, American actor Read more
• 1993 — Alexandra Hunt, American politician Read more
• 1992 — Raheem Mostert, American football player Read more
• 1991 — Gai Assulin, Israeli footballer Read more
• 1991 — Ryan Kelly, American basketball player Read more
• 1991 — Mary Killman, American synchronized swimmer Read more
• 1990 — Kristen Stewart, American actress Read more
• 1990 — Ryan Williams, American football player Read more
• 1989 — Bianca Belair, American wrestler Read more
• 1989 — Danielle Kahle, American figure skater Read more
• 1988 — Jeremy Metcalfe, English race car driver Read more
• 1987 — Kassim Abdallah, French-Comorian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Graham Gano, American football player Read more
• 1987 — Craig Mabbitt, American singer Read more
• 1987 — Jesse McCartney, American singer-songwriter and actor Read more
• 1987 — Jarrod Mullen, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1987 — Jazmine Sullivan, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1986 — Mike Hart, American football player Read more
• 1986 — Leighton Meester, American actress Read more
• 1985 — Antonio Nocerino, Italian footballer Read more
• 1985 — David Robertson, American baseball player Read more
• 1984 — Habiba Ghribi, Tunisian runner Read more
• 1984 — Adam Loewen, Canadian baseball player Read more
• 1984 — Óscar Razo, Mexican footballer Read more

Died on April 9

• 2025 — Ray Shero, American ice hockey player and executive (born 1962) Read more
• 2023 — Karl Berger, German-American jazz pianist (born 1935) Read more
• 2022 — Dwayne Haskins, American football player (born 1997) Read more
• 2021 — Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of the United Kingdom, Prince of Greece and Denmark, Consort of Queen Elizabeth II (born 1921) Read more
• 2021 — DMX, American rapper and actor (born 1970) Read more
• 2021 — Nikki Grahame, British reality-TV icon (born 1982) Read more
• 2021 — Ian Gibson, British scientist and Labour Party politician (born 1938) Read more
• 2021 — Ramsey Clark, American lawyer (born 1927) Read more
• 2019 — Charles Van Doren, American writer and editor (born 1926) Read more
• 2017 — John Clarke, New Zealand-Australian comedian, writer, and satirist (born 1948) Read more
• 2016 — Duane Clarridge, American spy (born 1932) Read more
• 2016 — Will Smith, American football player (born 1981) Read more
• 2015 — Paul Almond, Canadian-American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1931) Read more
• 2015 — Margaret Rule, British marine archaeologist (born 1928) Read more
• 2015 — Nina Companeez, French director and screenwriter (born 1937) Read more
• 2015 — Alexander Dalgarno, English physicist and academic (born 1928) Read more
• 2015 — Ivan Doig, American journalist and author (born 1939) Read more
• 2015 — Tsien Tsuen-hsuin, Chinese-American academic (born 1909) Read more
• 2014 — Gil Askey, American trumpet player, composer, and producer (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Chris Banks, American football player (born 1973) Read more
• 2014 — Rory Ellinger, American lawyer and politician (born 1941) Read more
• 2014 — Norman Girvan, Jamaican economist, academic, and politician (born 1941) Read more
• 2014 — Aelay Narendra, Indian politician (born 1946) Read more
• 2014 — A. N. R. Robinson, Trinbagonian politician, 3rd President of Trinidad and Tobago (born 1926) Read more
• 2014 — Svetlana Velmar-Janković, Serbian author (born 1933) Read more
• 2013 — David Hayes, American sculptor and painter (born 1931) Read more
• 2013 — Greg McCrary, American football player (born 1952) Read more
• 2013 — Mordechai Mishani, Israeli lawyer and politician (born 1945) Read more
• 2013 — McCandlish Phillips, American journalist and author (born 1927) Read more
• 2013 — Paolo Soleri, Italian-American architect, designed the Cosanti (born 1919) Read more
• 2012 — Malcolm Thomas, Welsh rugby player and cricketer (born 1929) Read more
• 2012 — Boris Parygin, Soviet philosopher, psychologist, and author (born 1930) Read more
• 2011 — Zakariya Rashid Hassan al-Ashiri, Bahraini journalist (born 1971) Read more
• 2011 — Sidney Lumet, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1924) Read more
• 2010 — Zoltán Varga, Hungarian footballer and manager (born 1945) Read more
• 2009 — Nick Adenhart, American baseball player (born 1986) Read more
• 2007 — Egon Bondy, Czech philosopher and poet (born 1930) Read more
• 2007 — Dorrit Hoffleit, American astronomer and academic (born 1907) Read more
• 2006 — Billy Hitchcock, American baseball player, coach, manager (born 1916) Read more
• 2006 — Vilgot Sjöman, Swedish director and screenwriter (born 1924) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Acacius of Amida; Christian feast day: Casilda of Toledo; Christian feast day: Demetrius of Thessaloniki; Christian feast day: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Anglicanism, Lutheranism); Christian feast day: Gaucherius; Christian feast day: Materiana; Christian feast day: Blessed Thomas of Tolentino; Christian feast day: Waltrude; Christian feast day: April 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Baghdad Liberation Day (Iraqi Kurdistan); Constitution Day (Kosovo); Day of National Unity (Georgia); Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan (Philippines); Feast of the Second Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema); Martyr's Day (Tunisia); Mikael Agricola Day, also known as Day of the Finnish Language (Finland); National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (United States); Remembrance for Haakon Sigurdsson (The Troth); Vimy Ridge Day (Canada); Valour Day (CRPF)

More from the Almanac

Sunrise & SunsetStar TransitMoon & Planting CalendarsAncient Measures