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On This Day in History — August 9
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Highlights of August 9
- 2024 — Voepass Linhas Aéreas Flight 2283 crashed near Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil, killing all 62 people on board. Read more
- 2023 — Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated in Quito, eleven days before the general election. Read more
- 2018 — A civilian school bus in Dahyan, Yemen, was bombed by Saudi Arabia killing at least 40 children under 15. Read more
- 2018 — A civilian school bus in Dahyan, Yemen, was bombed by Saudi forces, killing at least 40 children. Read more
- 2014 — Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African-American man, was killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, resulting in widespread protests and unrest. Read more
- 2006 — British police arrested 24 people for conspiring to detonate liquid explosives carried on board airliners travelling from the UK to the US and Canada. Read more
- 2001 — Second Intifada: A suicide bomber attacked a pizza restaurant in Jerusalem, killing 15 people and wounding 130 others. Read more
- 1988 — Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in one of the most controversial player transactions in ice hockey history. Read more
- 1979 — Female workers of YH Trading in South Korea held a sit-in protest in response to the company's unilateral shutdown. Read more
- 1974 — On the verge of an impeachment and removal from office amid the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first president of the United States to resign. Read more
- 1971 — The Troubles: British forces began arresting and interning suspected Irish republican militants in Northern Ireland. Read more
- 1969 — Members of the Manson Family invaded a house and murdered American actress Sharon Tate (pictured) and four guests in Los Angeles, before killing two more people the following night. Read more
- 1960 — Led by Albert Kalonji, South Kasai declared its unilateral secession from the Republic of the Congo. Read more
- 1956 — About 20,000 women marched on Pretoria, South Africa, to protest the introduction of pass laws for black women under apartheid. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The USAAF bomber Bockscar dropped a Fat Man atomic bomb (replica pictured) on Nagasaki, Japan. Read more
- 1944 — The United States Forest Service authorized the use of Smokey Bear (pictured) as its mascot to replace Bambi. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: In the first major naval engagement of the Guadalcanal campaign, Japan forced the U.S. Navy to withdraw from the Solomon Islands. Read more
- 1942 — Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 was premiered in Leningrad while the city was under siege by Nazi forces. Read more
- 1934 — The Blue Lotus, the fifth volume of The Adventures of Tintin by the Belgian cartoonist Hergé and noted for its emphasis on countering negative misconceptions of Chinese people, began serialisation. Read more
- 1902 — In a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Edward VII and Alexandra were crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor and Empress of India. Read more
- 1897 — The first meeting of the International Congress of Mathematicians was held in Zürich, Switzerland. Read more
- 1877 — Nez Perce War: Both the Nez Perce and the United States Army suffered numerous casualties at the Battle of the Big Hole, which ended conclusively. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: Confederate troops counter-attacked and won the Battle of Cedar Mountain, after nearly being driven from the field in the early part of the battle. Read more
- 1821 — A statue of the Polynesian god A'a was presented to members of the London Missionary Society on the south Pacific island of Ra'iatea. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Voepass Linhas Aéreas Flight 2283 crashes near Vinhedo, São Paulo, killing all 62 people on board. Read more
- 2021 — The Tampere light rail officially starts operating. Read more
- 2014 — Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African American male in Ferguson, Missouri, is shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer after reportedly assaulting the officer and attempting to steal his weapon, sparking protests and unrest in the city. Read more
- 2013 — Gunmen open fire at a Sunni mosque in the city of Quetta killing at least ten people and injuring 30. Read more
- 2012 — Shannon Eastin becomes the first woman to officiate an NFL game. Read more
- 2007 — Air Moorea Flight 1121 crashes after takeoff from Moorea Airport in French Polynesia, killing all 20 people on board. Read more
- 2006 — At least 21 suspected terrorists are arrested in the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot that happened in the United Kingdom. The arrests are made in London, Birmingham, and High Wycombe in an overnight operation. Read more
- 1999 — Russian president Boris Yeltsin fires his prime minister, Sergei Stepashin, and for the fourth time fires his entire cabinet. Read more
- 1995 — Aviateca Flight 901 crashes into the San Vicente volcano in El Salvador, killing all 65 people on board. Read more
- 1993 — The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan loses a 38-year hold on national leadership. Read more
- 1991 — The Italian prosecuting magistrate Antonino Scopelliti is murdered by the 'Ndrangheta on behalf of the Sicilian Mafia while preparing the government's case in the final appeal of the Maxi Trial. Read more
- 1979 — Female workers of YH Trading in South Korea hold a sit-in protest in response to the company's unilateral shutdown. Read more
- 1974 — As a direct result of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon becomes the first president of the United States to resign from office. Vice President Gerald Ford becomes president. Read more
- 1973 — Mars 7 is launched from the USSR. Read more
- 1971 — The Troubles: In Northern Ireland, the British authorities launch Operation Demetrius. The operation involves the mass arrest and internment without trial of individuals suspected of being affiliated with the Irish Republican Army (PIRA). Mass riots follow, and thousands of people flee or are forced out of their homes. Read more
- 1970 — LANSA Flight 502 crashes after takeoff from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, Peru, killing 99 of the 100 people on board, as well as two people on the ground. Read more
- 1969 — Tate–LaBianca murders: Followers of Charles Manson murder pregnant actress Sharon Tate (wife of Roman Polanski), coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Polish actor Wojciech Frykowski, men's hairstylist Jay Sebring and recent high-school graduate Steven Parent. Read more
- 1965 — The State of Singapore separates from the Malaysian federation due to a heated ideological conflict between their ruling parties.[citation needed][needs copy edit] Read more
- 1960 — South Kasai secedes from the Congo. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Nagasaki is devastated when an atomic bomb, Fat Man, is dropped by the United States B-29 Bockscar. Thirty-five thousand people are killed outright, including 23,200–28,200 Japanese war workers, 2,000 Korean forced workers, and 150 Japanese soldiers. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The Red Army invades Japanese-occupied Manchuria. Read more
- 1944 — The United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council release posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Continuation War: The Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive, the largest offensive launched by Soviet Union against Finland during the Second World War, ends to a strategic stalemate. Both Finnish and Soviet troops at the Finnish front dig to defensive positions, and the front remains stable until the end of the war. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: Battle of Savo Island: Allied naval forces protecting their amphibious forces during the initial stages of the Battle of Guadalcanal are surprised and defeated by an Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser force. Read more
- 1942 — Dmitri Shostakovich's 7th symphony premieres in a besieged Leningrad. Read more
- 1936 — Summer Olympics: Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal at the games. Read more
- 1925 — A train robbery takes place in Kakori, near Lucknow, India, by the Indian independence revolutionaries, against the British government. Read more
- 1907 — The first Boy Scout encampment concludes at Brownsea Island in southern England. Read more
- 1902 — Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark are crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Read more
- 1897 — The first International Congress of Mathematicians is held in Zürich, Switzerland. Read more
- 1892 — Thomas Edison receives a patent for a two-way telegraph. Read more
- 1877 — American Indian Wars: Battle of the Big Hole: A small band of Nez Percé Indians clash with the United States Army. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: Battle of Cedar Mountain: At Cedar Mountain, Virginia, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson narrowly defeats Union forces under General John Pope. Read more
- 1855 — Åland War: The Battle of Suomenlinna begins. Read more
- 1854 — American Transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau publishes his memoir Walden. Read more
- 1842 — The Webster–Ashburton Treaty is signed, establishing the United States–Canada border east of the Rocky Mountains. Read more
- 1830 — Louis Philippe becomes the king of the French following abdication of Charles X. Read more
- 1814 — American Indian Wars: The Creek sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson, giving up huge parts of Alabama and Georgia. Read more
- 1810 — Napoleon annexes Westphalia as part of the First French Empire. Read more
- 1638 — An army under Bernard of Saxe-Weimar defeats imperial troops at the battle of Wittenweiher. Read more
- 1610 — The First Anglo-Powhatan War begins in colonial Virginia. Read more
- 1500 — Ottoman–Venetian War (1499–1503): The Ottomans capture Methoni, Messenia. Read more
- 1329 — Quilon, the first Indian Christian Diocese, is erected by Pope John XXII; the French-born Jordanus is appointed the first Bishop. Read more
- 1173 — Construction of the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa (now known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) begins; it will take two centuries to complete. Read more
- 378 — Gothic War: Battle of Adrianople: A large Roman army led by Emperor Valens is defeated by the Visigoths. Valens is killed along with over half of his army. Read more
- 48 BC — Caesar's Civil War: Battle of Pharsalus: Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and Pompey flees to Egypt. Read more
Born on August 9
- 2005 — Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva, Andorran tennis player Read more
- 2003 — Kazuha, Japanese singer and dancer Read more
- 2000 — Aidan Hutchinson, American football player Read more
- 2000 — Arlo Parks, British singer-songwriter Read more
- 1999 — Deniss Vasiļjevs, Latvian figure skater Read more
- 1996 — Sanya Lopez, Filipino actress and model Read more
- 1995 — Eli Apple, American football player Read more
- 1995 — Justice Smith, American actor Read more
- 1995 — Hwang Min-hyun, South Korean singer and actor Read more
- 1994 — Kelli Hubly, American soccer player Read more
- 1994 — King Von, American rapper (died 2020) Read more
- 1993 — Jun.Q, South Korean singer and actor Read more
- 1993 — Dipa Karmakar, Indian gymnast Read more
- 1992 — Farahnaz Forotan, Afghan journalist Read more
- 1991 — Alice Barlow, English actress Read more
- 1991 — Alexa Bliss, American bodybuilder and wrestler Read more
- 1991 — Hansika Motwani, Indian actress Read more
- 1990 — İshak Doğan, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1990 — Sarah McBride, American LGBT activist and US Representative Read more
- 1990 — Stuart McInally, Scottish rugby player Read more
- 1990 — Brice Roger, French skier Read more
- 1990 — D'Arcy Short, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1990 — Bill Skarsgård, Swedish actor Read more
- 1989 — Jason Heyward, American baseball player Read more
- 1989 — Stefano Okaka, Italian footballer Read more
- 1989 — Kento Ono, Japanese actor and model Read more
- 1988 — Anthony Castonzo, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Willian, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Vasilios Koutsianikoulis, Greek footballer Read more
- 1987 — Marek Niit, Estonian sprinter Read more
- 1986 — Michael Lerchl, German footballer Read more
- 1986 — Daniel Preussner, German rugby player Read more
- 1986 — Tyler Smith, American singer-songwriter and bass player Read more
- 1985 — Luca Filippi, Italian racing driver Read more
- 1985 — Filipe Luís, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Anna Kendrick, American actress and singer Read more
- 1985 — Hayley Peirsol, American swimmer Read more
- 1985 — Vivek Ramaswamy, American entrepreneur and politician Read more
- 1985 — JaMarcus Russell, American football player Read more
- 1985 — Chandler Williams, American football player (died 2013) Read more
Died on August 9
- 2024 — Susan Wojcicki, Polish-American technology executive (born 1968) Read more
- 2023 — Robbie Robertson, Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor (born 1943) Read more
- 2021 — Pat Hitchcock, English actress and producer (born 1928) Read more
- 2021 — Killer Kau, South African rapper, dancer and record producer (born 1998) Read more
- 2021 — Zairaini Sarbini, Malaysian voice actress (born 1972) Read more
- 2016 — Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, third-richest British citizen (born 1951) Read more
- 2015 — Frank Gifford, American football player, sportscaster, and actor (born 1930) Read more
- 2015 — John Henry Holland, American computer scientist and academic (born 1929) Read more
- 2015 — Walter Nahún López, Honduran footballer (born 1977) Read more
- 2015 — David Nobbs, English author and screenwriter (born 1935) Read more
- 2015 — Kayyar Kinhanna Rai, Indian journalist, author, and poet (born 1915) Read more
- 2015 — Fikret Otyam, Turkish painter and journalist (born 1926) Read more
- 2014 — J. F. Ade Ajayi, Nigerian historian and academic (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Andriy Bal, Ukrainian footballer and coach (born 1958) Read more
- 2014 — Arthur G. Cohen, American businessman and philanthropist, co-founded Arlen Realty and Development Corporation (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — Ed Nelson, American actor (born 1928) Read more
- 2013 — Harry Elliott, American baseball player and coach (born 1923) Read more
- 2013 — Eduardo Falú, Argentinian guitarist and composer (born 1923) Read more
- 2013 — William Lynch, Jr., American lawyer and politician (born 1947) Read more
- 2012 — Carl Davis, American record producer (born 1934) Read more
- 2012 — Gene F. Franklin, American engineer, theorist, and academic (born 1927) Read more
- 2012 — Al Freeman, Jr., American actor, director, and educator (born 1934) Read more
- 2012 — David Rakoff, Canadian-American actor and journalist (born 1964) Read more
- 2012 — Carmen Belen Richardson, Puerto Rican-American actress (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Mel Stuart, American director and producer (born 1928) Read more
- 2010 — Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, American singer and bass player (born 1926) Read more
- 2010 — Ted Stevens, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (born 1923) Read more
- 2008 — Bernie Mac, American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer (born 1957) Read more
- 2008 — Mahmoud Darwish, Palestinian author and poet (born 1941) Read more
- 2007 — Joe O'Donnell, American photographer and journalist (born 1922) Read more
- 2006 — Philip E. High, English author (born 1914) Read more
- 2006 — James Van Allen, American physicist and academic (born 1914) Read more
- 2005 — Judith Rossner, American author (born 1935) Read more
- 2004 — Robert Lecourt, French lawyer and politician, Lord Chancellor of France (born 1908) Read more
- 2004 — Tony Mottola, American guitarist and composer (born 1918) Read more
- 2004 — David Raksin, American composer and educator (born 1912) Read more
- 2003 — Jacques Deray, French director and screenwriter (born 1929) Read more
- 2003 — Ray Harford, English footballer and manager (born 1945) Read more
- 2003 — Gregory Hines, American actor, dancer, and choreographer (born 1946) Read more
- 2003 — R. Sivagurunathan, Sri Lankan lawyer, journalist, and academic (born 1931) Read more
Holidays & observances
Battle of Gangut Day (Russia); Christian feast day:
Candida Maria of Jesus; Christian feast day:
Edith Stein (St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross); Christian feast day:
Firmus and Rusticus; Christian feast day:
Blessed Florentino Asensio Barroso; Christian feast day:
Herman of Alaska (Russian Orthodox Church and related congregations; Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
Mary Sumner (Church of England); Christian feast day:
Nath Í of Achonry; Christian feast day:
Romanus Ostiarius; Christian feast day:
Secundian, Marcellian and Verian; Christian feast day:
August 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (United Nations); Meyboom (Brussels and Leuven, Belgium); National Day, celebrates the independence of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965.; National Peacekeepers' Day, celebrated on Sunday closest to the day (Canada); National Women's Day (South Africa); Day of the Finnish art, also birthday of Tove Jansson (Finland)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “August 9”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.