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On This Day in History — May 9

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Highlights of May 9

2023 — Pakistani protests: Riots broke out following the arrest of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan. Read more
2012 — The pilots of a Sukhoi Superjet, ignoring alerts from the terrain warning system, crashed the aircraft into Mount Salak in Indonesia, resulting in the deaths of all 45 people on board. Read more
2005 — Pope Benedict XVI began the beatification process for his predecessor Pope John Paul II, waiving the standard five years required after the nominee's death. Read more
2001 — Police at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana, fired tear gas to quell unrest at a football match, leading to a stampede that killed 126 people. Read more
1992 — An underground methane explosion occurred at the Westray Mine in Plymouth, Nova Scotia, killing all 26 Canadian coal miners who were working at the time. Read more
1980 — Part of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida collapsed after a pier was struck by MV Summit Venture, killing 35 people. Read more
1979 — Prominent Iranian Jew Habib Elghanian was executed after having been convicted by a revolutionary tribunal of various charges, triggering a mass exodus of Jews from Iran. Read more
1977 — The Hotel Polen in Amsterdam was destroyed by fire (pictured), leaving 33 people dead. Read more
1968 — About 200 students at Bucks County Community College held a protest after the college canceled a planned speech by gay rights activist Dick Leitsch. Read more
1964 — Ngô Đình Cẩn, a younger brother and the confidant of South Vietnam's first president, Ngô Đình Diệm, was executed by Nguyễn Khánh's military junta. Read more
1961 — In a speech to U.S. broadcasters, Newton Minow, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, described commercial television programming as "a vast wasteland". Read more
1960 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it would approve the use of Searle's Enovid, the first combined oral contraceptive pill. Read more
1949 — Rainier III became Prince of Monaco, beginning a 56-year reign, which would make him one of the longest ruling monarchs of the 20th century. Read more
1944 — World War II: The Japanese Take Ichi convoy arrived at Halmahera in the Dutch East Indies after losing many ships and thousands of troops to Allied attacks while attempting to carry two divisions of troops from China to New Guinea. Read more
1918 — First World War: Germany repelled Britain's second attempt to blockade the Belgian port of Ostend. Read more
1915 — World War I: British forces launched the Battle of Aubers, an offensive on the Western Front, as part of the larger Second Battle of Artois. Read more
1877 — An earthquake struck northern Chile, leading to the deaths of 2,385 people, mostly victims of the ensuing tsunami, as far away as Hawaii and Fiji. Read more
1864 — Second Schleswig War: The Battle of Heligoland (depicted), the last naval engagement fought by squadrons of wooden ships, took place between the Danish and Austro-Prussian fleets. Read more
1761 — The inaugural exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain opened at Spring Gardens in London. Read more

Events

2023 — The May 9 riots following the arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan. Read more
2022 — Russo-Ukrainian war: United States President Joe Biden signs the 2022 Lend-Lease Act into law, a rebooted World War II-era policy attempting to expedite American equipment to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. Read more
2020 — The COVID-19 recession causes the U.S. unemployment rate to hit 14.9 percent, its worst rate since the Great Depression. Read more
2018 — Barisan Nasional, the coalition that had governed Malaysia since the country's independence in 1957, suffer a historic defeat in the 2018 Malaysian general election. Read more
2002 — The 38-day stand-off in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem comes to an end when the Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected terrorists among them deported to several different countries. Read more
2001 — In Ghana, 129 football fans die in what became known as the Accra Sports Stadium disaster. The deaths are caused by a stampede (caused by the firing of tear gas by police personnel at the stadium) that followed a controversial decision by the referee. Read more
1999 — Mother's Day bus crash kills 22 passengers and injures another 22, including the driver in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Read more
1992 — Armenian forces capture Shusha, marking a major turning point in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Read more
1992 — Westray Mine disaster kills 26 workers in Nova Scotia, Canada. Read more
1988 — New Parliament House, Canberra officially opens. Read more
1987 — LOT Flight 5055 Tadeusz Kościuszko crashes after takeoff in Warsaw, Poland, killing all 183 people on board. Read more
1980 — In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 430-meter (1,400 ft) section of the southbound span collapse. Thirty-five people in six cars and a Greyhound bus fall 46 metres (150 ft) into the water and die. Read more
1980 — In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out and one of the largest pursuits in California history. Two of the gunmen and one police officer are killed and thirty-three police and civilian vehicles are destroyed in the chase. Read more
1979 — Iranian Jewish businessman Habib Elghanian is executed by firing squad in Tehran, prompting the mass exodus of the once 100,000-strong Jewish community of Iran. Read more
1974 — Watergate scandal: The United States House Committee on the Judiciary opens formal and public impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon. Read more
1969 — Carlos Lamarca leads the first urban guerrilla action against the military dictatorship of Brazil in São Paulo, by robbing two banks. Read more
1960 — The Food and Drug Administration announces it will approve birth control as an additional indication for Searle's Enovid, making Enovid the world's first approved oral contraceptive pill. Read more
1955 — Cold War: West Germany joins NATO. Read more
1950 — Robert Schuman presents the "Schuman Declaration", considered by some to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union. Read more
1948 — Czechoslovakia's Ninth-of-May Constitution comes into effect. Read more
1946 — King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates and is succeeded by Umberto II. Read more
1945 — World War II: The Channel Islands are liberated from Nazi occupation. Read more
1942 — The Holocaust in Ukraine: The SS executes 588 Jewish residents of the Podolian town of Zinkiv (Khmelnytska oblast). The Zoludek Ghetto (in Belarus) is destroyed and all its inhabitants executed or deported. Read more
1941 — World War II: The German submarine U-110 is captured by the Royal Navy. On board is the latest Enigma machine which Allied cryptographers later use to break coded German messages. Read more
1936 — Italy formally annexes Ethiopia after taking the capital Addis Ababa on May 5. Read more
1927 — The Old Parliament House, Canberra, Australia, officially opens. Read more
1926 — Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett claim to have flown over the North Pole (later discovery of Byrd's diary appears to cast some doubt on the claim). Read more
1920 — Polish–Soviet War: The Polish army under General Edward Rydz-Śmigły celebrates its capture of Kiev with a victory parade on Khreshchatyk. Read more
1918 — World War I: Germany repels Britain's second attempt to blockade the port of Ostend, Belgium. Read more
1915 — World War I: Second Battle of Artois between German and French forces. Read more
1901 — Australia opens its first national parliament in Melbourne. Read more
1877 — Mihail Kogălniceanu reads, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Declaration of Independence of Romania. The date will become recognised as the Independence Day of Romania. Read more
1873 — Der Krach: The Vienna stock exchange crash begins the Panic of 1873 and heralds the Long Depression. Read more
1865 — American Civil War: Nathan Bedford Forrest surrenders his forces at Gainesville, Alabama. Read more
1865 — American Civil War: President Andrew Johnson issues a proclamation ending belligerent rights of the rebels and enjoining foreign nations to intern or expel Confederate ships. Read more
1864 — Second Schleswig War: The Danish navy defeats the Austrian and Prussian fleets in the Battle of Heligoland. Read more
1761 — Exhibition of 1761, the inaugural exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain, opens at Spring Gardens in London. Read more
1726 — Five men arrested during a raid on Mother Clap's molly house in London are executed at Tyburn. Read more
1671 — Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Read more
1662 — The figure who later became Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance in England. Read more
1645 — Scottish Royalist forces under Lord Montrose defeat Covenanter forces under John Urry. Read more
1540 — Hernando de Alarcón sets sail on an expedition to the Gulf of California. Read more
1502 — Christopher Columbus sets off from Cádiz for his fourth voyage. Read more
1450 — Timurid monarch 'Abd al-Latif is assassinated. Read more
1386 — England and Portugal formally ratify their alliance with the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, making it the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world which is still in force. Read more
1310 — Nephon, Bishop of Cyzicus, is consecrated as Patriarch of Constantinople. Read more
1009 — Lombard Revolt: Lombard forces led by Melus revolt in Bari against the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy. Read more
328 — Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria. Read more

Born on May 9

2000 — Trey Lance, American football player Read more
1996 — Noah Centineo, American actor Read more
1995 — Tommy Edman, American baseball player Read more
1995 — Beth Mead, English footballer Read more
1995 — Shaboozey, American rapper and singer-songwriter Read more
1992 — Dan Burn, English footballer Read more
1991 — Majlinda Kelmendi, Kosovar judoka Read more
1989 — Ellen White, English footballer Read more
1989 — Daniel Rosenfeld, German musician Read more
1988 — J. R. Fitzpatrick, Canadian racing driver Read more
1987 — Scott Bolton, Australian rugby league player Read more
1987 — Kevin Gameiro, French footballer Read more
1984 — Prince Fielder, American baseball player Read more
1983 — Gilles Müller, Luxembourgian tennis player Read more
1980 — Grant Hackett, Australian swimmer Read more
1979 — Rosario Dawson, American actress Read more
1979 — Brandon Webb, American baseball player Read more
1977 — Averno, Mexican wrestler Read more
1977 — Marek Jankulovski, Czech footballer Read more
1977 — Svein Tuft, Canadian cyclist Read more
1975 — Tamia, Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Read more
1973 — Tegla Loroupe, Kenyan runner Read more
1970 — Doug Christie, American basketball player and coach Read more
1970 — Hao Haidong, Chinese footballer Read more
1970 — Ghostface Killah, American rapper and actor Read more
1968 — Ruth Kelly, British economist and politician, Secretary of State for Transport Read more
1968 — Marie-José Pérec, French sprinter Read more
1965 — Steve Yzerman, Canadian ice hockey player and manager Read more
1961 — John Corbett, American actor Read more
1960 — Tony Gwynn, American baseball player and coach (died 2014) Read more
1958 — Chuck Russell, American film director and producer (died 2026) Read more
1956 — Wendy Crewson, Canadian actress and producer Read more
1956 — Jana Wendt, Australian television host Read more
1955 — Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia (died 2012) Read more
1955 — Anne Sofie von Otter, Swedish soprano and actress Read more
1951 — Alley Mills, American actress Read more
1951 — Joy Harjo, American poet, musician, playwright and author, 23rd United States Poet Laureate Read more
1949 — Billy Joel, American singer-songwriter and pianist Read more
1948 — Calvin Murphy, American basketball player and radio host Read more
1947 — Yukiya Amano, Japanese diplomat (died 2019) Read more

Died on May 9

2024 — Sean Burroughs, American baseball player (born 1980) Read more
2024 — Roger Corman, American film director, producer, and actor (born 1926) Read more
2024 — Rex Murphy, Canadian political commentator (born 1947) Read more
2022 — John Leo, American a writer and journalist (born 1935) Read more
2022 — Rieko Kodama, Japanese game developer (born 1963) Read more
2020 — Little Richard, American singer, songwriter, and pianist (born 1932) Read more
2019 — Freddie Starr, English comedian, impressionist, singer and actor (born 1943) Read more
2018 — Per Kirkeby, Danish painter, poet, film maker and sculptor (born 1938) Read more
2017 — Robert Miles, a Swiss-born Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ (born 1969) Read more
2015 — Edward W. Estlow, American football player and journalist (born 1920) Read more
2015 — Kenan Evren, Turkish general and politician, 7th President of Turkey (born 1917) Read more
2015 — Elizabeth Wilson, American actress (born 1921) Read more
2014 — Giacomo Bini, Italian priest and missionary (born 1938) Read more
2014 — Harlan Mathews, American lawyer and politician (born 1927) Read more
2014 — Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy, Indian politician, 12th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (born 1935) Read more
2014 — Mary Stewart, British author and poet (born 1916) Read more
2013 — Ramón Blanco Rodríguez, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1952) Read more
2013 — George M. Leader, American soldier and politician, 36th Governor of Pennsylvania (born 1918) Read more
2013 — Humberto Lugo Gil, Mexican lawyer and politician, 23rd Governor of Hidalgo (born 1933) Read more
2013 — Ottavio Missoni, Italian hurdler and fashion designer, founded Missoni (born 1921) Read more
2012 — Bertram Cohler, American psychologist, psychoanalyst, and academic (born 1938) Read more
2012 — Geoffrey Henry, Cook Islander lawyer and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of the Cook Islands (born 1940) Read more
2012 — Vidal Sassoon, English-American hairdresser and businessman (born 1928) Read more
2011 — Wouter Weylandt, Belgian cyclist (born 1984) Read more
2010 — Lena Horne, American singer, actress, and activist (born 1917) Read more
2010 — Otakar Motejl, Czech lawyer and politician (born 1932) Read more
2009 — Chuck Daly, American basketball player and coach (born 1930) Read more
2008 — Jack Gibson, Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster (born 1929) Read more
2008 — Baptiste Manzini, American football player (born 1920) Read more
2008 — Nuala O'Faolain, Irish journalist and producer (born 1942) Read more
2008 — Pascal Sevran, French singer, television host, and author (born 1945) Read more
2007 — Dwight Wilson, Canadian soldier (born 1901) Read more
2004 — Akhmad Kadyrov, Chechen cleric and politician, 1st President of the Chechen Republic (born 1951) Read more
2004 — Alan King, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1927) Read more
2004 — Brenda Fassie, South African singer (born 1964) Read more
2003 — Russell B. Long, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician (born 1918) Read more
1998 — Alice Faye, American actress and singer (born 1915) Read more
1998 — Talat Mahmood, Indian singer and actor (born 1924) Read more
1997 — Rawya Ateya, Egyptian captain and politician (born 1926) Read more
1997 — Marco Ferreri, Italian actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1928) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Beatus of Vendome; Christian feast day: Christopher (Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day: George Preca; Christian feast day: Gerontius of Cervia; Christian feast day: Gregory of Nazianzen (The Episcopal Church (US) and traditional Roman Catholic calendar); Christian feast day: Blessed Karolina Gerhardinger; Christian feast day: Nicolaus Zinzendorf (Lutheran); Christian feast day: Pachomius the Great; Christian feast day: Blessed Thomas Pickering; Christian feast day: Tudy of Landevennec; Christian feast day: May 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Commemoration of the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands related observances: Liberation Day, commemorating the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. (Guernsey and Jersey); Commemoration of the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands related observances: National Day (Alderney); Europe Day, commemorating the Schuman Declaration. (European Union, Kosovo, Moldova, Ukraine); Victory Day observances, celebration of the Soviet Union victory over Nazi Germany (Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) Victory and Peace Day, marks the capture of Shusha (1992) in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the end of World War II. (Armenia); Home Front Heroes Day in the United States (proposed; locally observed in Dallas, Texas); Goku Day (Japan), commemorating the fictional character Goku.

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “May 9”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.