On This Day — May 9

Famous events, births, and deaths from May 9 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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53 events · 177 births · 92 deaths recorded for May 9.

🕰️ Notable Events on May 9

2015 — An Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft crashes near the Spanish city of Seville with three people on board killed. Wikipedia ↗
2015 — Russia stages its biggest ever military parade in Moscow's Red Square to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory Day. Wikipedia ↗
2012 — A Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft crashes into Mount Salak in West Java, Indonesia, killing 45 people. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
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 teargas by police personnel at the stadium) that followed a controversial decision by the referee. Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Armenian forces capture Shusha, marking a major turning point in the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Westray Mine disaster kills 26 workers in Nova Scotia, Canada. Wikipedia ↗
1987 — LOT Flight 5055 Tadeusz Kościuszko crashes after takeoff in Warsaw, Poland, killing all 183 people on board. Wikipedia ↗
1980 — In Florida, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 1,400-ft. section of the southbound span collapse. Thirty-five people in six cars and a Greyhound bus fall 150 ft. into the water and die. Wikipedia ↗
1980 — In Norco, California, 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. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Hotel Polen fire: A disastrous fire burns down the Hotel Polen in Amsterdam causing 33 deaths and 21 severe injuries. Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Watergate scandal: The United States House Committee on the Judiciary opens formal and public impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon. Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Vietnam War: In Washington, D.C., 75,000 to 100,000 war protesters demonstrate in front of the White House. Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Carlos Lamarca leads the first urban guerrilla action against the military dictatorship of Brazil in São Paulo, by robbing two banks. Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Ngô Đình Cẩn, de facto ruler of central Vietnam under his brother President Ngô Đình Diệm before the family's toppling, is executed. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — FCC Chairman Newton N. Minow gives his Wasteland Speech. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Film: Vertigo has world premiere in San Francisco. Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Cold War: West Germany joins NATO. Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Robert Schuman presents his proposal on the creation of an organized Europe, which according to him was indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. This proposal, known as the "Schuman Declaration", is considered by some people to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union. Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Rainier III becomes Prince of Monaco. Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Czechoslovakia's Ninth-of-May Constitution comes into effect. Wikipedia ↗
1946 — King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates and is succeeded by Umberto II. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: The final German Instrument of Surrender is signed at the Soviet headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: The Channel Islands are liberated by the British after five years of German occupation. Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Holocaust: The SS executes 588 Jewish residents of the Podolian town of Zinkiv (Khmelnytska oblast, Ukraine). The Zoludek Ghetto (in Belarus) is destroyed and all its inhabitants executed or deported. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — World War II: The German submarine U-9 sinks the French coastal submarine Doris near Den Helder. Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Italy formally annexes Ethiopia after taking the capital Addis Ababa on May 5. Wikipedia ↗
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.) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Polish-Soviet War: The Polish army under General Edward Rydz-Śmigły celebrates its capture of Kiev with a victory parade on Khreshchatyk. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — World War I: Germany repels Britain's second attempt to blockade the port of Ostend, Belgium. Wikipedia ↗
1915 — World War I: Second Battle of Artois between German and French forces. Wikipedia ↗
1911 — The works of Gabriele D'Annunzio are placed in the Index of Forbidden Books by the Vatican. Wikipedia ↗
1904 — The steam locomotive City of Truro becomes the first steam engine in Europe to exceed 100 mph (160 km/h). Wikipedia ↗
1901 — Australia opens its first parliament in Melbourne. Wikipedia ↗
1887 — Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show opens in London. Wikipedia ↗
1877 — Mihail Kogălniceanu reads, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Declaration of Independence of Romania. This day became the Independence Day of Romania. Wikipedia ↗
1877 — A magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Peru kills 2,541, including some as far away as Hawaii and Japan. Wikipedia ↗
1874 — The first horse-drawn bus makes its début in the city of Mumbai, traveling two routes. Wikipedia ↗
1873 — Der Krach: Vienna stock market crash heralds the Long Depression. Wikipedia ↗
1865 — American Civil War: Nathan Bedford Forrest surrenders his forces at Gainesville, Alabama. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1864 — Second Schleswig War: The Danish navy defeats the Austrian and Prussian fleets in the Battle of Heligoland. Wikipedia ↗
1763 — The Siege of Fort Detroit begins during Pontiac's War against British forces. Wikipedia ↗
1726 — Five men arrested during a raid on Mother Clap's molly house in London are executed at Tyburn. Wikipedia ↗
1671 — Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Wikipedia ↗
1662 — The figure who later became Mr. Punch made his first recorded appearance in England. Wikipedia ↗
1540 — Hernando de Alarcón sets sail on an expedition to the Gulf of California. Wikipedia ↗
1450 — 'Abd al-Latif (Timurid monarch) is assassinated. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1092 — Lincoln Cathedral is consecrated. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on May 9

1996 — Saron Läänmäe, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Ryan Auger, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Ryosuke Yamada, Japanese idol Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Dan Burn, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — William Hopoate, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Majlinda Kelmendi, Kosovar judoka Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Stasija Rage, Latvian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Ellen White, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — J. R. Fitzpatrick, Canadian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Scott Bolton, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Vitaliy Pushkar, Ukrainian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Jake Long, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Henrique Andrade Silva, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Prince Fielder, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Chase Headley, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Giacomo Brichetto, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Alan Campbell, British sculler Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Christos Marangos, Cypriot footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Ryuhei Matsuda, Japanese actor Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Gilles Müller, Luxembourgian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Tyler Lumsden, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Leandro Rinaudo, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Bill Murphy, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Evangelos Tsiolis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Grant Hackett, Australian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Angela Nikodinov, American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Tony Schmidt, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Jo Hyun-jae, South Korean actor Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Pierre Bouvier, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Rosario Dawson, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Andrew W.K., American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, motivational speaker, and music producer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Leandro Cufré, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Santiago Dellapè, Argentinian-Italian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Aaron Harang, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Averno, Mexican wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Svein Tuft, Canadian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Tamia, Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Brian Deegan, American motocross rider Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Tegla Loroupe, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Leonard Myles-Mills, Ghanaian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Megumi Odaka, Japanese actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Jason Lee, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Dan Chiasson, American poet and critic Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Doug Christie, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Ghostface Killah, American rapper and actor Wikipedia ↗
1968 — David Benoit, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Graham Harman, American philosopher and academic Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Ruth Kelly, British economist and politician, Secretary of State for Transport Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Mark Tinordi, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Ken Nomura, Japanese race car driver and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Steve Yzerman, Canadian ice hockey player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Joe Cirella, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Dave Gahan, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Paul Heaton, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Sean Altman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1961 — John Corbett, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Tony Gwynn, American baseball player and coach (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Andrew Jones, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Graham Smith, Canadian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Wendy Crewson, Canadian actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Jana Wendt, Australian television host Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Anne Sofie von Otter, Swedish soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Bruno Brokken, Belgian high jumper Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Alley Mills, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1950 — James Butts, American triple jumper Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Tom Petersson, American bass player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Billy Joel, American singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Richard S. Williamson, American lawyer and diplomat, 17th Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Hans Georg Bock, German mathematician, computer scientist, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1948 — John Mahaffey, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Steven W. Mosher, American social scientist and author Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Calvin Murphy, American basketball player and radio host Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Yukiya Amano, Japanese diplomat Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Candice Bergen, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Ayşe Nur Zarakolu, Turkish author and activist (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Gamal El-Ghitani, Egyptian journalist and author (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Jupp Heynckes, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Steve Katz, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Richie Furay, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Vince Cable, English economist and politician, former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Anders Isaksson, Swedish historian and journalist (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Colin Pillinger, English astronomer, chemist, and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — John Ashcroft, American lawyer and politician, 79th United States Attorney General Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Tommy Roe, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Dorothy Hyman, English sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Danny Rapp, American rock & roll singer (Danny & the Juniors) (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
1940 — James L. Brooks, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Ralph Boston, American long jumper Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Pierre Desproges, French journalist and actor (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Ion Țiriac, Romanian tennis player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Ken Warby, Australian motorboat racer Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Giorgio Zancanaro, Italian baritone Wikipedia ↗
1939 — John Ogbu, Nigerian-American anthropologist and professor (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Charles Simic, Serbian-American poet and editor Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Sonny Curtis, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Rafael Moneo, Spanish architect, designed the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and Valladolid Science Museum Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Dave Prater, American singer (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Terry Downes, British boxer and former world middle-weight champion Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Albert Finney, English actor Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Glenda Jackson, English actress and politician Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Nokie Edwards, American guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Roger Hargreaves, English author and illustrator (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Alan Bennett, English screenwriter, playwright, and novelist Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Conrad Hunte, Barbadian cricketer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Vance D. Brand, American pilot, engineer, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Joan Sims, English actress (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Kalifa Tillisi, Libyan historian and linguist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Ralph Goings, American painter Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Pancho Gonzales, American tennis player (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Barbara Ann Scott, Canadian figure skater (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Manfred Eigen, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1926 — John Middleton Murry, Jr., English soldier, pilot, and author (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Bulat Okudzhava, Russian singer, poet, and author (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Johnny Grant, American radio host and producer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Daniel Berrigan, American priest, poet, and activist (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Sophie Scholl, German activist (d. 1943) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Mona Van Duyn, American poet and academic (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — William Tenn, English-American author and academic (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Richard Adams, English novelist (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Clifford Chadderton, Canadian soldier and journalist (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Moisis Michail Bourlas, Greek soldier and educator (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Orville Freeman, American soldier and politician, 16th United States Secretary of Agriculture (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Mike Wallace, American journalist, media personality and one-time game show host (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1917 — Fay Kanin, American screenwriter and producer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1916 — William Pène du Bois, American author and illustrator (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Denham Fouts, American prostitute (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Carlo Maria Giulini, Italian conductor and director (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Hank Snow, American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Pedro Armendáriz, Mexican-American actor (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Per Imerslund, Norwegian-German soldier and author (d. 1943) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Géza Ottlik, Hungarian mathematician and theorist (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Harry Simeone, American music arranger, conductor, and composer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1909 — Don Messer, Canadian violinist (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
1909 — Gordon Bunshaft, American architect, designed the Solow Building (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1907 — Jackie Grant, Trinidadian cricketer (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
1907 — Kathryn Kuhlman, American evangelist and author (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
1907 — Baldur von Schirach, German politician (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
1906 — Eleanor Estes, American librarian, author, and illustrator (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1904 — Conrad Bernier, Canadian-American organist, composer, and educator (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Maria Malicka, Polish stage and film actress (d. 1992) [1] Wikipedia ↗
1896 — Richard Day, Canadian-American art director and set decorator (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
1895 — Richard Barthelmess, American actor (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
1895 — Lucian Blaga, Romanian poet, playwright, and philosopher (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
1895 — Frank Foss, American pole vaulter (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
1893 — William Moulton Marston, American psychologist and author (d. 1947) Wikipedia ↗
1888 — Francesco Baracca, Italian fighter pilot (d. 1918) Wikipedia ↗