What Happened on March 9
Significant Events
- 141 BC Liu Che, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Han, assumes the throne of the Han Dynasty in China and rules for 54 years
- 1522 Martin Luther begins preaching his "Invocavit Sermons" in the German city of Wittenberg, reminding citizens to trust God's word rather than violence and thus helping bring to a close the revolutionary stage of the Reformation
- 1776 Publication of influential economics book "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith
- 1918 Russian Bolshevik Party becomes the Communist Party
- 1933 US Congress is called into special session by FDR, beginning its "100 days"
- 1961 Soviet flight Sputnik 9 carries and returns from orbit a dog named Chernushka (Blackie), frogs and a guinea pig
Did You Know?
Barbie makes her debut at the American Toy Fair in New York. Over a billion have been sold worldwide since.
On March 9, 1959
Famous Birthdays
Amerigo Vespucci
(1454 - 1512)
José P. Laurel
(1891 - 1959)
Samuel Barber
(1910 - 1981)
Ornette Coleman
88 Years Old
Yuri Gagarin
(1934 - 1968)
Bobby Fischer
(1943 - 2008)
Would You Believe?
Last Japanese soldier, a guerrilla operating in Philippines, surrenders, 29 years after World War II ended
On March 9, 1974
Famous Weddings
- 1796 French Leader Napoléon Bonaparte (26) marries 1st wife Joséphine de Beauharnais (32), changing her name from Rose
- 1902 Composer Gustav Mahler marries Alma Schindler in Vienna
- 1985 Actors Laura Johnson (Falcon Crest) & Harry Hamlin (LA Law) wed
- 2007 Actor-director Prem (28) weds actress Rakshita (23) at Raja Rajeshwarinagar in Bangalore
- 2007 Model and actress Erika Heynatz (30) weds finance broker Andrew Kingston at Whale Beach retreat
Johann Pachelbel
Hans Oersted
Menachem BeginMarch in History
Sinatra Snaps the Fight of the Century
Sinatra does it his way and secures a ringside seat as a photographer for the "Fight of the Century" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
March 8, 1971
One-Man War Finally Ends
Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda finally surrendered on this day – nearly 30 years after the Second World War had ended.
March 9, 1974
Mr. Watson come here, I want you
Alexander Graham Bell spoke only briefly by phone to his assistant on this day in 1876, but it proved to be a pioneering moment in telecoms history.
March 10, 1876
Wave of Doubt over Britannia
The composer who put "Rule, Britannia!" to music was born on this day, but the original words are not quite what they bellow out at the Last Night of the Proms.
March 12, 1710