David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter
b. 1905
English hurdler and politician
On This Day · The 40th day of the year
February 9
February 9 carries 10 recorded events spanning between 1822 and 2016. Haiti attacks the newly established Dominican Republic on the other side of the island of Hispaniola.
Compiled & reviewed by Roman Tailor · Last reviewed July 13, 2026
What happened on February 9?
February 9 is the 40th day of the year. It marks 10 notable events in history, dated between 1822 and 2016. Famous people born on February 9 include David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter, Jimmy Bennett and William Henry Harrison.
The shape of the day
As calendar dates go, February 9 keeps a short memory — its record stays close to the present. Most of the weight falls in the 20th century, where politics and nation-building recur.
Aquarius is the sign for February 9 — read more on the Aquarius page, or see February's birthstone & birth flower.
Events
10 notable moments- 1822
Haiti
Haiti attacks the newly established Dominican Republic on the other side of the island of Hispaniola.
- 1825
United States Electoral College
After no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes in the US presidential election of 1824, the United States House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams as sixth President of the United States in a contingent election.
- 1907
Mud March (suffragists)
The Mud March is the first large procession organised by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS).
- 1920
Svalbard Treaty
Under the terms of the Svalbard Treaty, international diplomacy recognizes Norwegian sovereignty over Arctic archipelago Svalbard, and designates it as demilitarized.
- 1922
Brazil
Brazil becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.
- 1941
World War II
World War II: Bombing of Genoa: The Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Genoa, Italy, is struck by a bomb which fails to detonate.
- 1971
1971 San Fernando earthquake
The 6.5–6.7 Mw Sylmar earthquake hits the Greater Los Angeles Area with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing 64 and injuring 2,000.
- 1975
Soyuz 17
The Soyuz 17 Soviet spacecraft returns to Earth.
- 1996
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army declares the end to its 18-month ceasefire and explodes a large bomb in London's Canary Wharf, killing two people.
- 2016
Bad Aibling rail accident
Two passenger trains collide in the German town of Bad Aibling in the state of Bavaria. Twelve people die and 85 others are injured.
Famous birthday twins
Born on February 9Jimmy Bennett
b. 1996
American actor
William Henry Harrison
b. 1773
American general and politician, 9th President of the United States
Johann Baptist von Spix
b. 1781
German biologist and explorer
A. J. Buckley
b. 1977
Irish-Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter
Joseph Stiglitz
b. 1943
American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Joe Pesci
b. 1943
American actor
Major Harris (singer)
b. 1947
American singer
Deaths
- 2016Zdravko Tolimir
- 1984Yuri Andropov
- 1960Ernst von Dohnányi
- 1881Fyodor Dostoevsky
- 1407William I, Margrave of Meissen
- 1135Emperor Taizong of Jin
Holidays & observances
- —Alto of Altomünster
- —Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
- —Ansbert of Rouen
- —Apollonia
- —Bracchio
- —Einion the King (Western Orthodoxy)
- —Blessed Leopold of Alpandeire
- —Maron (Maronite Church)
Historical facts, event summaries, and biographical lines above are adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. DateLore adds curation, structure, and original editorial commentary. DateLore is not affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.
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