✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 190th day of the year

July 9

A look at July 9 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Tom Hanks and Willi Stoph, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♋ZodiacCancer ◈BirthstoneRuby ❀Birth flowerLarkspur
Advertisement 728 × 90 leaderboard

Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2006

    Italy national football team

    Italy win their fourth World Cup title, defeating France 5–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time.

    Men's association football team
  2. 1962

    Starfish Prime

    Starfish Prime tests the effects of a nuclear explosion at orbital altitudes.

    1962 high-altitude nuclear test
  3. 1943

    World War II

    World War II: The Allied invasion of Sicily begins, leading to the downfall of Mussolini and forcing Hitler to break off the Battle of Kursk.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1896

    William Jennings Bryan

    William Jennings Bryan delivers his Cross of Gold speech advocating bimetallism at the 1896 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

    American politician (1860–1925)
  5. 1877

    1877 Wimbledon Championship

    The inaugural Wimbledon Championships begins.

    First staging of the
  6. 1868

    Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

    The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing African Americans full citizenship and all persons in the United States due process of law.

    1868 amendment addressing citizenship
  7. 1850

    Zachary Taylor

    U.S. President Zachary Taylor dies after eating raw fruit and iced milk; he is succeeded in office by Vice President Millard Fillmore.

    President of the United
  8. 1811

    David Thompson (explorer)

    Explorer David Thompson posts a sign near what is now Sacajawea State Park in Washington state, claiming the Columbia District for the United Kingdom.

    Canadian fur trader and
  9. 1763

    Mozart family grand tour

    The Mozart family grand tour of Europe begins, lifting the profile of son Wolfgang Amadeus.

    Journey through western Europe
  10. 551

    551 Beirut earthquake

    A major earthquake strikes Beirut, triggering a devastating tsunami that affects the coastal towns of Byzantine Phoenicia, causing thousands of deaths.

    Earthquake off the Lebanese
Advertisement Responsive in-content unit

Famous birthday twins

Born on July 9

Tom Hanks

b. 1956

American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

Willi Stoph

b. 1914

German engineer and politician, 4th Prime Minister of East Germany

Mervyn Peake

b. 1911

English author and illustrator

Ashley Young

b. 1985

English footballer

Kathleen Booth

b. 1922

British computer scientist and mathematician

Piia Suomalainen

b. 1984

Finnish tennis player

Lindsey Graham

b. 1955

American lawyer and politician

O. J. Simpson

b. 1947

American football player and actor

Deaths

  • 2024Maxine Singer, American biologist
  • 2024Jerzy Stuhr, Polish actor
  • 2015Saud bin Faisal Al Saud, Saudi Arabian economist and politician, Saudi Arabian Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • 1856Amedeo Avogadro, Italian chemist and academic
  • 1850Zachary Taylor, American general and politician, 12th President of the United States
  • 1706Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, Canadian captain and explorer

Holidays & observances

  • —Arbor Day (Cambodia)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Agilulfus of Cologne
  • —Christian Feast Day: Amandina of Schakkebroek (one of Martyrs of Southern Hunan)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Blessed Marija Petković
  • —Christian Feast Day: Everilda
  • —Christian Feast Day: Gregorio Grassi (one of Martyrs of Shanxi)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Martyr Saints of China
  • —Christian Feast Day: Martyrs of Gorkum

Born on this day?

Make your birthday card.

Drop in your birth year and we'll work out your exact age, the day of the week you were born, your Chinese zodiac, your generation, and the countdown to your next candle.