✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 129th day of the year

May 9

A look at May 9 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Ellen White (footballer) and Zita of Bourbon-Parma, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♉ZodiacTaurus ◈BirthstoneEmerald ❀Birth flowerLily of the Valley
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2001

    Ghana

    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.

    Country in West Africa
  2. 1992

    Armenia

    Armenian forces capture Shusha, marking a major turning point in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

    Country in West Asia
  3. 1980

    Florida

    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.

    U.S. state
  4. 1979

    Iranian Jews

    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.

    Jewish community of Iran
  5. 1960

    Food and Drug Administration

    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.

    Federal agency of the
  6. 1945

    World War II

    World War II: The Channel Islands are liberated from Nazi occupation.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1915

    World War I

    World War I: Second Battle of Artois between German and French forces.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  8. 1864

    Second Schleswig War

    Second Schleswig War: The Danish navy defeats the Austrian and Prussian fleets in the Battle of Heligoland.

    War between Denmark, Prussia,
  9. 1761

    Exhibition of 1761

    Exhibition of 1761, the inaugural exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain, opens at Spring Gardens in London.

    1761 art exhibition in
  10. 1386

    England

    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.

    Country within the United
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Famous birthday twins

Born on May 9

Ellen White (footballer)

b. 1989

English footballer

Zita of Bourbon-Parma

b. 1892

last Empress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Pancho Gonzales

b. 1928

American tennis player

Adam Opel

b. 1837

German engineer, founded the Opel Company

Manfred Eigen

b. 1927

German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Baldur von Schirach

b. 1907

German politician

Sophie Scholl

b. 1921

German activist

J. M. Barrie

b. 1860

Scottish novelist and playwright

Deaths

  • 1997Marco Ferreri, Italian actor, director, and screenwriter
  • 1986Tenzing Norgay, Nepalese mountaineer
  • 1976Ulrike Meinhof, German militant, co-founded the Red Army Faction
  • 1965Leopold Figl, Austrian engineer and politician, 18th Chancellor of Austria
  • 1805Friedrich Schiller, German poet, playwright, and historian
  • 1760Nicolaus Zinzendorf, German bishop and saint

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

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