On This Day in History – September 9

September 9 has seen landmark political milestones, important cultural events, and the birth and passing of several influential figures. This date reflects both transformation and tradition across nations and generations.

Major Events

• 1543 – Mary Stuart Crowned Queen of Scots At just nine months old, Mary Stuart is crowned, beginning a tumultuous reign that would intertwine with the fate of the English crown.
• 1776 – U.S. Officially Named “United States of America” The Continental Congress adopts the name “United States of America,” replacing “United Colonies.”
• 1850 – California Becomes 31st U.S. State As part of the Compromise of 1850, California joins the Union as a free state, accelerating westward expansion.
• 1948 – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Established North Korea formally declares itself a sovereign state with Kim Il-sung as its first Premier.
• 1971 – Attica Prison Uprising Begins in New York Inmates demand better living conditions, resulting in a four-day standoff that would end with tragic consequences.
• 2001 – Ahmad Shah Massoud Assassinated in Afghanistan Anti-Taliban resistance leader is killed by suicide attackers, just days before the September 11 attacks.
• 2015 – Queen Elizabeth II Becomes Longest-Reigning British Monarch Surpassing Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II marks 63 years and 216 days on the throne.

Famous Birthdays

• Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) – Russian novelist and philosopher, author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
• Otis Redding (1941–1967) – American soul singer known for Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay.
• Hugh Grant (1960) – English actor known for romantic comedies like Notting Hill and Love Actually.
• Adam Sandler (1966) – American comedian and actor known for The Waterboy, Happy Gilmore, and Uncut Gems.
• Michelle Williams (1980) – American actress acclaimed for roles in Blue Valentine and Brokeback Mountain.
• Michael Bublé (1975) – Canadian singer and entertainer known for his smooth jazz-pop crooning.
• Joe Theismann (1949) – Former NFL quarterback and broadcaster.

Notable Deaths

• Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1901) – French painter and illustrator, famous for his depictions of Paris nightlife, born in 1864.
• Patrick Manson (1922) – Scottish physician and pioneer in tropical medicine, born in 1844.
• Edward Teller (2003) – Hungarian-American physicist known as the “father of the hydrogen bomb”, born in 1908.
• Ahmed Shah Massoud (2001) – Afghan military commander, born in 1953.
• Doris Lessing (2013) – Nobel Prize-winning British novelist, born in 1919.

Holidays

• Independence Day (Tajikistan) Marks the Central Asian nation’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
• Chrysanthemum Day (Japan) Also known as the Festival of Happiness, it is one of Japan’s five ancient sacred festivals.
• Children’s Day (Costa Rica) Celebrated with events and activities honoring children and their rights.
• Remembrance for Ahmed Shah Massoud (Afghanistan) Observed annually in Afghanistan to commemorate the death of the anti-Taliban hero.

Fun Facts

• The U.S. name change was a critical identity shift in the American Revolutionary period.
• Otis Redding’s biggest hit was released posthumously just days after his death.
• Queen Elizabeth II’s reign milestone was marked with cannon salutes and nationwide celebrations in the UK.
• California’s statehood helped shape the gold rush era and the balance of power between slave and free states.