On This Day in History – November 9

Major Events

1. 1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power in France in a coup d’état, ending the French Revolution.
2. 1867 – The first issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine is published in the United States.
3. 1872 – The Great Boston Fire destroys nearly 800 buildings.
4. 1918 – Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates, marking the end of the German Empire.
5. 1938 – Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass): Nazi forces attack Jewish homes, synagogues, and businesses in Germany.
6. 1965 – A massive power failure causes a blackout across the U.S. Northeast and parts of Canada.
7. 1989 – The Berlin Wall falls, ending decades of separation between East and West Germany.
8. 1994 – The first elements of the Russian space station Mir burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
9. 2016 – Donald Trump is elected the 45th President of the United States.

Famous Birthdays

1. Carl Sagan (1934–1996) – American astronomer and author.
2. Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000) – Austrian-American actress and inventor.
3. Spiro Agnew (1918–1996) – 39th Vice President of the United States.
4. Lou Ferrigno (born 1951) – American actor and bodybuilder, The Incredible Hulk.
5. Delta Goodrem (born 1984) – Australian singer and songwriter.
6. Nick Lachey (born 1973) – American singer and actor.
7. French Montana (born 1984) – Moroccan-American rapper.
8. Cory Hardrict (born 1979) – American actor.

Notable Deaths

1. Anne Sexton (1928–1974) – American poet.
2. Miriam Makeba (1932–2008) – South African singer and activist.
3. Thomas Andrews (1873–1912) – Shipbuilder and designer of the RMS Titanic.
4. John Milton (1608–1674) – English poet (historically associated with this date).
5. Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952) – First President of Israel.

Holidays

• World Freedom Day (International) – Celebrates the fall of the Berlin Wall.
• Independence Day (Cambodia) – Marks independence from France in 1953.
• Go to an Art Museum Day (USA)

Fun Facts

1. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is one of the most iconic moments of the 20th century.
2. Hedy Lamarr’s inventions helped inspire modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology.
3. Carl Sagan’s TV series Cosmos debuted 41 years after his birth on the same date.