What Happened on February 9 in History?
February 9 has witnessed everything from the birth of "Beatlemania" to critical political shifts. Here are the most significant events, births, and holidays for this day in history:
Major Historical Events
The Beatles on Ed Sullivan (1964): The Fab Four made their first live American television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, attracting a record-breaking 73 million viewers and officially launching the British Invasion.
Senator McCarthy’s "List" (1950): During a speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed he had a list of 205 "known communists" working in the U.S. State Department, sparking years of anti-communist hysteria.
John Quincy Adams Elected (1825): After no candidate received a majority of electoral votes in the 1824 election, the U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as the sixth President of the United States.
End of the Battle of Guadalcanal (1943): During World War II, the grueling six-month campaign for Guadalcanal ended in a decisive Allied victory after Japanese forces completed their evacuation.
Jefferson Davis Elected (1861): The Provisional Confederate Congress elected Jefferson Davis as the provisional president of the Confederate States of America.
Halley’s Comet (1986): The famous comet reached its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) during its most recent visit to the inner solar system; it is not expected to return until 2061.
Scientific & Cultural Milestones
First Spacewalk by an African American (1995): NASA astronaut Bernard Harris became the first Black man to walk in space during the STS-63 mission.
Establishment of the U.S. Weather Bureau (1870): President Ulysses S. Grant signed a joint resolution establishing the agency that eventually became the National Weather Service.
Inaugural Flight of the Boeing 747 (1969): The iconic "Jumbo Jet" took its very first test flight.
Invention of Volleyball (1895): Originally called "Mintonette," the game was created by William G. Morgan at a YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Notable Births
William Henry Harrison (1773): The 9th U.S. President, famous for having the shortest presidency in history (32 days).
Thomas Paine (1737): English-American philosopher and author of the influential pamphlet Common Sense.
Carole King (1942): Legendary singer-songwriter and composer of the hit album Tapestry.
Michael B. Jordan (1987): Acclaimed actor known for Creed and Black Panther.
Mia Farrow (1945): Award-winning actress and human rights activist.
Holidays & Observances
National Pizza Day: An annual celebration of one of America's favorite foods.
St. Maroun’s Day: A public holiday in Lebanon honoring the founder of the Maronite Church.
Chocolate Day: Celebrated as part of "Valentine's Week" in many cultures.
