Historical Events on May 9
- 1865: At Gainesville in Alabama during the American Civil War, Confederate Nathan Beford Forrest surrenders.
- 1865: The belligerent rights of the Confederate rebels are rescinded by U.S President Andrew Johnson by proclamation.
- 1874: In the city of Mumbai in India, the carriage drawn by a horse makes its debut.
- 1877: Over 2,500 people are killed when an earthquake hits Peru. Some of the victims are as far away as Japan and Hawaii.
- 1887: In the city of London in England, Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show opens for the first time.
- 1901: In the city of Melbourne, Australia begins its first Parliament.
- 1915: The Second Battle of Artois breaks out between French and German forces during WWI.
- 1918: Britain’s attempt to blockade the port of Ostend, Belgium fails due to German intervention during WWI.
- 1940: The French submarine Doris is attacked and sunk by the German submarine U-9 near Den Helder during World War 2.
- 1941: The Royal Navy captures the German submarine U-110. The enigma machine it was carrying is recovered by the Allies who use it to break coded German messages.
- 1942: The Zoludek Ghetto is destroy by the Nazis and all of its inhabitants are either killed or deported.
- 1945: Germany signs its final Instrument of Surrender at the Soviet HQ in Berlin Karlshorst.
Famous Birthdays on May 9
- American abolitionist John Brown is born in 1800.
- Victorian painter James Collinson is born in 1825.
- American painter George Barker is born in 1882.
- American journalist and radio & TV personality, Mike Wallace is born in 1918.
- English novelist Richard Adams is born in 1920.
- American painter Ralph Goings is born in 1928.
- English actor Albert Finney is born in 1936.
- American singer-songwriter Billy Joel is born in 1949.
- Canadian NHL player and manager, Steve Yzerman is born in 1965.
- American basketball player, Doug Christie is born in 1970.
- American poet Dan Chiasson is born in 1971.