Also on This Day in History December 9
Discover what happened on December 9 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.
Births on This Day, December 9
-
1886
Clarence Birdseye
American inventor and founder of the modern frozen food industry (Birdseye)
-
1868
Fritz Haber
German physicist and chemist (Nobel 1918 for process to synthesize ammonia)
-
1742
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Swedish chemist who discovered oxygen in 1772
-
1667
William Whiston
English Anglican priest and mathematician
-
1717
Johann Winckelmann
German archaeologist (History of Ancient Art)
Deaths on This Day, December 9
-
2012
Norman Joseph Woodland
American inventor who co-created the bar code
-
1937
Gustaf Dalén
Swedish physicist and industrialist (AGA, Nobel Prize in Physics 1912)
-
1938
Johannes van Laar
Dutch chemist (thermodynamics)
-
1814
Joseph Bramah
British inventor and locksmith who invented the beer pump
-
1996
Mary Leakey
British archaeologist and anthropologist who discovered the earliest human footprints 3.6 million years old
1948
The Genocide Convention Adopted in Britain
On December 9, 1948, the Genocide Convention was adopted in Britain. This historic treaty, formally known as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, established the legal framework to prevent and punish acts of genocide, marking a crucial step in international human rights law.
1961
Tanganyika gained independence
On December 9, 1961, Tanganyika, a territory in East Africa, gained independence from British colonial rule. This milestone marked the beginning of self-governance and sovereignty for the people of Tanganyika, who subsequently formed the modern-day nation of Tanzania through a union with Zanzibar in 1964.
1979
Smallpox declared eradicated
On December 9, 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated worldwide. This historic achievement was the result of a concerted global effort involving numerous countries and organizations, demonstrating the effectiveness of international cooperation in public health and disease eradication efforts.
1582
9 Dec 1582 was the last date using the Julian calendar in France
In 1582, December 9th was indeed the last day using the Julian calendar in France. Following this date, France transitioned to the Gregorian calendar, aligning with other European countries that had already made the switch earlier that year. This adjustment aimed to correct discrepancies in the Julian calendar, improving accuracy in calculating leap years and aligning with astronomical events more effectively.