Also on This Day in History May 9
Discover what happened on May 9 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.
Births on This Day, May 9
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1873
Howard Carter
British archaeologist and Egyptologist who found King Tutankhamun's tomb
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1936
Albert Finney
English actor (The Dresser, Under the Volcano)
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1936
Terry Downes
British middleweight boxing champion
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1939
Ralph Boston
American athlete
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1953
Scott McInnis
American politician
Deaths on This Day, May 9
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1657
William Bradford
American Governor
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1791
Francis Hopkinson
American judge, signer of the Declaration of Independence
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1963
Charles Vyner Brooke
3rd and last White Rajah of Sarawak
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1986
Tenzing Norgay
Tibetan climber who was the 1st to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953 with Edmund Hillary
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2015
Kenan Evren
Turkish soldier and politician
1945
The Soviet Union celebrates Victory Day in World War II
On May 9, 1945, the German Instrument of Surrender was signed, officially ending the war in Europe. The day came to be known as Victory Day in the Soviet Union and later in Russia
1946
Victor Emmanuel III Abdicates
King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates and is succeeded by his son Umberto II who reigns for only 34 days before the monarchy is abolished
1949
Prince Rainier III becomes monarch of Monaco
Prince Rainier III became the Sovereign Prince of Monaco on May 9, 1949, following the death of his grandfather, Prince Louis II1. Rainier ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years
1960
United States Legalizes the Birth Control Pill
On May 9, 1960, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first oral contraceptive pill, commonly known as "the pill," for contraceptive use. This groundbreaking decision revolutionized reproductive health care and empowered women by providing them with greater control over their reproductive choices.