On This Day: 9 October

9 October in world history

• 2024Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane, causing US$34.3 billion in damage only two weeks after Hurricane Helene impacted the state.
• 2019Syrian civil war: Turkish forces began an offensive into north-eastern Syria following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region.
• 2016The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launches its first attack on Myanmar security forces along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border.
• 1995An Amtrak Sunset Limited train is derailed by saboteurs near Palo Verde, Arizona.
• 1992The Peekskill meteorite, a 27.7 pounds (12.6 kg) meteorite crashed into a parked car in Peekskill, New York.
• 1986The Phantom of the Opera, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and currently the longest-running Broadway show in history, opened in London's West End.
• 1969In Chicago, the National Guard is called in as demonstrations continue over the trial of the "Chicago Eight".
• 1966Vietnam War: the Republic of Korea Army commits the Binh Tai Massacre.
• 1962Nick Holonyak, an engineer for General Electric, gave the first public demonstration of a light-emitting diode.
• 1942World War II: American forces defeated the Japanese at the Third Battle of the Matanikau in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, reversing the Japanese victory a couple of weeks earlier.
• 1934An Ustashe assassin kills King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and Louis Barthou, Foreign Minister of France, in Marseille.
• 1911An accidental bomb explosion triggers the Wuchang Uprising against the Qing dynasty, beginning the Xinhai Revolution.
• 1888The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., at the time the world's tallest building, officially opened to the general public.
• 1861American Civil War: Union troops repel a Confederate attempt to capture Fort Pickens in the Battle of Santa Rosa Island.
• 1813Late in the Napoleonic Wars, Empress Marie Louise issued decrees conscripting tens of thousands of French teenagers, who became known as Marie-Louises.
• 1804Hobart, capital of Tasmania, is founded.
• 1793French Revolution: After a month-long siege, the leaders of Lyon surrendered, ending their revolt against the National Convention.
• 1676Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wrote a letter to the Royal Society describing "animalcules" – the first known description of protozoa.

Born on 9 October

• 1997Megan Moroney, American singer-songwriter.
• 1968Anbumani Ramadoss, Indian politicianIndia
• 1966David Cameron, English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• 1959Boris Nemtsov, Russian academic and politician, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia (died 2015)
• 1945Amjad Ali Khan, Indian classical Sarod playerIndia
• 1897M. Bhaktavatsalam, Indian lawyer and politician, 6th Chief Minister of Madras State (died 1987)India

Died on 9 October

• 2015Ravindra Jain, Indian composer and director (born 1944)India
• 2009John Daido Loori, American Zen Buddhist monastic and teacher (born 1931)
• 2006Kanshi Ram, Indian lawyer and politician (born 1934)India
• 1941Helen Morgan, American singer and actress (born 1900)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 9 October in history?

2024: Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane, causing US$34.3 billion in damage only two weeks after Hurricane Helene impacted the state. 2019: Syrian civil war: Turkish forces began an offensive into north-eastern Syria following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region. 2016: The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launches its first attack on Myanmar security forces along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border. 1995: An Amtrak Sunset Limited train is derailed by saboteurs near Palo Verde, Arizona.

Which famous people were born on 9 October?

Megan Moroney, American singer-songwriter (1997); Anbumani Ramadoss, Indian politician (1968); David Cameron, English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1966); Boris Nemtsov, Russian academic and politician, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia (died 2015) (1959).

Which day is observed on 9 October?

World Post Day; Fire Prevention Day (Canada, United States); Hangul Day (South Korea); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Uganda from United Kingdom in 1962. (Uganda); Independence of Guayaquil from Spain in 1820 (Ecuador).