On This Day August 9th

 OTD 

August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 144 days remain until the end of the year.

Events

48 BC – Caesar's Civil War: Battle of Pharsalus: Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus, and Pompey flees to Egypt.

1173 – Construction of the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa (now known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) begins; it will take two centuries to complete.

1842 – The Webster–Ashburton Treaty is signed, establishing the United States–Canada border east of the Rocky Mountains.

1854 – American Transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau publishes his memoir, Walden.

1892 – Thomas Edison receives a patent for a two-way telegraph.

1945 – World War II: Nagasaki is devastated when an atomic bomb, Fat Man, is dropped by the United States B-29 Bockscar. Thirty-five thousand people were killed outright, including 23,200–28,200 Japanese war workers, 2,000 Korean forced workers, and 150 Japanese soldiers.

1974 – As a direct result of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first President of the United States to resign from office. Vice President Gerald Ford becomes President.

2012 – Shannon Eastin becomes the first woman to officiate an NFL game.


 Birthdays

1653 – John Oldham, English poet, and translator (d. 1683)

1805 – Joseph Locke, English engineer, and politician (d. 1860)

1875 – Albert Ketèlbey, English pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 1959)

1899 – P. L. Travers, Australian-English author, and actress (d. 1996)

1911 – William Alfred Fowler, American astronomer, and astrophysicist, Nobel Laureate (d. 1996)

1928 – Bob Cousy, American basketball player and coach.

1944 – Sam Elliott, American actor and producer.

1963 – Whitney Houston, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress (d. 2012)

1967 – Deion Sanders, American football and baseball player[19]


Holidays & Observance

Annual Perseid Meteor Shower

The annual Perseid meteor shower typically peaks around August 12th or 13th every year. During this time, the Earth passes through the debris left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle, causing the particles to burn up in our atmosphere and create bright streaks of light in the night sky. The Perseids are known for being one of the most active and reliable meteor showers, potentially producing dozens of meteors per hour at their peak under optimal viewing conditions. Remember that meteor showers vary in intensity yearly, and factors like moonlight and light pollution can affect your ability to see the meteors.

Others include.

International Day of The World's Indigenous People

Nagasaki Memorial Day

Singapore National Day

National Rice Pudding Day

National Book Lovers Day


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