August 9 facts for kids

August 9 is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 144 days remain until the end of the year.

August 9th is a day filled with many important events throughout history, from ancient battles and the start of famous buildings to modern discoveries and changes in countries. Many interesting people were also born or passed away on this day. Let's explore some of the key moments and figures connected to August 9th!

Historical Events

Ancient Times (Before 1600)

• 48 BC – During the Caesar's Civil War, Julius Caesar won a big victory against Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus. After this defeat, Pompey escaped to Egypt.
• 378 – In the Gothic War, a large Roman army led by Emperor Valens was defeated by the Visigoths at the Battle of Adrianople. Emperor Valens and more than half of his army were killed.
• 1173 – Construction began on the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It took about 200 years to finish!
• 1329 – The first Indian Christian Diocese was created in Quilon by Pope John XXII.
• 1428 – A very large caravan trade happened between Podvisoki and the Republic of Ragusa. Traders used 600 horses to deliver a huge amount of salt.
• 1500 – During the Ottoman–Venetian War (1499–1503), the Ottoman Empire captured the city of Methoni, Messenia.

Later Years (1601–1900)

• 1610 – The First Anglo-Powhatan War began in colonial Virginia, a conflict between English settlers and Native Americans.
• 1810 – Napoleon added Westphalia to his First French Empire.
• 1814 – In the American Indian Wars, the Creek signed the Treaty of Fort Jackson. This treaty made them give up large areas of land in Alabama and Georgia.
• 1830 – Louis Philippe became the King of the French after Charles X stepped down.
• 1842 – The Webster–Ashburton Treaty was signed. This agreement set the border between the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains.
• 1854 – The American philosopher Henry David Thoreau published his famous book Walden, which is about living simply in nature.
• 1862 – During the American Civil War, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson defeated Union forces at the Battle of Cedar Mountain in Virginia.
• 1877 – In the American Indian Wars, a small group of Nez Percé Indians fought with the United States Army at the Battle of the Big Hole.
• 1892 – Thomas Edison received a patent for a new type of two-way telegraph.
• 1897 – The very first International Congress of Mathematicians was held in Zürich, Switzerland.

Modern Era (1901–Present)

• 1902 – Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark were crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom.
• 1907 – The first Boy Scout camp, organized by Robert Baden-Powell, ended at Brownsea Island in southern England.
• 1925 – A train robbery took place in India, carried out by Indian independence fighters against the British government.
• 1936 – At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal, making him a sports legend.
• 1942 – During World War II, in the Battle of Savo Island, Imperial Japanese Navy forces surprised and defeated Allied naval forces near Guadalcanal.
• 1944 – The United States Forest Service introduced Smokey Bear for the first time, with his famous message "Only YOU can prevent forest fires!"
• 1945 – World War II: The city of Nagasaki in Japan was devastated when the United States dropped an atomic bomb called Fat Man. This tragic event killed tens of thousands of people.
• 1965 – Singapore was separated from Malaysia and became an independent country. It is the only country to gain independence unwillingly.
• 1971 – In Northern Ireland, British authorities started Operation Demetrius, which involved arresting and holding people suspected of being involved with the Irish Republican Army without trial. This led to many riots and people leaving their homes.
• 1974 – As a result of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first President of the United States to resign from office. Vice President Gerald Ford then became president.
• 2012 – Shannon Eastin made history by becoming the first woman to be an official in an NFL (National Football League) game.
• 2014 – An event in Ferguson, Missouri, involving the shooting of Michael Brown, led to protests and unrest in the city.
• 2021 – The Tampere light rail system officially started operating in Finland.

Famous Births

• 1757 – Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, an American humanitarian and the wife of Alexander Hamilton.
• 1776 – Amedeo Avogadro, an Italian physicist and chemist known for Avogadro's Law.
• 1896 – Jean Piaget, a famous Swiss psychologist and philosopher who studied how children learn and develop.
• 1899 – P. L. Travers, the Australian-English author who wrote the beloved Mary Poppins books.
• 1914 – Tove Jansson, a Finnish author and illustrator, best known for creating the Moomins.
• 1922 – Philip Larkin, an important English poet and novelist.
• 1927 – Robert Shaw, an English actor and screenwriter, famous for roles in movies like Jaws.
• 1928 – Bob Cousy, an American basketball legend and coach.
• 1931 – Mário Zagallo, a Brazilian footballer and coach who won multiple World Cups.
• 1938 – Rod Laver, an Australian tennis player who is considered one of the greatest of all time.
• 1939 – Romano Prodi, an Italian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Italy.
• 1944 – Sam Elliott, a well-known American actor and producer.
• 1957 – Melanie Griffith, a popular American actress and producer.
• 1959 – Michael Kors, a famous American fashion designer.
• 1961 – John Key, a New Zealand businessman and politician who became the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
• 1963 – Whitney Houston, an American singer-songwriter and actress, known for her powerful voice.
• 1968 – Gillian Anderson, an American-British actress famous for her role in The X-Files.
• 1968 – Eric Bana, an Australian actor, comedian, and producer.
• 1972 – Juanes, a popular Colombian singer and songwriter.
• 1973 – Filippo Inzaghi, a famous Italian footballer and manager.
• 1975 – Mahesh Babu, a very popular Indian actor and producer.
• 1976 – Audrey Tautou, a French actress known for movies like Amélie.
• 1983 – Dan Levy, a Canadian actor and comedian, co-creator of Schitt's Creek.
• 1985 – Anna Kendrick, an American actress and singer.
• 1990 – Bill Skarsgård, a Swedish actor known for his roles in horror films.

Notable Deaths

• 378 – Valens, the Roman emperor who died in battle.
• 803 – Irene of Athens, a Byzantine ruler.
• 1516 – Hieronymus Bosch, a famous Early Netherlandish painter known for his detailed and imaginative artworks.
• 1910 – Huo Yuanjia, a legendary Chinese martial artist.
• 1919 – Ruggero Leoncavallo, an Italian composer.
• 1932 – John Charles Fields, a Canadian mathematician who created the prestigious Fields Medal for mathematics.
• 1942 – Edith Stein, a German nun and saint.
• 1943 – Chaïm Soutine, a Belarusian-French painter.
• 1948 – Hugo Boss, the German fashion designer who founded the brand.
• 1962 – Hermann Hesse, a German-born Swiss poet and novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• 1969 – Sharon Tate, an American model and actress.
• 1975 – Dmitri Shostakovich, a famous Russian pianist and composer.
• 1995 – Jerry Garcia, an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known as a member of the Grateful Dead.
• 1996 – Frank Whittle, an English engineer who invented the jet engine.
• 2008 – Bernie Mac, a popular American comedian and actor.
• 2023 – Robbie Robertson, a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for his work with The Band.

Holidays and Observances

• International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (United Nations)
• National Day, celebrates the independence of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965.
• National Peacekeepers' Day, celebrated on the Sunday closest to this day (Canada)
• National Women's Day (South Africa)

See also

In Spanish: 9 de agosto para niños