Osun Defender History Corner: March 9 In Focus

Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.

March 9, 1454

Amerigo Vespucci, Italian explorer, is born in Florence, Italy.

March 9, 1841

The U.S. Supreme Court rules in the Amistad case that captive Africans who had seized control of the ship had been taken into slavery illegally.

March 9, 1862

The USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack) fight to a draw in the Battle of Hampton Roads, marking the first meeting in combat of ironclad warships.

March 9, 1916

Pancho Villa leads nearly 500 Mexican raiders in an attack against Columbus, New Mexico, killing 17 people.

March 9, 1933

The U.S. Congress begins its first session in the newly completed House of Representatives chamber in the U.S. Capitol.

March 9, 1954

CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow criticizes Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist tactics on the television program “See It Now.”

March 9, 1964

The first Ford Mustang rolls off the assembly line at Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan.

March 9, 1976

Forty-two people are killed when the Sabena Flight 571 is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and forced to land in Entebbe, Uganda.

March 9, 1990

Dr. Antonia Novello becomes the first woman and first Hispanic to serve as Surgeon General of the United States.

March 9, 1997

Rapper Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G., is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California.

March 9, 2011

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake strikes off the coast of Japan, triggering a tsunami that causes widespread destruction and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

March 9, 2014

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappears while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, sparking one of the largest aviation mysteries in history.

March 9, 2015

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of the United States Congress, opposing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

March 9, 2016

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan dies at the age of 94 in Los Angeles, California.

March 9, 2018

President Donald Trump announces tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, sparking concerns of a trade war.

March 9, 2019

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board.

March 9, 2020

The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a global pandemic as cases continue to rise around the world.

March 9, 2021

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey airs, revealing details about their decision to step back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family.

March 9, 2022

SpaceX successfully launches the Starship SN20 prototype on a high-altitude test flight.

March 9, 2023

The International Criminal Court announces its intention to investigate allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on March 9. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.