March 9th
1841
The Supreme Court ruled that the Amistad slaves were free.
1862
The first battle between two ironclad ships, the Monitor (Union) and Merrimack (Confederate) occurred, revolutionizing naval warfare.
1933
The special session of Congress known as the "100 days" opened, launching FDR's New Deal.
1959
Mattel's Barbie doll, created by Ruth Handler, made its public debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
1975
Work began on the Alaskan oil pipeline.
1987
U2 released the album "The Joshua Tree".
1996
Comedian George Burns died at age 100.
1997
Gangsta rapper The Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles at age 24.
2005
Dan Rather appeared for the last time on "The CBS Evening News".
Birthdays
73 Marty Ingels Actor, comedian
64 Robin Trower Rock musician (Procol Harum)
44 Brian 'The Boz' Bosworth Football player
41 Johnny Kelly Rock musician (Type O Negative)
36 Aaron Boone Baseball player
29 Chingy Rapper
23 Brittany Snow Actress ("Hairspray," "American Dreams")
22 Bow Wow Rapper
17 Luis Armand Garcia Actor ("George Lopez")
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skibumdc Cigar Asylum Inmate
71 Eddie Foy 3/9/1856 - 2/16/1928 American vaudevillian comedian
84 Gustav Stickley 3/9/1858 - 4/21/1942 American designer and maker of Mission furniture
54 Raúl Juliá 3/9/1940 - 10/24/1994 Puerto Rican actor whose career included dramatic, comic, and musical roles in theater, film, and television.
64 Bobby Fischer 3/9/1943 - 1/17/2008 American and Icelandic chess Grandmaster, and the eleventh World Chess Champion.