April 9th
1731
Robert Jenkins's ear was cut off, sparking the War of Jenkins’s Ear between Spain and England.
1865
Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.
1867
Alaska purchase: Passing by a single vote, the United States Senate ratifies a treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska.
1912
The first exhibition baseball game was held at Fenway Park in Boston. The game was between Red Sox and Harvard.
1913
The Brooklyn Dodgers' Ebbets Field opened.
1914
The first full-color film, The World, The Flesh and the Devil, was shown in London.
1942
American and Philippine troops on Bataan were overwhelmed by Japanese forces during World War II. The "Bataan Death March" began soon after.
1953
TV Guide was published for the first time.
1953
Warner Brothers premieres the first 3-D film, entitled House of Wax.
1959
NASA announced the selection of America’s first astronauts, including Alan Shepard and John Glenn.
1963
Winston Churchill became the first honorary U.S. citizen.
1965
The Houston Astrodome held its first baseball game.
1969
The album "Nashville Skyline" by Bob Dylan was released.
1987
Wayne Gretzky passed Jean Beliveau as the all-time hockey playoff scoring leader.
1992
Former Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega was convicted of drug and racketeering charges.
2003
American Marines pulled down Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad after U.S. commanders declared his rule ended.
2005
Britain's Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles.
Birthdays
83 Hugh Hefner Playboy magazine founder
76 Jean-Paul Belmondo Actor
70 Michael Learned Actress ("The Waltons")
67 Margo Smith Country singer
64 Peter Gammons Baseball journalist
56 Hal Ketchum Country singer
55 Dennis Quaid Actor
54 Jimmy Tingle Comedian
50 Dave Innis Country musician (Restless Heart)
45 Lisa Guerrero TV personality ("Inside Edition")
44 Mark Pellegrino Actor ("Dexter")
44 Paulina Porizkova Actress, model
43 Cynthia Nixon Actress ("Sex and the City")
40 Kevin Martin Rock singer (Candlebox)
40
jjirons69 Cigar Asylum Inmate
35 Jenna Jameson Adult film star
32 Gerard Way Rock singer (My Chemical Romance)
30 Keshia Knight Pulliam Actress ("The Cosby Show")
29 Albert Hammond Jr. Rock musician (The Strokes)
29 Ryan Northcott Actor
27 Jay Baruchel Actor
22 Jesse McCartney Actor, singer
19 Kristen Stewart Actress ("Twilight")
11 Elle Fanning Actress ("Because of Winn-Dixie")
86 Frank King 4/9/1883 - 6/24/1969 American comic-strip artist; created "Gasoline Alley"
67 Curly Lambeau 4/9/1898 - 6/1/1965 American football coach and founder of the Green Bay Packers
78 Paul Arizin 4/9/1928 - 12/12/2006 Basketball Hall of Fame member