Today in History: July 9th - Significant Events and Notable Birthdays
Today marks the 190th day of the year 2026, leaving 175 days remaining. On this day in history, significant events took place. In 1850, President Zachary Taylor passed away due to a gastrointestinal illness caused by consuming cherries and iced milk. Vice President Millard Fillmore assumed the presidency the next day. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1868, granting citizenship and equal protection under the laws to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved individuals. A tragic train collision in Nashville, Tennessee, claimed the lives of 101 people in 1918, marking the deadliest rail disaster in U.S. history. Additionally, a fire at 20th Century Fox's storage facility in New Jersey destroyed most of the studio's silent films in 1937. The engagement of Britain's Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced in 1947, and the iconic Sonny & Cher single "I Got You Babe" was released by ATCO Records in 1965.
Tragedy struck in 1982 when Pan Am Flight 759, a Boeing 727, crashed in Kenner, Louisiana, killing all 145 individuals on board and eight on the ground shortly after takeoff from New Orleans International Airport. In 2004, a Senate Intelligence Committee report revealed that the CIA had provided inaccurate assessments of the threat posed by Iraq, which the Bush administration had used to justify the war. Fast forward to 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement.
Celebrating birthdays today are renowned artist David Hockney at 89, bestselling author Dean Koontz at 81, talented actor Chris Cooper at 75, musician and TV personality John Tesh at 74, country singer David Ball at 73, business executive and TV personality Kevin O'Leary from "Shark Tank" at 72, singer Debbie Sledge from Sister Sledge at 72, versatile actor Jimmy Smits at 71, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham at 71, legendary actor Tom Hanks at 70, rock singer Courtney Love at 62, actor Pamela Adlon at 60, actor Scott Grimes at 55, musician and producer Jack White at 51, rock singer and musician Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse at 51, actor-director Fred Savage at 50, animator, writer, and producer Rebecca Sugar at 39, actor Mitchel Musso at 35, and actor Georgie Henley from "The Chronicles of Narnia" at 31.
In conclusion, today's historical events and notable birthdays serve as reminders of the diverse and impactful moments that have shaped our world and continue to influence our lives.