What Happened On This Day – December 9
1979 Smallpox declared eradicated
The World Health Organization officially certified that after a number of concentrated vaccination campaigns around the world smallpox had been eradicated. Only two infectious diseases have been completely eradicated in history; the other is Rinderpest, which is an infectious disease of cattle that was eradicated in 2011.
1965 Charlie Brown Christmas makes airs for the first time on television
The popular animated musical special about Christmas was based on Charles M. Schulz's comic strip called Peanuts. The special was critically acclaimed as a telling commentary on the loss of the spirit of Christmas among Americans. It is now screened every year at Christmas time around the world.
1961 Tanganyika gains independence
The Republic of Tanganyika was administered by the British from 1916 until 1961. Part of German East Africa, the territory was officially handed over to the British by League of Nations mandate in 1922. The Republic was short-lived. In April 1964, it joined the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which became the United Republic of Tanzania in 1965.
1960 First episode of Coronation Street airs
The longest running TV soap opera, this British production follows the life of people living on Coronation Street, a fictional street in a fictional suburb of Manchester.
1893 Auguste Vaillant bombs the French Chamber of Deputies
Auguste Vaillant, a French anarchist, bombed the French Chamber of Deputies. No one was hurt in the attack, but Vaillant was sentenced and executed for his actions.
Births On This Day – December 9
1968 Kurt Angle
American wrestler, actor
1953 John Malkovich
American actor
1934 Judi Dench
English actress
1895 Dolores Ibárruri
Spanish politician
1608 John Milton
English poet
Deaths On This Day – December 9
2012 Patrick Moore
English astronomer, television host
1998 Archie Moore
American boxer
1979 Fulton J. Sheen
American archbishop
1941 Dmitry Merezhkovsky
Russian author, poet, philosopher
1437 Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor