On this day in history: Important events that took place on December 9

Throughout history, many important events have taken place on 9 December, making it a notable date both in India and around the world.

Here are the important events that happened on December 9

On December 9, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 to halt the recount of votes in Florida, effectively ending Vice President Al Gore’s claim to the presidency.
On December 9, 1912, Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, long-time Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was born. An obituary was published after his death on January 5, 1994. New York Times.
On 9 December 1990, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was elected president of Poland.

Other events of this day:

• 1608: Poet John Milton was born in London.
• 1854: “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson was published in England.
• 1907: The first Christmas seals were offered for sale in Wilmington, Delaware, to raise funds to fight tuberculosis.
• 1912: Longtime U.S. House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• 1940: British forces launched the first major North African offensive in World War II.
• 1941: China declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy.
• 1958: The Anti-Communist John Birch Society was founded in Indianapolis.
• 1975: President Gerald Ford approved a $2.3 billion seasonal loan to prevent New York City from defaulting.
• 1992: Britain’s Prince Charles and Princess Diana announce their separation; They divorced in 1996.
• 1993: The US Air Force demolished the first of 500 Minuteman II missile silos planned to be removed under the arms deal.
• 1995: Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., was chosen to lead the NAACP.
• 2000: The US Supreme Court temporarily halted the recount of presidential votes in Florida.
• 2002: United Airlines filed for bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy in aviation history at the time, after losing $4 billion in two years.
• 2004: The Supreme Court of Canada declared same-sex marriage constitutional.
• 2008: Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested for allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat.

(with NYT and AP entries)