Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

April 9

1986
Mad dog of the Middle East: Pres. Reagan nicknames Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi in response to his terrorist acts.

1970
The Beatles: The end of the Fab Four is announced by Paul McCartney.

1965
First major U.S. enclosed stadium, the Houston Astrodome, opens.

1959
NASA picks its first seven astronauts.

1872
Dried Milk: Samuel R. Percy is issued a patent for dried milk.

1866
Civil Rights Act: Passed by Congress, over Pres. Andrew Johnson's veto, granting citizenship to all persons born in the U.S., except Indians not taxed, and declaring equal rights for all citizens.

1865
Civil War: Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox.

1800
Laughing Gas (nitrous oxide) is first suggested for use as an anesthetic, by English scientist Humphry Davy.

1682
La Salle enters the mouth of the Mississippi at the Gulf of Mexico, naming the region Louisiana and claiming it for France.

1979
Keshia Knight Pulliam, American actress. TV: The Cosby Show (Rudy).

1954
Dennis Quaid, American actor. Film: The Right Stuff (1983), Enemy Mine (1985), and Great Balls of Fire (1989).

1939
Michael Learned, American Emmy-winning actress. TV: The Waltons (Olivia Walton).

1935
Avery Schreiber, American comedian, famous for his Doritos commercials.

1933
Jean-Paul Belmondo, French superstar actor. Film: Breathless (1960).

1926
Hugh Hefner, publisher, founder of Playboy magazine (1953).

1921
Frankie Thomas, American actor. TV: Tom Corbett, Space Cadet (title role) (1950).

1919
John Presper Eckert Jr., American computer pioneer, co-inventor of first all-purpose stored-program computer (ENIAC) in 1945.

1915
Leonard Wibberley, Irish author. Writings: The Mouse That Roared.

1903     d. 1960
Ward Bond, American actor. TV: Wagon Train (Major Adams).

1903     d. 1967
Gregory Goodwin Pincus, American endocrinologist whose work led to the development of the first effective oral contraceptive (the pill). He was the first to achieve in-vitro fertilization of rabbits (1934), which paved the way for "test-tube babies."

1901     d. 1989
Howard Rusk, American physician, founder of physical therapy. He developed physical therapy while working with wounded WWII soldiers.

1899     d. 1980
James Smith McDonnell Jr., American aircraft manufacturer, founded McDonnell Aircraft Co. (1939), which merged with Douglas Aircraft Co. (1967), and sold the U.S. Navy the first carrier-based jet fighter (1946, FH-1 Phantom).

1883     d. 1969
Frank O. King, American cartoonist, creator of Gasoline Alley (1919).

1959     b. 1869
Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect, emphasized design that harmonized with the construction materials and landscape. He also coined the word "carport."

1922     b. 1844
Patrick Manson, British parasitologist, Father of Tropical Medicine. His insect research led to the discovery of how malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes.

1852     b. 1791
John Howard Payne, American songwriter. Music: Home Sweet Home! (1823), with the lyrics "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."

1626     b. 1561
Francis Bacon, English philosopher and statesman, one of principal founders of systematic thought. There is much debate as to whether he was the true author of Shakespeare's writings. While stuffing a chicken with snow to test the feasibility of using snow to preserve meat, he contracted a fatal case of pneumonia.

1483     b. 1442
Edward IV, King of England (1461-83).

1024     b. ????
Benedict VIII, religious leader, 143rd Pope (1012-24).

715     b. ????
Constantine, religious leader, 88th Pope (708-715).

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