Today in history for March 9

Today in history for March 9 has seen a number of significant events throughout history.

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• 1566 – David Rizzio, private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots, is murdered in her presence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
• 1796 – Napoleon Bonaparte marries his first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, in a civil ceremony in Paris.
• 1842 – The first documented discovery of gold in California occurs at Rancho San Francisco, six years before the Gold Rush.
• 1959 – The Barbie doll makes its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York.
• 1961 – The Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 9 carries and safely returns a dog, frogs, and a guinea pig, advancing human spaceflight efforts.
• 1997 – The Notorious B.I.G., American rapper, is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles.

Notable Births on March 9

• 1454 – Amerigo Vespucci, Italian explorer and namesake of the Americas.
• 1934 – Yuri Gagarin, Soviet cosmonaut and the first human in space.
• 1955 – Ornella Muti, Italian actress known for her work in European cinema.
• 1957 – Marty Ingels, American actor and comedian.
• 1964 – Juliette Binoche, French actress and Academy Award winner.

Notable Deaths on March 9

• 1847 – John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the United States.
• 1996 – George Burns, legendary American comedian and actor.
• 1997 – The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace), American rapper.
• 2018 – Hubert de Givenchy, French fashion designer and founder of the Givenchy brand.