Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
August 9 Sunday, August 9, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 9 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
7
Holidays
1500
War 526 years ago
Ottoman-Venetian War (1499-1503): The Ottomans capture Methoni, Messenia.
Ottoman forces seize the strategic Venetian fortress of Methoni in Messenia, tightening their control over key Mediterranean trade routes.
History
What happened on August 9
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -48War
Caesar's Civil War: Battle of Pharsalus: Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and Pompey flees to Egypt.
Julius Caesar defeats Pompey in the Battle of Pharsalus, forcing Pompey to flee to Egypt.
- 378War
Gothic War: Battle of Adrianople: A large Roman army led by Emperor Valens is defeated by the Visigoths. Valens is killed along with over half of his army.
The Visigoths defeat a Roman army led by Emperor Valens, killing him and more than half of his troops.
- 1173European history
Construction of the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa (now known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) begins; it will take two centuries to complete.
Construction begins on the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa, which will eventually become known as the Leaning Tower and take nearly two centuries to complete.
- 1329Religion
Quilon, the first Indian Christian Diocese, is erected by Pope John XXII; the French-born Jordanus is appointed the first Bishop.
Pope John XXII establishes Quilon as India's first Christian diocese, appointing the French-born Jordanus as its first bishop.
- 1500War
Ottoman-Venetian War (1499-1503): The Ottomans capture Methoni, Messenia.
Ottoman forces seize the strategic Venetian fortress of Methoni in Messenia, tightening their control over key Mediterranean trade routes.
- 1610US history
The First Anglo-Powhatan War begins in colonial Virginia.
The First Anglo-Powhatan War starts with attacks on English settlements in Virginia.
- 1842US history
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty is signed, establishing the United States-Canada border east of the Rocky Mountains.
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty establishes the border between the United States and Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, resolving decades of territorial disputes.
- 1877War
American Indian Wars: Battle of the Big Hole: A small band of Nez Percé Indians clash with the United States Army.
A small band of Nez Percé Indians engages in a fierce battle with the United States Army, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
- 1944WWII
World War II: Continuation War: The Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive, the largest offensive launched by Soviet Union against Finland during the Second World War, ends to a strategic stalemate. Both Finnish and Soviet troops at the Finnish front dug to defensive positions, and the front remains stable until the end of the war.
The Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive ends in a strategic stalemate, with both Finnish and Soviet troops entrenched until the war's conclusion.
- 1970Disaster
LANSA Flight 502 crashes after takeoff from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, Peru, killing 99 of the 100 people on board, as well as two people on the ground.
A LANSA flight crashes shortly after takeoff from Cusco, killing 99 of the 100 passengers and crew onboard along with two people on the ground.
- 2006UK history
At least 21 suspected terrorists are arrested in the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot that happened in the United Kingdom. The arrests are made in London, Birmingham, and High Wycombe in an overnight operation.
British authorities arrest at least 21 suspects in a coordinated overnight operation across London, Birmingham, and High Wycombe, thwarting a plot to bomb transatlantic flights.
- 2021Technology
The Tampere light rail officially starts operating.
The Tampere light rail begins operations, connecting central areas of Finland's third-largest city.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 9
7 this date All birthdays
Gordon Singleton
Canadian Olympic cyclist
Gordon Singleton, the Canadian track cyclist who became the first to simultaneously hold world records in all three sprint races and the first Canadian to win a world championship, was born today in 1956.
Born
1956
Died
2024
Joseph Wenzel I
Prince of Liechtenstein
1696 – 1772
Joop den Uyl
Dutch journalist, economist, and politician, Prime Minister of the Netherlands
1919 – 1987
Philip Larkin
English poet and novelist
1922 – 1985
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
Japanese actress, talk show host, and author
b. 1933 · 93
Lesley McKenna
Scottish snowboarder
b. 1974 · 52
Hayley Peirsol
American swimmer
b. 1985 · 41
Music
The number one songs on August 9
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 9, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport August 9, 1936
Summer Olympics: Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal at the games.
Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal, cementing his status as a sports icon.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 9, 1897
The first International Congress of Mathematicians is held in Zürich, Switzerland.
Mathematicians from around the world gather in Zürich for the inaugural International Congress of Mathematicians.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Battle of Gangut Day (Russia)
International
The Days of Military Honour are special memorable dates in the Russian Armed Forces dedicated to the most outstanding victories won by Russia
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (United Nations)
International
The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population
Meyboom (Brussels and Leuven, Belgium)
International
The Meyboom or Meiboom plantation is the oldest tradition in Brussels, Belgium, attested since 1308
National Day, celebrates the independence of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965.
International
National Day, sometimes known internationally as Singapore Independence Day, and formally as Singapore Day, is a major public holiday in Singapore commemorating the establishment of an independent and
National Peacekeepers' Day, celebrated on Sunday closest to the day (Canada)
International
National Peacekeepers' Day is an official remembrance day for Canadian veterans of military peacekeeping activities
National Women's Day (South Africa)
International
National Women's Day is a South African public holiday celebrated annually on 9 August