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
June 9 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on June 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
1772
US history 254 years ago
The British schooner Gaspee is burned in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Rhode Island colonists burn the British revenue schooner Gaspee in Narragansett Bay to protest enforcement of unpopular trade and taxation laws.
History
What happened on June 9
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -411European history
The Athenian coup succeeds, forming a short-lived oligarchy.
A group of aristocrats overthrows Athens' democratic government, establishing the oligarchic Council of Four Hundred that will rule for just four months.
- 53World history
The Roman emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia.
Nero marries Claudia Octavia, his first wife and daughter of Claudius.
- 68World history
Nero dies by suicide after quoting Vergil's Aeneid, thus ending the Julio-Claudian dynasty and starting the civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors.
Nero takes his own life, invoking a line from Vergil’s Aeneid, marking the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and beginning the Year of the Four Emperors.
- 721European history
Odo of Aquitaine defeats the Moors in the Battle of Toulouse.
Odo of Aquitaine defeats the Moors, securing Toulouse against Muslim forces.
- 747World history
Abbasid Revolution: Abu Muslim Khorasani begins an open revolt against Umayyad rule, which is carried out under the sign of the Black Standard.
Abu Muslim Khorasani starts a rebellion against Umayyad rulers with the Black Standard, marking the beginning of the Abbasid Revolution.
- 1311Culture
Duccio's Maestà, a seminal artwork of the early Italian Renaissance, is unveiled and installed in Siena Cathedral in Siena, Italy.
Duccio's Maestà is unveiled in Siena Cathedral, marking a pivotal moment in early Italian Renaissance art.
- 1523Religion
The Parisian Faculty of Theology fines Simon de Colines for publishing the Biblical commentary Commentarii initiatorii in quatuor Evangelia by Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples.
Simon de Colines is fined by the Parisian Faculty of Theology for publishing Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples's Biblical commentary.
- 1534Canadian history
Jacques Cartier is the first European to describe and map the Saint Lawrence River.
Jacques Cartier maps and describes the Saint Lawrence River during his exploration of North America.
- 1772US history
The British schooner Gaspee is burned in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Rhode Island colonists burn the British revenue schooner Gaspee in Narragansett Bay to protest enforcement of unpopular trade and taxation laws.
- 1798UK history
Irish Rebellion of 1798: Battles of Arklow and Saintfield.
Rebel forces clash with British troops in the battles of Arklow and Saintfield during the Irish uprising.
- 1885World history
Treaty of Tientsin is signed to end the Sino-French War, with China eventually giving up Tonkin and Annam, most of present-day Vietnam, to France.
The Treaty of Tientsin ends the Sino-French War, with China ceding Tonkin and Annam (most of present-day Vietnam) to France.
- 1973Sports
In horse racing, Secretariat wins the U.S. Triple Crown.
Secretariat wins the U.S. Triple Crown, cementing his status as one of racing's greatest horses.
Born today
Famous birthdays on June 9
7 this date All birthdays
Robert Cummings
American actor, singer, and director
Robert Cummings, the American actor who appeared in comedy films like "The Devil and Miss Jones" and Alfred Hitchcock thrillers including "Saboteur" and "Dial M for Murder," was born today in 1910.
Born
1910
Died
1990
Giuseppe Demachi
Italian violinist and composer
1732 – 1791
Michele Rua
Italian Catholic priest and saint
1837 – 1910
Patricia Cornwell
American journalist and author
b. 1956 · 70
Udonis Haslem
American basketball player
b. 1980 · 46
Josh Cribbs
American football player
b. 1983 · 43
Mae Whitman
American actress
b. 1988 · 38
Music
The number one songs on June 9
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on June 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 June 9, 1973
In horse racing, Secretariat wins the U.S. Triple Crown.
Secretariat wins the U.S. Triple Crown, cementing his status as one of racing's greatest horses.
Read the story
🔬 Science June 9, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Anniversary of the Accession of King Abdullah II (Jordan)
International
Public holidays in Jordan
Autonomy Day (Åland)
International
Åland's Autonomy Day, or Åland's Self-Government Day, is celebrated annually on 9 June to commemorate the first meeting of the Åland County Council on that date in 1922
Coral Triangle Day
International
The Coral Triangle Day was established on June 9, to celebrate and raise awareness of the ocean conservation and protection, especially on the Coral Triangle, the world's epicenter of marine biodivers
Don Young Day (Alaska, United States)
International
Don Young Day is a day of recognition in the state of Alaska, observed annually on June 9, commemorating Don Young, who served as a member of Alaska's at-large congressional district in the U
La Rioja Day (La Rioja)
International
Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious, national and regional observances
Murcia Day (Murcia)
International
Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious, national and regional observances