September 9
Subject to Britannica's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
1947
The first literal computer bug
On this day in 1947, the Harvard Mark II, one of the earliest computers, encountered a bug. Quite literally. People have used the term “bug” since the 19th century to describe mechanical problems. So when the Mark II began malfunctioning, the engineers working on it, including the legendary programmer and mathematician Grace Hopper, knew they were looking for a bug—they just didn’t realize it would be so literal. Read on to discover what they found.
READ MORE
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.; Photo Illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Featured Event
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Death of Mao
Marxist revolutionary Mao Zedong, who died this day in 1976, emerged as the undisputed Chinese Communist Party leader following the Long March (1934–35) and dominated China in the period after the communist takeover in 1949. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about China.]
Featured Biography
Featured Biography
SuperStock
French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, whose work reflected the aims of the Symbolist movement and greatly influenced French art through his innovations in style and subject matter, died on this day in 1901.
Famous Birthdays
More on September 9
Bill Ingalls/Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA
2015
Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning monarch in British history, surpassing Victoria’s record reign of 63 years and 216 days. [Take our queens in England quiz.]
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
2014
U2’s album Songs of Innocence was released at no cost to all customers of Apple’s iTunes Store several weeks before its physical release. The move aroused controversy but gained attention, though reviews of the actual music were mixed, with many critics complaining that the band’s sound remained static.
© Dirck Halstead—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
1998
Special Prosecutor Kenneth W. Starr sent to Congress the report on his investigation into the actions of U.S. President Bill Clinton in the Whitewater affair and subsequent matters, including Clinton’s improper sexual relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky. [Test your knowledge of modern U.S. political scandals.]
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
1990
American tennis player Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi at the U.S. Open to capture his first of 14 Grand Slam singles titles. [How much do you know about tennis?]
© Helga Esteb/Shutterstock.com
1966
American comedian and actor Adam Sandler, who was known for his portrayal of infantile but endearing characters, was born. [Take our actors and acting quiz.]
Picture Lux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy
1956
Rock and roll star Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. [Test your knowledge of rock and roll.]
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
1948
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was proclaimed, setting the stage for the Korean War. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about Korea.]
© Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1941
American singer and songwriter Otis Redding, considered one of the great soul stylists of the 1960s, was born. [Take our quiz about musicians.]
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
1919
The Boston Police Strike began after the city denied the police’s right to unionize.
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
1861
Sally Louisa Tompkins was commissioned a cavalry captain; she was the only woman to be commissioned in the Confederate army. [How much do you know about the American Civil War?]
Currier & Ives Collection, Library of Congress, Neg. No. LC-USZC2-3154
1776
The Second Continental Congress adopts the name “United States of America”.
Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London
1754
William Bligh, the English admiral who commanded the HMS Bounty at the time of the famous mutiny, was born. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz of famous Europeans.]
© Photos.com/Getty Images
1087
The English king William I (the Conqueror) died from an injury suffered while attempting to capture the town of Mantes and was later buried at St. Stephen’s Church. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about English royalty.]