Mister Rogers Breaks a Color Barrier

May 9, 1969

In 1969, many places in America did not allow blacks and whites to share swimming pools. Mister Rogers, on his TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, invited Officer Clemmons, who was African-American, to join him in cooling his feet in a wading pool breaking this color barrier. Afterwards, they shared a towel together to dry their feet.
Actor-singer François Clemmons played the role of Officer Clemons on the show from 1968 to 1993.

Smokey Bear

May 9, 1950

A bear cub is rescued from a New Mexico fire. The U.S. forest service made him the symbol for forest fire prevention. By 1964, his fan mail was so great that he was given his own zip code, 20252.
The forest service had been using a cartoon version of Smokey Bear since 1944. This cub became the live embodiment of that cartoon. "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires."

They Couldn't Hit an Elephant at this Distance

May 9, 1864

During the Civil War battle of Spotsylvania, American general John Sedgwick proclaims, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance," just as he was shot and killed by a confederate sharpshooter.

Join or Die

May 9, 1754

Benjamin Franklin's famous cartoon is published in the Pennsylvania Gazette. "Join or Die" depicted a snake cut into segments, each representing a colony. It would become a symbol of colonial unity during the American Revolution. It showed a snake cut into eighths, with each segment labeled with the initials of one of the American colonies or regions. New England was represented as one segment. Delaware was not listed separately as it was part of Pennsylvania. Georgia, however, was omitted completely, making only eight segments instead of the traditional 13 colonies.

Crown Jewels Stolen

May 9, 1671

The Crown Jewels of England are stolen from the Tower of London by Irish adventurer Colonel Thomas Blood. Although he was captured while fleeing, King Charles II, who supposedly admired his daring, gave him a full pardon, land in Ireland, and a pension. Some speculate that he might have been working for the King, who was short of cash at the time.
Blood and a female companion, disguised as a parson and wife, went to view the jewels. At the time, you could view the jewels for a fee. While viewing, Blood's "wife" pretended to be ill. The jewel keeper's wife invited her up to her apartment to recover. Later, Blood sent the jewel keeper's wife four pairs of white gloves as a gesture of thanks. The couples became friends with Blood offering his fictitious nephew's hand in marriage to the jewel keeper's daughter. Blood then got the jewel keeper to show the jewels to his "nephew" and friends, at which time Blood and his crew clubbed, stabbed, and gagged the jewel keeper. They flattened St. Edward's Crown so that Blood could hide it under his clerical coat. They also cut the Sceptre with the Cross in two so that it would fit in their bag. The jewel keeper managed to get his gag loose and cried out for help. The gang was apprehended as they fled.

Lisa Simpson

Born May 9, 1984

fictional character on The Simpsons.

Invented the Lie Detector

William Moulton Marston

Born May 9, 1893 d. 1947

American psychologist, cartoonist. He is the co-creator of Wonder Woman (1941) and inventor the lie detector.

Howard Carter

Born May 9, 1874 d. 1939

English Egyptologist. Discovered King Tutankhamen's tomb (1922).

First Person Executed in the Electric Chair

William Kemmler

Born May 9, 1860 d. 1890

American murderer. He was the first person executed in the electric chair.

Creator of Peter Pan

J. M. Barrie (James Matthew Barrie)

Born May 9, 1860 d. 1937

Scottish author. Writings: Peter Pan (1904).
Before his death, he gave the rights to the Peter Pan works to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, which continues to benefit from them.