Today in News History

On July 9, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1753, William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock, English admiral and politician, 34th Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland (died 1825) was born. In 1776, George Washington orders the Declaration of Independence to be read out to members of the Continental Army in Manhattan, while thousands of British troops on Staten Island prepare for the Battle of Long Island. In 1777, Paavo Ruotsalainen, Finnish farmer and lay preacher (died 1852) was born. In 1790, The Swedish Navy captures one third of the Russian Baltic fleet. In 1795, Henry Seymour Conway, English general and politician, Secretary of State for the Northern Department (born 1721) passed away. In 1863, American Civil War: The Siege of Port Hudson ends in a Union victory and, along with the fall of Vicksburg five days earlier, gives the Union complete control of the Mississippi River. In 1947, Patrick Wormald, English historian (died 2004) was born. In 1951, Māris Gailis, Latvian politician, businessman, and former Prime Minister of Latvia was born. In 1958, A 7.8 Mw strike-slip earthquake in Alaska causes a landslide that produces a megatsunami. The runup from the waves reached 525 m (1,722 ft) on the rim of Lituya Bay; five people were killed. In 1999, Robert de Cotret, Canadian politician, 56th Secretary of State for Canada (born 1944) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.