9 February

Johann von Spix
9 February 1781 – 14 March 1826
German scientist who researched natural species in Brazil. » more

Franz Gabelsberger
9 February 1789 – 4 January 1849
German typist who invented stenography (shorthand) – a symbolic method of writing enabling dictated information to be taken down, prior to typing.

Sir Francis Smith
9 February 1808 – 12 February 1874
English engineer, an inventor of the propellor as used in ships. » more

Wilhelm Maybach
9 February 1846 – 29 December 1929
German engineer who was Director of the Daimler Motor Company. » more

Anthony Hope
9 February 1863 – 8 July 1933
English author, remembered for ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’. » more

Erich von Drygalski
9 February 1865 – 10 January 1949
German geographer who led an Antartic expedition in 1901. » more

Alban Berg
9 February 1885 – 24 December 1935
Austrian composer of piano and orchestral music. » more

Charles Kingsford Smith
9 February 1897 – 8 November 1935
Australian aviator, making the first flight over the Pacific Ocean in 1928 and founder of Australian National Airways. » more

Jacques Monod
9 February 1910 – 31 May 1976
French scientist whose DNA research earned a Nobel Prize. » more

Norman Shumway
9 February 1923 – 10 February 2006
American surgeon, pioneer of heart surgery. » more

Gerhard Richter
9 February 1932
German Pop artist whose paintings can be seen in the Guggenheim Museums Berlin & New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Daros Exhibitions, Zurich; National Museum Kassel, Germany; TATE Modern, London.

Today’s Quote
It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities.
 … Eric Hoffer (1902 – 1983)

Today’s No. 1 hit
1968 – Love Is Blue by Paul Mauriat.

Today’s events
9 February 1895 – Volley Ball invented by American William Morgan
9 February 1900 – The Davis Cup tennis competition founded.
9 February 1960 – The first Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is awarded to actress Joanne Woodward.
9 February 1964 – The Ed Sullivan Show on American CBS TV network hosts The Beatles in a televised show to 73 million viewers.
9 February 1969 – The Boeing 747 (Jumbo) makes its test flight.