History for April 9

History for April 9 - On-This-Day.com:
Charles Proteus Steinmetz 1865, Paul Robeson 1898 - Singer, Ward Bond 1903 - Actor ("It’s a Wonderful Life", "The Maltese Falcon")


Hugh Hefner 1926 - Publisher, Michael Learned 1939 - Actress ("The Waltons", "All My Sons"), Dennis Quaid 1954 - Actor ("Wyatt Earp", "The Right Stuff"), brother of Randy Quaid


1682 - Robert La Salle claimed the lower Mississippi River and all lands that touch it for France.


1865 - At Appomattox Court House, Virginia, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate Army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of Wilmer McClean's home. Grant allowed Rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permitted soldiers to keep their horses and mules. Though there were still Confederate armies in the field, the war was officially over. The four years of fighting had killed 360,000 Union troops and 260,000 Confederate troops.


1866 - The Civil Rights Bill passed over U.S. President Andrew Johnson's veto.


1867 - The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty with Russia that purchased the territory of Alaska by one vote.


1928 - Mae West made her debut on Broadway in the production of "Diamond Lil."


1940 - Germany invaded Norway and Denmark.


1942 - In the Battle of Bataan, American and Filipino forces were overwhelmed by the Japanese Army.


1959 - NASA announced the selection of America's first seven astronauts.