JUNE 9 | Birthdays and Events

Notable Birthdays for June 9

Sarah Rapelje (1625-1685) - The first document "white child" born in New Netherland (area now known as Connecticut, Delaware, New York and New Jersey, including parts of Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Thomas Jennings (1791-est. death 1856) - Black inventor of dry cleaning.

Robert Klark Graham (1906-1997) - American eugenicists who founded the Repository for Germinal Choice.

Lester Polsfuss (1915-2009) - Pioneer of the solid-body electric guitar (Gibson Les Paul).

Forrest Bird (1921-2015) - Inventor of the first respirator and ventilator.

Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson Jr. (1934-1984) - Musician known as Jackie Wilson who is considered one of the most prolific R&B performers.

Gary Starkweather (1938-2019) - Engineer and inventor of the laser printer.

Charles Webb (1939-2020) - Author who wrote the novel The Graduate.

Gregory Maguire (1954-Still Living) - Fantasy author, including the novel WICKED.

Johnny Depp (1963-Still Living) - Award-winning actor Edward Scissorhands (1990), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Blow (2001), Public Enemies (2009) and the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Memorable Events for June 9

1790 - Philadelphia Spelling Book becomes the first copyrighted book under the constitution.

1860 Malaseka, The Indian Wife of the White Hunter (Mrs. Ann Stevens) publishes the first "dime novel."

1870 - President Grant meets with Sioux Chief Red Cloud at the White House.

1902 - The first automat restaurant (vending machine) in Philadelphia, PA.

1934 - Donald Duck makes his first appearance in the cartoon The Wise Little Hen.

1943 - President Roosevelt signs the Current Tax Payment Act into law, withholding tax from wages to be paid to the government.

1968 - President Johnson declares a National Day of Mourning following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

1973 - Secretariat wins the Triple Crown.