January 9th, 2009

Today in History

2005:
Elections are held to replace Yasser Arafat.

1972:
RMS Queen Elizabeth is destroyed by fire (Hong Kong harbor).

1894:
New England Telephone and Telegraph installs the first battery-operated telephone switchboard in Lexington, Massachusetts.

1857:
Fort Tejon earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9

1768:
Philip Astley stages the first modern circus (London).