What Happened in 2009

Major Events

  • Jan 15 Chesley Sullenberger lands US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in NYC. All passengers and crew members survive in what becomes known as the "Miracle on the Hudson"
  • Jan 20 Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, becoming the United States' first African-American president
  • Mar 4 International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur becoming the first sitting head of state to be indicted
  • Apr 30 Chrysler automobile company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  • May 18 The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are defeated by the Sri Lankan government, ending the Sri Lankan Civil War and almost 26 years of fighting between the two sides
  • Jun 11 The World Health Organization declares H1N1 swine flu to be a global pandemic, the first such incident in over forty years
  • More 2009 Events

2009 in Film & TV

2009 in Music

  • Aug 7 “Tik Tok” single released by Kesha (Billboard Song of the Year 2010)

2009 in Sport

  • Jan 12 Cristiano Ronaldo is awarded 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year for the first time at a ceremony in Zurich
  • Mar 7 Despite only being 17 years old, Brazilian soccer star Neymar makes his professional debut for Santos
  • Jul 5 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Roger Federer beats Andy Roddick of the US 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 for a record 15th Grand Slam singles title

Did You Know?

Gamma ray burst (GRB) 090423 is observed for 10 seconds, the most distant object of any kind and also the oldest known object in the universe

April 23, 2009


Born in 2009

  • Jan 5 Walker Scobell, American actor (Percy Jackson and the Olympians; The Adam Project), born in Virginia Beach, Virginia
  • Jan 26 Suleman octuplets born to Nadya Suleman in Bellflower, California - longest ever octuplet survival
  • Nov 19 Prince Gaston d'Orléans


More 2009 Deaths

Famous Weddings in 2009

  • Jan 9 High School Musical actress KayCee Stroh (24) weds Ben Higginson (24) at Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Jan 10 "The Black Eyed Peas" singer Fergie (33) weds actor Josh Duhamel (36) at Church Estate Vineyards in Malibu, California
  • Jan 31 "Stay" singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb (40) weds Late Night with Conan O'Brien music supervisor Roey Hershkovitz (30) at Manhattan restaurant in New York City

Famous Divorces in 2009

  • Mar 20 "Dawson's Creek" actor Kerr Smith (37) divorces actress Harmoni Everett (34) due to irreconcilable differences after 6 years of marriage
  • Jun 5 "Lost" actress Emilie de Ravin (27) divorces actor Josh Janowicz (27) after three years of marriage
  • Jun 9 Elizabeth Watson (39) divorces MLB home run record holder Barry Bonds (44) due to irreconcilable differences after 11 years of marriage

More 2009 Weddings