On this day: August 9
Man Discovered Living Secretly Inside Mall for Years
In August 2003, staff discovered a man who had been secretly living inside a U.S. shopping mall for years, surviving by scavenging unused spaces and discarded food; authorities later removed him and investigated how he avoided detection.
Manson Family Killings at Sharon Tate’s Home, August 9–10, 1969
On the night of August 8–9, 1969, members of the Manson Family entered the home of actress Sharon Tate in Los Angeles and murdered Tate and four others; the killings marked the start of a series of brutal crimes that led to the arrest and 1971 conviction of Charles Manson and several followers.
France Briefly Restores Monarchy During 1830 July Revolution’s Aftermath
On 9 August 1830, following the July Revolution that deposed Charles X, France provisionally restored monarchical authority by installing Louis-Philippe as King of the French; the change marked a shift from Bourbon absolutism toward a constitutional, citizen-king model known as the July Monarchy.
Senate Investigation Reveals Widespread Corruption in 1973 Inquiry
On August 9, 1973, the U.S. Senate disclosed extensive corruption linked to federal contracts and influence-peddling uncovered during an ongoing investigation; the findings intensified public scrutiny of executive-branch ties to private contractors and prompted calls for reforms.
Nationwide Emergency Declared as Miners’ Strike Escalates
On 9 August 1984 the ongoing UK miners’ strike reached a crisis point as clashes, fuel shortages and transport disruptions prompted national emergency measures; the strike, begun in March, had become a central political and social confrontation.
European Banking Contagion Deepens Market Turmoil
A widening banking crisis in Europe has rattled markets since August 9, 2011, as sovereign debt strains, bank funding pressures and investor uncertainty spread across equity, bond and interbank markets.
Nagasaki Devastated by Second Atomic Bombing
On August 9, 1945, the city of Nagasaki was struck by an atomic bomb, causing immediate massive destruction, tens of thousands of deaths, and long-term suffering—coming three days after the bombing of Hiroshima and accelerating Japan's decision to surrender.