Photo of Washington Street taken after the Great Boston Fire that occurred on November 9, 1872. Image from Smithsonian American Art Museum via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

During and after photos of New York City’s Manhattan skyline November 9-10, 1965, when the blackout occurred for 13 hours in the Northeast United States and Canada. Image via Alamy

Title: “Tram cars readied for senators. Washington, D.C., Nov. 9. The tram cars used by the senators in going thru the subway from their offices to the Capitol have been given a new coat of paint and an engine overhauling in readiness for the special session…” 11/9/1937 via Library of Congress, no known restrictions

During the early morning hours of November 9, 1780, a group of 250 British regulars and dragoons attempted a surprise attack of a patriot camp in South Carolina. The prepared and alert Americans led by Thomas Sumter (who the famous Fort Sumter is named after) were aware of the attack and kept their campfires burning as they moved their positions. When British forces came into the illuminated American camp they became easy targets for the patriots at the Battle of Fishdam Ford.

“Now Sir, if this is founded in truth, I apprehend you will embrace every opportunity, to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions, which so generally prevails with respect to us ; and that your sentiments are concurrent with mine, which are, that one universal Father hath given being to us all ; and that he hath not only made us all of one flesh, but that he hath also, without partiality, afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties” from a letter written by African American naturalist and self-taught scientist Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson regarding the issue of slavery. Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731 in Baltimore, Maryland. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On November 9, 1862, General Ambrose Burnside was placed in command of the Union’s Army of the Potomac, replacing General McClellan. Burnside was not an accomplished general (Grant called him “unfitted” for command), but from his impressive whiskers comes the term “sideburns.” Image from LOC via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

On November 9, 1961, U.S. Air Force pilot Robert Michael White became the first pilot to reach Mach 6 or six times the speed of sound. The following year, Robert flew the X-15 over 50 miles above sea level which is considered “space” according to the U.S. Armed Forces definition and qualified him as an astronaut. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On November 9, 1620, the pilgrims aboard the Mayflower sight Cape Cod. Sketch from a book published in 1901 via Wikimedia Commons, no known restrictions