Thursday, 9th May 1957 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's Europe Day. Explore 44 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings rainy with temperatures between 4°C and 13°C. Tonight's moon is in its last quarter phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Taurus. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Thursday, 9th May in London, GB.
On 9th May 1957, London experienced rainy weather as the city moved through the last quarter of the lunar cycle. Those born during this period fell under the Taurus zodiac sign, known for its association with stability and practicality. The British capital, situated on the Thames in south-east England, served as the political and economic centre of the United Kingdom and had recently begun its post-war reconstruction efforts.
Throughout history, this date has witnessed significant events that shaped nations and communities. In 1977, the Hotel Polen in Amsterdam was destroyed by fire, claiming 33 lives in one of the city's worst disasters. That same day, decades later in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI initiated the beatification process for his predecessor Pope John Paul II, waiving the customary five-year waiting period required after a nominee's death. Such moments underscore how a single calendar date can mark both tragedy and spiritual significance across different eras.
The convergence of these historical events demonstrates the unpredictable nature of human history. Whether marked by natural disaster, religious proceedings, or industrial accidents, the dates we commemorate carry multiple layers of meaning that historians and societies continue to examine. DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather patterns, historical events, notable births and deaths for any specified date and location, enabling users to explore the historical significance of any calendar day across different regions and time periods.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 9th May 1957
Every closed door was too narrow anyway.
Fortune of the Day
9th May in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on May 9th blend Taurus steadiness with restless energy from numerological five. They're reliable yet crave stimulation and change, making them surprisingly adaptable. Sensuality and pleasure-seeking drive their choices in unexpected directions.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths include patience, practicality and natural charm. However, stubbornness and excessive indulgence can derail them. The internal tug between stability and freedom creates ongoing tension requiring conscious awareness.
Love May 9th natives are devoted, sensual partners with hidden adventurous streaks. They value security but need excitement and personal space too. Relationships thrive when both partners embrace spontaneity alongside commitment.
Caree & Finance These individuals flourish in work involving creativity or sensory appeal. Financial stability matters deeply, yet impulsive spending poses risks. Success emerges when they balance diligence with innovative thinking.
Health Those born this day should prioritize movement, quality food and sensory experiences. Physical activity eases stress effectively. Balancing pleasure with discipline strengthens overall wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its last quarter phase.
Chinese year of the Rooster (Fire).
Fun Facts About 9th May
Name Days in Your Language: Casandra, Cassandra, Grizelda, Kasandra, Kassandra, Zelda
Someone born on this day in 1957 would be 68 years old today — just 25,177 days into life, which is roughly 604,257 hours, 36,255,463 minutes, or 2,175,327,780 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 129. day of the year.
There are 236 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 19 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 9th May
- Tony Gwynn, American baseball player and coach (died 2014) (1960)
- Wendy Crewson, Canadian actress and producer (1956)
- Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia (died 2012) (1955)
- Anne Sofie von Otter, Swedish soprano and actress (1955)
- Alley Mills, American actress (1951)
- Joy Harjo, American poet, musician, playwright and author, 23rd United States Poet Laureate (1951)
Lives Remembered on 9th May
- Sean Burroughs, American baseball player (born 1980) (2024)
- Roger Corman, American film director, producer, and actor (born 1926) (2024)
- Rex Murphy, Canadian political commentator (born 1947) (2024)
- John Leo, American a writer and journalist (born 1935) (2022)
- Rieko Kodama, Japanese game developer (born 1963) (2022)
- Little Richard, American singer, songwriter, and pianist (born 1932) (2020)
- Freddie Starr, English comedian, impressionist, singer and actor (born 1943) (2019)
- Per Kirkeby, Danish painter, poet, film maker and sculptor (born 1938) (2018)
- Robert Miles, a Swiss-born Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ (born 1969) (2017)
- Edward W. Estlow, American football player and journalist (born 1920) (2015)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 9th May
- Christian feast day: Beatus of Lungern
- Christian feast day: Beatus of Vendome
- Christian feast day: Christopher (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: George Preca
- Christian feast day: Gerontius of Cervia
- Christian feast day: Gregory of Nazianzen (The Episcopal Church (US) and traditional Roman Catholic calendar)
- Christian feast day: Nicolaus Zinzendorf (Lutheran)
- Christian feast day: Pachomius the Great
- Christian feast day: Tudy of Landevennec
- Christian feast day: May 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Commemoration of the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands related observances: Liberation Day, commemorating the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. (Guernsey and Jersey)
- Commemoration of the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands related observances: National Day (Alderney)
- Europe Day, commemorating the Schuman Declaration. (European Union, Kosovo, Moldova, Ukraine)
- Victory Day observances, celebration of the Soviet Union victory over Nazi Germany (Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) Victory and Peace Day, marks the capture of Shusha (1992) in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the end of World War II. (Armenia)
- Home Front Heroes Day in the United States (proposed; locally observed in Dallas, Texas)
- Goku Day (Japan), commemorating the fictional character Goku.
What Happened on 9th May?
- The May 9 riots following the arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan. (2023)
- Russo-Ukrainian War: United States President Joe Biden signs the 2022 Lend-Lease Act into law, a rebooted World War II-era policy expediting American equipment to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. (2022)
- The COVID-19 recession causes the U.S. unemployment rate to hit 14.9 percent, its worst rate since the Great Depression. (2020)
- Barisan Nasional, the coalition that had governed Malaysia since the country's independence in 1957, suffer an historic defeat in the 2018 Malaysian general election. (2018)
- The 38-day stand-off in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem comes to an end when the Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected terrorists among them deported to several different countries. (2002)
- In Ghana, 129 football fans die in what became known as the Accra Sports Stadium disaster. The deaths are caused by a stampede (caused by the firing of tear gas by police personnel at the stadium) that followed a controversial decision by the referee. (2001)
- Armenian forces capture Shusha, marking a major turning point in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. (1992)
- Westray Mine disaster kills 26 workers in Nova Scotia, Canada. (1992)
- New Parliament House, Canberra officially opens. (1988)
- LOT Flight 5055 Tadeusz Kościuszko crashes after takeoff in Warsaw, Poland, killing all 183 people on board. (1987)