November 9: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Facebook’s parent company, Meta, laid off 11,000 employees amid a weak advertising market.

Meta's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced that the layoff was done to cut back expenses. The chief also shared that they are restructuring teams to increase efficiency.

Paul Rudd was named People Magazine’s 2021 Sexiest Man Alive.

In San Diego, California, SeaWorld announced that it would phase out its orca shows following protests.

SeaWorld announced that it would instead show the whales more naturally. This decision was made following the release of the documentary Blackfish, which showed how whales are mistreated in captivity. The documentary sparked protesters to fight for animal rights and better living standards for whales in captivity.

The European Space Agency launched the Venus Express, the first European spacecraft to reach Venus.

Venus Express Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Its 5-year mission to study Venus' atmosphere and surface was extended five times, with the mission ultimately ending after nine years on December 16, 2014.

Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli released his sixth album, “Sacred Arias,” which sold over 5 million copies, making it the highest-selling classical album ever by a solo singer.

The Berlin Wall began to fall.

While November 9th is marked as the fall of the Berlin Wall, it didn't all happen overnight. Throughout the first day, several official and unofficial border crossings opened up, with more and more holes in the wall appearing as residents of both sides eagerly tore it down.

NASA launched the Apollo 4 test spacecraft to test the Saturn V rocket for the first time.

King Edward VII was gifted with The Cullinan Diamond (the world’s largest diamond) on his 60th birthday.

The Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106.75 carats (1.36lbs or 0.62kg) and was discovered in Cullinan, South Africa, on January 26, 1905.

Theodore Roosevelt became the first US president to visit another country while in office, visiting Puerto Rico and Panama.

The first sustained flight of over five minutes was achieved and traveled three miles in the process.

Mary Jane Kelly was found dead on her bed in London. She is thought to have been the fifth and final victim of the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper.

George Bruce received the first US design patents for typefaces and bordering.

The Mayflower, filled with Puritan Pilgrims, spotted land at Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Their journey took a total of 3 months, and the Pilgrims later landed at Plymouth Rock.

The Stockholm Bloodbath came to an end when the final executions took place.

The trial led to a series of executions which began on November 7 and lasted two days. The uproar occurred following the coronation of Christian II as the new king of Sweden.

Piero the Unfortunate was stripped of his title of Lord of Florence, Italy, and exiled.

Holy Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria defeated Frederick I of Austria during the Battle of Gammelsdorf.