It happened today – this day in history – September 9

1087: William the Conqueror died in Rouen, France, from injuries received when his horse stumbled while he was fighting the King of France. William Rufus succeeded him.

1513: James IV of Scotland was defeated and killed by English troops at the Battle of Flodden Field.

1835: Modern local government came into being with the British Municipal Corporations Act.

1850: California became the 31^st state of the USA.

1901: French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec died after suffering a stroke.

1956: Elvis Presley makes his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. He is only shown from the waist up as his hip gyrations are deemed inappropriate for a family show.

1963: Scotland’s Jim Clark became the world’s youngest motor racing champion.

1976: Mao Tse-tung (Chairman Mao) died aged 82 after a series of strokes.

1991: Tajikstan declared independence from the USSR.

BIRTHDAYS: Tom Wopat, actor, 68; Angela Cartwright, actress, 67; Dave Stewart, musician, 67; Hugh Grant, actor, 59; Adam Sandler, actor and comedian, 53; Julia Sawalha, actress, 51; Henry Thomas, actor (E.T.), 48; Eric Stonestreet, actor, 48; Goran Visnjic, actor, 47; Michael Buble, singer, 44, Michelle Williams, actress, 39.