Cut the Cord Day
National Cut the Cord Day is an annual observance held every February 9th. It was created by Sling TV in 2020 to encourage people to cancel traditional cable or satellite TV and switch to modern streaming services. The date marks Sling TV’s anniversary—its streaming service launched in 2015, and the national day was introduced on its five‑year anniversary in 2020.
Here are some significant historical events that happened on February 9th throughout history:
Historical Events
1775 – British Parliament declares Massachusetts in rebellion
This was a key moment leading up to the American Revolution, as tensions between the colonies and Britain escalated.
1825 – John Quincy Adams is elected U.S. President by the House of Representatives
No candidate won a majority in the Electoral College, so the House selected Adams over Andrew Jackson in a controversial decision.
1861 – Jefferson Davis is elected President of the Confederate States
Davis was chosen as the provisional president of the Confederacy before the Civil War fully erupted.
1895 – Volleyball is invented
William G. Morgan, a YMCA instructor in Massachusetts, created volleyball as a less intense alternative to basketball.
1942 – Daylight saving time (War Time) is instituted in the U.S.
To conserve energy during World War II, the U.S. adopted year-round daylight saving time.
1950 – U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy accuses the government of harboring communists
McCarthy’s claims sparked a period of intense anti-communist sentiment known as the “Red Scare.”
1964 – The Beatles make their U.S. television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show
Over 73 million viewers watched, marking a pivotal moment in music history and launching the “British Invasion.”
1971 – The Apollo 14 mission returns to Earth
Alan Shepard and his crew successfully completed their mission to the Moon, including Shepard’s famous golf shot on the lunar surface.
2001 – The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lands on asteroid Eros
This was the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid, providing valuable data about the solar system.
Notable Birthdays
1737 – Thomas Paine – Political activist, author of Common Sense, which inspired the American Revolution.
1846 – Wilhelm Maybach – German engineer, co-founder of Mercedes-Benz.
1885 – Alban Berg – Austrian composer, part of the Second Viennese School.
1943 – Joe Pesci – American actor known for Goodfellas, Casino, and Home Alone.
1945 – Mia Farrow – American actress and activist.
1981 – Tom Hiddleston – British actor known for playing Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Notable Deaths
1881 – Fyodor Dostoevsky (b. 1821) – Russian novelist, author of Crime and Punishment.
1960 – Alexandr Benois (b. 1870) – Russian artist, stage designer, and art historian.
1994 – Howard Martin Temin (b. 1934) – American geneticist, Nobel Prize winner for his work on retroviruses.
2002 – Princess Margaret (b. 1930) – Younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II.
2021 – Chick Corea (b. 1941) – Jazz pianist and composer, known for his contributions to jazz fusion.
