On This Day for July 9 - Catherine the Great assumed power, O.J. Simpson is born, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, [click here to view](. July 09 [O.J. Simpson (centre) and his attorneys F. Lee Bailey (left) and Johnnie Cochran reacting to the not-guilty verdict at Simpson's criminal trial, Oct. 3, 1995.] BORN ON THIS DAY 1947 O.J. Simpson Born this day in 1947, [O.J. Simpson]( was an outstanding running back—winning the 1968 [Heisman Trophy]( and setting an NFL single-season record for rushing yards (2,003)—but perhaps became best known for his [1995 murder trial](. [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( [Catherine II] ON THIS DAY 1762 Catherine the Great assumed power [Catherine the Great]( overthrew [Peter III]( on this day in 1762 and began her reign as empress of [Russia]( leading her country into full participation in the political and cultural life of Europe and extending Russian territory. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( [Discover the NEW Britannica Kids! Click Here to Learn More!]( MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY [South Sudan] 2011: [South Sudan]( declared its independence after a referendum to secede from [Sudan]( passed overwhelmingly. [Selig, Bud] 2002: Fearing that there would not be enough eligible players to continue, [Major League Baseball]( Commissioner [Bud Selig]( stopped the annual All-Star Game in the 11th inning with the score tied at 7–7. [Garcia, Jerry] 1995: American [psychedelic rock]( band the [Grateful Dead]( performed their last concert, at Soldier Field in Chicago; lead guitarist and vocalist [Jerry Garcia]( died the following month. [U.S. nuclear attack submarine Thresher at sea, July 24, 1961. The Thresher sank on April 10, 1963, with 129 sailors on board.] 1960: The [Thresher]( the first of a class of U.S. nuclear-powered attack [submarines]( was launched; it sank in 1963 in the worst submarine accident in history. [Tom Hanks in Charlie Wilson's War (2007).] 1956: American actor [Tom Hanks]( who was perhaps best known for his cheerful everyman persona, was born. [Peake, Mervyn] 1911: English novelist, poet, and painter [Mervyn Peake]( who was best known for the bizarre Titus Groan trilogy of novels and for his illustrations of his novels and of children's stories, was born. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1975 Jack White American musician 1964 Courtney Love American musician and actress 1956 Tom Hanks American actor 1955 Lindsey Graham United States senator 1856 Nikola Tesla Serbian-American inventor [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( FOLLOW: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, [click here](. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2018 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( • [Help](