August 9
1899: Chemist Edward Frankland dies. He was one of the originators of organometallic chemistry, introducing the concept of combining power or valence.
1927: Cognitive scientist and artificial intelligence researcher Marvin Minsky born.
1932: Mathematician John Charles Fields dies. He founded the Fields Medal for outstanding achievement in mathematics.
1974: As a direct result of the Watergate scandal, Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon becomes the first President of the United States to resign from office. His Vice President, Gerald Ford, becomes president.
2006: Physicist and philosopher James Van Allen dies. The Van Allen radiation belts are named after him, following their discovery by his Geiger–Müller tube instruments aboard satellites in 1958.