Today is Monday, Dec. 9, the 344th day of 2024. There are 22 days left in the year.

On Dec. 9, 1979, scientists certified the global eradication of smallpox, a disease which killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century.

In 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the first animated TV special featuring characters from the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, premiered on CBS.

In 1992, the first U.S. Marines made a pre-dawn beach landing in Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope; they were met by hundreds of reporters awaiting their arrival.

In 2008, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges, including attempting to profit from filling the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

In 2013, scientists revealed that NASA’s Curiosity rover had uncovered signs of an ancient freshwater lake on Mars.

Scientists certified the global eradication of smallpox, a disease which killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century.{ai:summary}<p>On December 9, 1979, scientists confirmed the global eradication of smallpox, a disease that claimed approximately 300 million lives in the 20th century. Other notable events include the 1965 premiere of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and the 1990 election of Lech Wałęsa in Poland. </p><p>Today's birthdays feature actor Judi Dench at 90, actor Beau Bridges at 83, and Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney at 29, among others. #history</p>

Today in History: December 9, smallpox declared to be eradicated

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