WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011

Today is Wednesday, February 9, the 40th day of 2011. There are 325 days left in the year.

1540 ― The first recorded race meet in England (Roodee Fields, Chester)

1674 ― English reconquer New York from Netherlands

1849 ― Roman Republic declared

1863 ― Fire extinguisher patented by Alanson Crane

1885 ― First Japanese arrive in Hawaii

1886 ― President Cleveland declares a state of emergency in Seattle because of anti-Chinese violence

1895 ― Volleyball invented by W. G. Morgan in Massachusetts

1904 ― Japan declares war on Russia

1943 ― FDR orders minimal 48 hour workweek in war industry

1985 ― Madonna's ``Like a Virgin" album goes No. 1 for three weeks