On this day, March 9

1776 – Scottish political economist Adam Smith's book The Wealth of Nations, the first modern work in economics, was published.

1891 – Kaʻiulani was appointed the heir apparent to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

1925 – The Royal Air Force began a bombardment and strafing campaign against the mountain strongholds of Mahsud tribesmen in South Waziristan, present-day Pakistan.

1956 – In Tbilisi, Georgia, soldiers suppressed mass demonstrations against Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev's policy of de-Stalinization.

1957 – The Andreanof Islands earthquake struck Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands, causing more than $5 million in damage from ground movement and a destructive tsunami.