1765day.year
After a campaign by the writer Voltaire, judges in Paris posthumously exonerate Jean Calas of murdering his son. Calas had been tortured and executed in 1762 on the charge, though his son may have actually died by suicide.
Voltaire’s advocacy leads to the posthumous exoneration of Jean Calas in Paris.
On March 9, 1765, the Parlement of Paris overturned the conviction of Jean Calas, who had been executed in 1762 for the alleged murder of his son. The campaign, championed by Enlightenment writer Voltaire, highlighted issues of religious intolerance and judicial abuse in France. Voltaire’s relentless criticism of the case mobilized public opinion and exposed flaws in the legal system. The exoneration marked a victory for the Enlightenment’s push for reason, justice, and human rights. The affair influenced later reforms by showcasing the power of intellectuals to shape public policy. Jean Calas’s case remains a symbol of the fight against prejudice and miscarriage of justice.
1765
Voltaire
Jean Calas
1762
1842day.year
Giuseppe Verdi's third opera, Nabucco, receives its première performance in Milan; its success establishes Verdi as one of Italy's foremost opera composers.
Giuseppe Verdi's opera Nabucco premiered in Milan in 1842, catapulting him to fame as one of Italy's leading composers.
On March 9, 1842, Giuseppe Verdi's opera Nabucco debuted at La Scala in Milan.
With a libretto by Temistocle Solera, the work dramatized the biblical story of the Babylonian exile of the Israelites.
The opera's stirring "Va, pensiero" chorus resonated with Italian audiences and became an unofficial anthem for the Risorgimento.
Nabucco's triumph established Verdi as a national musical figure and secured him commissions at major Italian theaters.
Its blend of grand choruses, memorable melodies, and dramatic music set a new standard for 19th-century Italian opera.
Today, Nabucco remains a staple of the operatic repertoire and a testament to Verdi's emerging genius.
1842
Giuseppe Verdi
Nabucco
Milan
1954day.year
McCarthyism: CBS television broadcasts the See It Now episode, "A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy", produced by Fred Friendly.
CBS aired the pivotal See It Now episode 'A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy' in 1954, challenging McCarthy's anti-communist campaign.
On March 9, 1954, CBS broadcast an episode of its news program See It Now titled "A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy," produced by Fred Friendly and narrated by Edward R. Murrow. The segment presented archival footage, interviews, and expert commentary to critically examine Senator McCarthy’s tactics and allegations during the height of the Red Scare. It exposed inconsistencies in McCarthy’s claims and highlighted the personal toll of his aggressive accusations on government employees and private citizens. The broadcast is credited with shifting public opinion and weakening McCarthy’s influence in Washington. As one of the earliest examples of television journalism directly confronting powerful political figures, it set a new standard for the medium’s role in democracy. See It Now’s report is widely regarded as a landmark moment in the history of broadcast news.
1954
McCarthyism
CBS
See It Now
Joseph McCarthy
Fred Friendly