Today in History: December 9

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On this day in Bahamian history, in 1838, George Cumine Strahan who served as colonial secretary in The Bahamas was born in Scotland.

Strahan served as colonial secretary from 1868–1872 and acting governor from 1872–1873.

In 1971, the Public Records Act commenced. The act caused the establishment of the Public Records Office and the preservation of public records in The Bahamas.

On December 9, 1985, Carlton E. Francis died of complications from diabetes. He was 66.

Francis was an educator, pastor, politician and cabinet minister.

In 1965 he became first vice chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Two years later he was elected to the House of Assembly representing the Winton constituency and served as Minister of Finance from 1967 – 1970, when he was appointed Minister of Education, and as Minister of Development from 1972 – 1973.

Francis resigned from the cabinet that year due to his opposition to gambling. The primary school on New Providence was named in his honor.

Fast forward to 2004, the first Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) opened in Nassau, founded by Leslie Vanderpool. The festival, which was held from December 9 – 12, featured a diverse presentation of independent and studio films from around the world – as well as educational programs and cultural events.

Then in world history in 1979, some 10 years after the world health organization began a global vaccination program against smallpox, the disease was officially declared eradicated.

In 2002 United Airlines filed for bankruptcy, the largest such case ever in the global airline industry, after high costs left the world’s no. 2 carrier with too much debt and little cash.

In 2016 South Korean President Park Geun-Hye was impeached by the National Assembly amid allegations of corruption. She left office the following year, after the country’s constitutional court upheld the parliamentary decision.