The temperature on August 2, 1909 was between 9.5 °C and 14.7 °C and averaged 12.2 °C. There was 11.4 mm of rain. There was 0.1 hours of sunshine (1%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the north-northeast. Source: KNMI
January 16 » Ernest Shackleton's expedition finds the magnetic South Pole.
January 25 » Richard Strauss's opera Elektra receives its debut performance at the Dresden State Opera.
April 6 » Robert Peary and Matthew Henson become the first people to reach the North Pole; Peary's claim has been disputed because of failings in his navigational ability.
April 11 » The city of Tel Aviv is founded.
September 20 » The South Africa Act 1909 creates the Union of South Africa from the British Colonies from four smaller colonies.
December 14 » New South Wales Premier Charles Wade signs the Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909, formally completing the transfer of State land to the Commonwealth to create the Australian Capital Territory.
Day of death April 2, 1981
The temperature on April 2, 1981 was between 7.2 °C and 9.8 °C and averaged 8.2 °C. There was 0.1 mm of rain during 0.1 hours. The almost completely overcast was. The average windspeed was 1 Bft (weak wind) and was prevailing from the north. Source: KNMI
In The Netherlands , there was from Monday, December 19, 1977 to Friday, September 11, 1981 the cabinet Van Agt I, with Mr. A.A.M. van Agt (CDA/KVP) as prime minister.
In The Netherlands , there was from Friday, September 11, 1981 to Saturday, May 29, 1982 the cabinet Van Agt II, with Mr. A.A.M. van Agt (CDA) as prime minister.
March 5 » The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, is launched by Sinclair Research and would go on to sell over 1⁄2 million units around the world.
April 12 » The first launch of a Space Shuttle (Columbia) takes place: The STS-1 mission.
June 7 » The Israeli Air Force destroys Iraq's Osiraq nuclear reactor during Operation Opera.
August 3 » Senegalese opposition parties, under the leadership of Mamadou Dia, launch the Antiimperialist Action Front – Suxxali Reew Mi.
August 5 » President Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 striking air-traffic controllers who ignored his order for them to return to work.
December 15 » A suicide car bombing targeting the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, levels the embassy and kills 61 people, including Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon. The attack is considered the first modern suicide bombing.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Hendrik de Graaf, "Family tree Plugboer", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-plugboer/I8658.php : accessed January 29, 2026), "Dirk Jan de Vries (1909-1981)".
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