1. On March 9, 1822, the first territorial legislature in Florida met in St. Augustine, making it the first official capital of the territory.

2. On March 9, 1847, the USS Somers, a United States Navy warship, sank off the coast of Key West. The sinking led to the execution of three sailors who were accused of being mutineers, making it one of the most controversial incidents in naval history.

3. On March 9, 1960, the Hollywood, Florida Police Department became the first law enforcement agency in the United States to use a computer to generate mug shots and track criminals.

4. On March 9, 1987, Hurricane Floyd made landfall near Cape Sable, causing widespread damage and claiming the lives of three Floridians.

5. On March 9, 2011, the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill that would require drug testing for welfare recipients. The law was eventually struck down by a federal court in 2013, with the judge ruling that it violated the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.