1. On December 9, 1861, Confederate General Robert E. Lee arrived in South Carolina to take command of the state's coastal defenses against Union forces during the American Civil War. This marked the beginning of Lee's role in the conflict that would define his legacy as a military commander.

2. December 9, 1961, saw the birth of actress and singer Jennifer Beals in Chicago, Illinois. Although not a native of South Carolina, Beals has significant connections to the state through her role in the television series "The L Word," which was filmed in Charleston.

3. On December 9, 1915, the South Carolina Shipbuilding Corporation was established in Charleston. The corporation was tasked with building and repairing vessels for the United States Navy during World War I, and played a crucial role in the war effort.

4. December 9, 1945, marked the opening of the first modern movie theater in Greenville, South Carolina. The theater, called the Center Theater, featured state-of-the-art sound and projection systems, and quickly became a popular destination for movie-goers in the area.

5. On December 9, 1922, the South Carolina Gamecocks football team won their first Southern Conference championship with a victory over the Clemson Tigers. This historic win helped to establish the Gamecocks as a major football program in the South, and remains a point of pride for South Carolina fans to this day.