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On This Day in History — April 10
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Highlights of April 10
- 2019 — Scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope project released the first image of the black hole at the center of the galaxy M87. Read more
- 2009 — Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo announced that he had suspended the constitution and assumed all governance in the country after it was ruled that the government of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was illegal. Read more
- 1992 — First Nagorno-Karabakh War: Dozens of Armenian civilians were massacred in the village of Maraga by Azerbaijani forces. Read more
- 1973 — In the deadliest aviation accident in Swiss history, Invicta International Airlines Flight 435 crashed into a hillside near Hochwald, killing 108 people of 145 on board. Read more
- 1970 — In the midst of business disagreements with his bandmates, Paul McCartney announced his departure from the Beatles. Read more
- 1963 — The U.S. Navy nuclear submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593) sank with all hands lost during deep-diving tests in the North Atlantic Ocean. Read more
- 1944 — The Holocaust: Slovak Jewish prisoners Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler escaped from Auschwitz, later publishing a report that became one of the earliest and most detailed descriptions of the camp's mass killings. Read more
- 1925 — The Great Gatsby (cover pictured), a novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, was first published by Scribner's. Read more
- 1919 — Mexican Revolution leader Emiliano Zapata was shot to death near Ciudad Ayala, Morelos. Read more
- 1866 — The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in New York City by Henry Bergh. Read more
- 1858 — Big Ben, the bell in the Palace of Westminster's clock tower in London, was cast after the original bell cracked during testing. Read more
- 1815 — Mount Tambora (pictured) in Indonesia began the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history, killing at least 71,000 people and affecting temperatures worldwide. Read more
- 1809 — Napoleonic Wars: The War of the Fifth Coalition began with the Austrian invasion of Bavaria, then a client state of France. Read more
- 1741 — War of the Austrian Succession: Prussian forces defeated Austrian troops at the Battle of Mollwitz in present-day Małujowice, Poland, cementing Frederick II's authority over the newly conquered territory of Silesia. Read more
- 1724 — Bach led the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig. Read more
- 847 — Pope Leo IV was consecrated without imperial consent following the Saracen sack of Rome. Read more
Events
- 2023 — A mass shooting occurs at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, that leaves five victims dead and eight wounded. Read more
- 2016 — The Paravur temple accident, in which a devastating fire caused by the explosion of firecrackers stored for Vishu kills more than one hundred people out of the thousands gathered for the seventh day of Bhadrakali worship. Read more
- 2016 — An earthquake of 6.6 magnitude strikes 39 km west-southwest of Ashkasham, impacting India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Srinagar and Pakistan. Read more
- 2010 — Polish Air Force Tu-154M crashes near Smolensk, Russia, killing 96 people, including Polish President Lech Kaczyński, his wife, and dozens of other senior officials and dignitaries. Read more
- 2009 — President of Fiji Ratu Josefa Iloilo announces the abrogation of the constitution and assumes all governance in the country, creating a constitutional crisis. Read more
- 1998 — The Good Friday Agreement is signed in Northern Ireland. Read more
- 1991 — Italian ferry MS Moby Prince collides with an oil tanker in dense fog off Livorno, Italy, killing 140. Read more
- 1991 — A rare tropical storm develops in the South Atlantic Ocean near Angola, the first to be documented by satellites. Read more
- 1988 — The Ojhri Camp explosion kills or injures more than 1,000 people in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Read more
- 1981 — Imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands is elected to Westminster as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He died twenty-six days later. Read more
- 1979 — Red River Valley tornado outbreak: A tornado lands in Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people. Read more
- 1973 — Invicta International Airlines Flight 435 crashes in a snowstorm on approach to Basel, Switzerland, killing 108 people. Read more
- 1972 — Tombs containing bamboo slips, among them Sun Tzu's Art of War and Sun Bin's lost military treatise, are discovered by construction workers in Shandong. Read more
- 1972 — Vietnam War: For the first time since November 1967, American B-52 bombers reportedly begin bombing North Vietnam. Read more
- 1970 — Paul McCartney announces that he is leaving The Beatles for personal and professional reasons. Read more
- 1968 — The TEV Wahine, a New Zealand ferry, sinks in Wellington harbour due to a fierce storm – the strongest winds ever in Wellington. Out of the 734 people on board, fifty-three died. Read more
- 1963 — One hundred twenty-nine American sailors die when the submarine USS Thresher sinks at sea. Read more
- 1944 — Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler escape from Birkenau death camp. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: The Axis powers establish the Independent State of Croatia. Read more
- 1925 — The Russian city of Tsaritsyn is renamed Stalingrad to honor the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Soviet Communist Party General Secretary, who had guided the defense of Tsaritsyn during the Russian Civil War in 1920. Read more
- 1919 — Mexican Revolution leader Emiliano Zapata is ambushed and shot dead by government forces in Morelos. Read more
- 1919 — The Third Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents is held by the Makhnovshchina at Huliaipole. Read more
- 1912 — RMS Titanic sets sail from Southampton, UK, on her maiden and only voyage. Read more
- 1900 — British suffer a sharp defeat by the Boers south of Brandfort. Six hundred British troops are killed and wounded and 800 taken prisoner. Read more
- 1896 — Summer Olympics: The Olympic marathon is run ending with the victory of Greek athlete Spyridon Louis. Read more
- 1887 — On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIII authorizes the establishment of the Catholic University of America. Read more
- 1872 — The first Arbor Day is celebrated in Nebraska. Read more
- 1868 — At Arogee in Abyssinia, British and Indian forces defeat an army of Emperor Tewodros II. While 700 Ethiopians are killed and many more injured, only two British/Indian troops die. Read more
- 1866 — The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by Henry Bergh. Read more
- 1865 — American Civil War: A day after his surrender to Union forces, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his troops for the last time. Read more
- 1864 — Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg is proclaimed emperor of Mexico during the French intervention in Mexico. Read more
- 1858 — After the original Big Ben, a 14.5 tonnes (32,000 lb) bell for the Palace of Westminster, had cracked during testing, it is recast into the current 13.76 tonnes (30,300 lb) bell by Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Read more
- 1826 — The 10,500 inhabitants of the Greek town of Missolonghi begin leaving the town after a year's siege by Turkish forces. Very few of them survive. Read more
- 1821 — Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople is hanged by the Ottoman government from the main gate of the Patriarchate and his body is thrown into the Bosphorus. Read more
- 1821 — Greek War of Independence: the island of Psara joins the Greek struggle for independence. Read more
- 1816 — The Federal government of the United States approves the creation of the Second Bank of the United States. Read more
- 1815 — The Mount Tambora volcano begins a three-month-long eruption, lasting until July 15. The eruption ultimately kills 71,000 people and affects Earth's climate for the next two years. Read more
- 1814 — Allied forces under the Duke of Wellington attack Toulouse held by Marshall Soult, driving out the French after fierce fighting. Read more
- 1809 — Napoleonic Wars: The War of the Fifth Coalition begins when forces of the Austrian Empire invade Bavaria. Read more
- 1796 — War of the First Coalition: A surprise Austrian attack at the Battle of Voltri marks the beginning of the Italian Campaign, the decisive campaign under Napoleon Bonaparte that will end the war a year later. Read more
- 1741 — War of the Austrian Succession: Prussia gains control of Silesia at the Battle of Mollwitz. Read more
- 1724 — Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig. Read more
- 1717 — Robert Walpole resigns from the British government, commencing the Whig Split which lasts until 1720. Read more
- 1710 — The Statute of Anne, the first law regulating copyright, comes into force in Great Britain. Read more
- 1606 — The Virginia Company of London is established by royal charter by James I of England with the purpose of establishing colonial settlements in North America. Read more
- 1545 — The settlement of Villa Imperial de Carlos V (now the city of Potosí) in Bolivia is founded after the discovery of huge silver deposits in the area. Read more
- 1500 — Ludovico Sforza is captured by Swiss troops at Novara and is handed over to the French. Read more
- 1407 — Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama visits the Ming dynasty capital at Nanjing and is awarded the title "Great Treasure Prince of Dharma". Read more
- 847 — Election of Pope Leo IV following the death of Pope Sergius II. Read more
- 837 — Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth at a distance equal to 0.0342 AU (5.1 million kilometres/3.2 million miles). Read more
- 428 — Nestorius becomes the Patriarch of Constantinople. Read more
- 238 — During the year of Six Emperors, forces of Gordian I and Gordian II are defeated by those of Maximinus Thrax in the battle of Carthage. Read more
Born on April 10
- 2004 — Ismaël Gharbi, French-Spanish footballer Read more
- 2004 — Savinho, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 2000 — Fidias Panayiotou, Cypriot internet celebrity and politician Read more
- 1997 — Claire Wineland, American activist and author (died 2018) Read more
- 1996 — Andreas Christensen, Danish footballer Read more
- 1994 — Siobhan Hunter, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1992 — Jack Buchanan, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1992 — Chaz Mostert, Australian racing driver Read more
- 1992 — Daisy Ridley, English actress Read more
- 1990 — Ben Amos, English footballer Read more
- 1990 — Andile Jali, South African footballer Read more
- 1990 — Alex Pettyfer, English actor Read more
- 1989 — Charlie Culberson, American baseball player Read more
- 1988 — Chris Heston, American baseball pitcher Read more
- 1988 — Kareem Jackson, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Haley Joel Osment, American actor Read more
- 1988 — Jan-Phillip Tadsen, German politician Read more
- 1987 — Ahmed Adel Abdel Moneam, Egyptian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Adam Friedland, American comedian Read more
- 1987 — Hayley Westenra, New Zealand soprano Read more
- 1986 — Olivia Borlée, Belgian sprinter Read more
- 1986 — Fernando Gago, Argentine footballer and manager Read more
- 1986 — Corey Kluber, American baseball pitcher Read more
- 1986 — Vincent Kompany, Belgian footballer and manager Read more
- 1986 — Tore Reginiussen, Norwegian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Barkhad Abdi, Somali-American actor and director Read more
- 1985 — Willo Flood, Irish footballer Read more
- 1985 — Jesús Gámez, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1985 — Dion Phaneuf, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1984 — Faustina Agolley, Australian television host Read more
- 1984 — Jeremy Barrett, American figure skater Read more
- 1984 — Mandy Moore, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
- 1984 — David Obua, Ugandan footballer Read more
- 1984 — Damien Perquis, French-Polish footballer Read more
- 1984 — Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez, Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Jamie Chung, American actress Read more
- 1983 — Andrew Dost, American guitarist and songwriter Read more
- 1983 — Ryan Merriman, American actor Read more
- 1983 — Hannes Sigurðsson, Icelandic footballer Read more
- 1982 — Andre Ethier, American baseball player Read more
Died on April 10
- 2026 — Eliot Engel, American politician (born 1947) Read more
- 2026 — Anja Hatakka, Finnish actress and beauty pageant competitor (born 1938) Read more
- 2026 — Sid Krofft, Canadian-American puppeteer and producer (born 1929) Read more
- 2026 — Browning Nagle, American football player (born 1968) Read more
- 2025 — Leo Beenhakker, Dutch football manager (born 1942) Read more
- 2025 — Ted Kotcheff, Canadian film and television director (born 1931) Read more
- 2025 — Peter Lovesey, British writer (born 1936) Read more
- 2024 — O. J. Simpson, American football player, actor, and broadcaster (born 1947) Read more
- 2023 — Al Jaffee, American cartoonist (born 1921) Read more
- 2016 — Howard Marks, Welsh cannabis smuggler, writer, and legalisation campaigner (born 1945) Read more
- 2015 — Richie Benaud, Australian cricketer and sportscaster (born 1930) Read more
- 2015 — Rose Francine Rogombé, Gabonese lawyer and politician, President of Gabon (born 1942) Read more
- 2015 — Peter Walsh, Australian farmer and politician, 6th Australian Minister for Finance (born 1935) Read more
- 2013 — Robert Edwards, English physiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Gordon Thomas, English cyclist (born 1921) Read more
- 2012 — Raymond Aubrac, French engineer and activist (born 1914) Read more
- 2012 — Barbara Buchholz, German theremin player and composer (born 1959) Read more
- 2012 — Lili Chookasian, Armenian-American operatic singer (born 1921) Read more
- 2012 — Luis Aponte Martínez, Puerto Rican cardinal (born 1922) Read more
- 2012 — Akin Omoboriowo, Nigerian lawyer and politician (born 1932) Read more
- 2010 — Casualties in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash included: Read more
- 2010 — Casualties in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash included: Read more
- 2010 — Casualties in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash included: Read more
- 2010 — Casualties in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash included: Read more
- 2010 — Dixie Carter, American actress and singer (born 1939) Read more
- 2009 — Deborah Digges, American poet and educator (born 1950) Read more
- 2009 — Ioannis Patakis, Greek politician (born 1940) Read more
- 2007 — Charles Philippe Leblond, French-Canadian biologist and academic (born 1910) Read more
- 2007 — Dakota Staton, American singer (born 1930) Read more
- 2006 — Kleitos Kyrou, Greek poet and translator (born 1921) Read more
- 2005 — Norbert Brainin, Austrian violinist (born 1923) Read more
- 2005 — Scott Gottlieb, American drummer (born 1970) Read more
- 2005 — Archbishop Iakovos of America (born 1911) Read more
- 2005 — Al Lucas, American football player (born 1978) Read more
- 2005 — Wally Tax, Dutch singer-songwriter (born 1948) Read more
- 2004 — Jacek Kaczmarski, Polish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and poet (born 1957) Read more
- 2004 — Sakıp Sabancı, Turkish businessman and philanthropist, founded Sabancı Holding (born 1933) Read more
- 2003 — Little Eva, American singer (born 1943) Read more
- 2000 — Peter Jones, English actor and screenwriter (born 1920) Read more
- 2000 — Larry Linville, American actor (born 1939) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Blessed Anthony Neyrot; Christian feast day:
Fulbert of Chartres; Christian feast day:
James, Azadanus and Abdicius; Christian feast day:
Magdalene of Canossa; Christian feast day:
Mikael Agricola (Lutheran); Christian feast day:
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day:
William of Ockham (Anglicanism); Christian feast day:
William Law (Anglicanism); Christian feast day:
April 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of the Builder (Azerbaijan); Feast of the Third Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema); Siblings Day (International observance)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “April 10”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.