On This Day in History — May 10

Highlights of May 10

• 2017 — Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces, assisted by the U.S. military, captured the Tabqa Dam and surrounding countryside, completing the Battle of Tabqa. Read more
• 2013 — One World Trade Center (pictured) in New York City, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, was topped out at a height of 1,776 feet (541 m). Read more
• 2012 — Suicide bombers detonated two car bombs outside a military intelligence complex in Damascus, killing 55 people. Read more
• 2005 — Vladimir Arutyunian attempted to assassinate U.S. president George W. Bush and Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi using a hand grenade, which failed to detonate. Read more
• 1997 — An earthquake registering 7.3 Mw struck near Qaen, Iran, killing at least 1,567 and leaving around 50,000 others homeless. Read more
• 1994 — American serial killer John Wayne Gacy was executed by lethal injection for the murders of twelve teenage boys and young men in a series of killings committed between 1972 and 1978. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: German Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess (pictured) parachuted into Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with the British government. Read more
• 1940 — British prime minister Neville Chamberlain resigned and formally recommended Winston Churchill as his successor. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: German forces commenced their invasion of Belgium. Read more
• 1933 — As part of Nazi Germany's persecution of transgender people, thousands of books taken from the Institute for Sexual Science were burned in Bebelplatz square for being "un-German". Read more
• 1849 — A personal dispute between actors Edwin Forrest and William Macready in New York City devolved into a riot that left at least 22 dead and more than 120 injured. Read more
• 1833 — Siamese–Vietnamese wars: Lê Văn Khôi escaped from prison to begin a revolt against Emperor Minh Mạng, primarily to avenge his adoptive father, Vietnamese general Lê Văn Duyệt. Read more
• 1801 — First Barbary War: The Barbary corsairs of Tripoli declared war on the United States by cutting down the flagstaff in front of the U.S. consulate. Read more
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: A small force of Patriots led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured Fort Ticonderoga in New York, without significant injury or incident. Read more
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: Delegates from the Thirteen Colonies met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to convene the Second Continental Congress, which would serve as the de facto national government of the future United States. Read more
• 1627 — Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts was appointed governor of Formosa (modern-day Taiwan) by the Dutch East India Company. Read more
• 28 BC — Chinese astronomers during the Han dynasty made the first precisely dated observation of a sunspot. Read more

Events

• 2024 — Start of the May 2024 solar storms, the most powerful set of geomagnetic storms since the 2003 Halloween solar storms. Read more
• 2022 — Queen Elizabeth II misses the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years. It was the first time that a new session of Parliament was opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge acting as Counsellors of State. Read more
• 2017 — Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capture the last footholds of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Al-Tabqah, bringing the Battle of Tabqa to an end. Read more
• 2013 — One World Trade Center becomes the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Read more
• 2012 — The Damascus bombings are carried out using a pair of car bombs detonated by suicide bombers outside a military intelligence complex in Damascus, Syria, killing 55 people. Read more
• 2005 — A hand grenade thrown by Vladimir Arutyunian lands about 20 m from U.S. President George W. Bush while he is giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, but it malfunctions and does not detonate. Read more
• 2002 — FBI agent Robert Hanssen is sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for selling United States secrets to Russia for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds. Read more
• 1997 — The 7.3 Mw Qayen earthquake strikes Iran's Khorasan Province killing 1,567 people. Read more
• 1996 — A blizzard strikes Mount Everest, killing eight climbers by the next day. Read more
• 1994 — Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first black president. Read more
• 1993 — In Thailand, a fire at the Kader Toy Factory kills over 200 workers. Read more
• 1975 — Sony introduces the Betamax videocassette recorder. Read more
• 1969 — Vietnam War: The Battle of Dong Ap Bia begins with an assault on Hill 937. It will ultimately become known as Hamburger Hill. Read more
• 1967 — The Northrop M2-F2 crashes on landing, becoming the inspiration for the novel Cyborg and TV series The Six Million Dollar Man. Read more
• 1962 — Marvel Comics publishes the first issue of The Incredible Hulk. Read more
• 1961 — Air France Flight 406 is destroyed by a bomb over the Sahara, killing 78. Read more
• 1946 — First successful launch of an American V-2 rocket at White Sands Proving Ground. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The Thai Phayap Army invades the Shan States during the Burma Campaign. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: The House of Commons in London is damaged by the Luftwaffe in an air raid. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland to try to negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Nazi Germany. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: German fighters accidentally bomb the German city of Freiburg. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Winston Churchill is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. On the same day, Germany invades France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom occupies Iceland. Read more
• 1933 — Censorship: In Germany, the Nazis stage massive public book burnings. Read more
• 1924 — J. Edgar Hoover is appointed first Director of the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and remains so until his death in 1972. Read more
• 1922 — The United States annexes the Kingman Reef. Read more
• 1916 — Sailing in the lifeboat James Caird, Ernest Shackleton arrives at South Georgia after a journey of 800 nautical miles from Elephant Island. Read more
• 1908 — Mother's Day is observed for the first time in the United States, in Grafton, West Virginia. Read more
• 1904 — The Horch & Cir. Motorwagenwerke AG is founded. It would eventually become the Audi company. Read more
• 1899 — Finnish farmworker Karl Emil Malmelin kills seven people with an axe at the Simola croft in the village of Klaukkala. Read more
• 1881 — Carol I is crowned the King of the Romanian Kingdom. Read more
• 1876 — The Centennial Exposition is opened in Philadelphia. Read more
• 1872 — Victoria Woodhull becomes the first woman nominated for President of the United States. Read more
• 1869 — The First transcontinental railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory with the golden spike. Read more
• 1865 — American Civil War: In Kentucky, Union soldiers ambush and mortally wound Confederate raider William Quantrill, who lingers until his death on June 6. Read more
• 1857 — Indian Rebellion of 1857: In India, the first war of Independence begins. Sepoys mutiny against their commanding officers at Meerut. Read more
• 1849 — Astor Place Riot: A riot breaks out at the Astor Opera House in Manhattan, New York City over a dispute between actors Edwin Forrest and William Charles Macready, killing at least 22 and injuring over 120. Read more
• 1837 — Panic of 1837: New York City banks suspend the payment of specie, triggering a national banking crisis and an economic depression whose severity was not surpassed until the Great Depression. Read more
• 1833 — A revolt broke out in southern Vietnam against Emperor Minh Mang, who had desecrated the deceased mandarin Le Van Duyet. Read more
• 1824 — The National Gallery in London opens to the public. Read more
• 1801 — First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America. Read more
• 1796 — War of the First Coalition: Napoleon wins a victory against Austrian forces at Lodi bridge over the Adda River in Italy. The Austrians lose some 2,000 men. Read more
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captures Fort Ticonderoga. Read more
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: The Second Continental Congress takes place in Philadelphia. Read more
• 1774 — Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France. Read more
• 1773 — The Parliament of Great Britain passes the Tea Act, designed to save the British East India Company by reducing taxes on its tea and granting it the right to sell tea directly to North America. The legislation leads to the Boston Tea Party. Read more
• 1768 — Rioting occurs in London after John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for The North Briton severely criticising King George III. Read more
• 1713 — Great Northern War: The Russian Navy led by Admiral Fyodor Apraksin land both at Katajanokka and Hietalahti during the Battle of Helsinki. Read more
• 1688 — King Narai nominates Phetracha as regent, leading to the revolution of 1688 in which Phetracha becomes king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Read more
• 1591 — Elizabeth I is entertained by the Hermit's Welcome at Theobalds. Read more
• 1534 — Jacques Cartier visits Newfoundland. Read more
• 1503 — Christopher Columbus visits the Cayman Islands and names them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there. Read more
• 1497 — Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World. Read more
• 1294 — Temür, Khagan of the Mongols, is enthroned as Emperor of the Yuan dynasty. Read more
• 1291 — Scottish nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England pending the selection of a king. Read more
• 946 — Alberic II of Spoleto arranges the election of pope Agapetus II following the death of Pope Marinus II. Read more
• 28 BC — A sunspot is observed by Han dynasty astronomers during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, one of the earliest dated sunspot observations in China. Read more

Born on May 10

• 2000 — Bae Jin-young, South Korean singer Read more
• 1997 — Brittany Broski, American comedian and singer Read more
• 1997 — Richarlison, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1996 — Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1996 — Tyus Jones, American basketball player Read more
• 1996 — Kateřina Siniaková, Czech tennis player Read more
• 1996 — Alex Tuch, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1995 — Andrew Anderson, American bowler Read more
• 1995 — Missy Franklin, American swimmer Read more
• 1995 — Gabriella Papadakis, French ice dancer Read more
• 1993 — Jake Zyrus, Filipino singer Read more
• 1990 — Salvador Pérez, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
• 1990 — Ivana Španović, Serbian long jumper Read more
• 1988 — Adam Lallana, English footballer Read more
• 1985 — Ryan Getzlaf, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1985 — Farah Jacquet, Belgian politician Read more
• 1985 — Jon Schofield, English canoe racer Read more
• 1984 — Edward Mujica, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
• 1982 — Adebayo Akinfenwa, English footballer Read more
• 1981 — Humberto Suazo, Chilean footballer Read more
• 1978 — Kenan Thompson, American actor and comedian Read more
• 1977 — Adrian Morley, English rugby league player Read more
• 1975 — Hazem Emam, Egyptian footballer and politician Read more
• 1975 — Hélio Castroneves, Brazilian race car driver Read more
• 1975 — Ueli Kestenholz, Swiss snowboarder (died 2026) Read more
• 1974 — Sylvain Wiltord, French footballer Read more
• 1970 — David Weir, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1969 — Dennis Bergkamp, Dutch footballer and manager Read more
• 1969 — John Scalzi, American author and blogger Read more
• 1968 — Al Murray, English comedian and television host Read more
• 1968 — William Regal, English wrestler Read more
• 1967 — Eion Crossan, New Zealand rugby player Read more
• 1966 — Jonathan Edwards, English triple jumper Read more
• 1965 — Linda Evangelista, Canadian model Read more
• 1965 — Greg Fasala, Australian swimmer Read more
• 1965 — Paul Langmack, Australian rugby league player and coach Read more
• 1963 — Lisa Nowak, American commander and astronaut Read more
• 1962 — Robby Thompson, American baseball player and coach Read more
• 1960 — Bono, Irish singer-songwriter, musician and activist Read more
• 1960 — Dean Heller, American lawyer and politician, United States Senator from Nevada Read more

Died on May 10

• 2024 — Sam Rubin, American journalist (born 1960) Read more
• 2024 — Jim Simons, American hedge fund manager, mathematician, and philanthropist (born 1938) Read more
• 2022 — Bob Lanier, American professional basketball player (born 1948) Read more
• 2022 — Leonid Kravchuk, Ukrainian politician (born 1934) Read more
• 2021 — Pauline Tinsley, British soprano (born 1928) Read more
• 2020 — Betty Wright, American soul singer (born 1953) Read more
• 2019 — Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, Spanish politician and chemist (born 1951) Read more
• 2018 — David Goodall, Australian botanist and ecologist (born 1914) Read more
• 2015 — Chris Burden, American sculptor, illustrator, and academic (born 1946) Read more
• 2012 — Horst Faas, German photographer and journalist (born 1933) Read more
• 2012 — Carroll Shelby, American race car driver and designer (born 1923) Read more
• 2012 — Gunnar Sønsteby, Norwegian captain and author (born 1918) Read more
• 2010 — Frank Frazetta, American illustrator and painter (born 1928) Read more
• 2008 — Leyla Gencer, Turkish soprano (born 1928) Read more
• 2006 — Soraya, Colombian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1969) Read more
• 2003 — Milan Vukcevich, Serbian-American chemist and chess player (born 1937) Read more
• 2002 — Kaifi Azmi, Indian poet and songwriter (born 1919) Read more
• 2002 — Yves Robert, French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1920) Read more
• 2001 — Sudhakarrao Naik, Indian politician, Governor of Himachal Pradesh (born 1934) Read more
• 2000 — Jules Deschênes, Canadian lawyer and judge (born 1923) Read more
• 2000 — Dick Sprang, American illustrator (born 1915) Read more
• 1999 — Shel Silverstein, American poet, author, and illustrator (born 1930) Read more
• 1994 — John Wayne Gacy, American serial killer (born 1942) Read more
• 1990 — Walker Percy, American novelist and essayist (born 1916) Read more
• 1989 — Dominik Tatarka, Slovak writer (born 1913) Read more
• 1988 — Shen Congwen, Chinese author and academic (born 1902) Read more
• 1982 — Peter Weiss, German playwright and painter (born 1916) Read more
• 1977 — Joan Crawford, American actress (year of birth disputed) Read more
• 1974 — Hal Mohr, American director and cinematographer (born 1894) Read more
• 1968 — Scotty Beckett, American actor and singer (born 1929) Read more
• 1965 — Hubertus van Mook, Dutch politician, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (born 1894) Read more
• 1964 — Mikhail Larionov, Russian painter, illustrator, and set designer (born 1881) Read more
• 1960 — Yury Olesha, Russian author, poet, and playwright (born 1899) Read more
• 1950 — Belle da Costa Greene, American librarian and bibliographer (born 1883) Read more
• 1945 — Richard Glücks, German SS officer (born 1889) Read more
• 1945 — Konrad Henlein, Czech soldier and politician (born 1898) Read more
• 1910 — Stanislao Cannizzaro, Italian chemist and academic (born 1826) Read more
• 1897 — Andrés Bonifacio, Filipino soldier and politician, President of the Philippines (born 1863) Read more
• 1891 — Carl Nägeli, Swiss botanist and mycologist (born 1817) Read more
• 1891 — Peter Ward, New York politician (born 1827) Read more

Holidays & observances

Children's Day (Maldives); Christian feast day: Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus; Christian feast day: Blessed Beatrice d'Este; Christian feast day: Calepodius; Christian feast day: Catald; Christian feast day: Comgall; Christian feast day: Damien of Molokai; Christian feast day: Blessed Ivan Merz; Christian feast day: Job (Roman Catholic Church); Christian feast day: John of Ávila; Christian feast day: Solange of Bourges; Christian feast day: May 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Confederate Memorial Day (North Carolina and South Carolina); Constitution Day (Micronesia); Earliest possible day on which Pentecost can fall, while June 13 is the latest; celebrated 50 days after Easter Day. (Christianity); Golden Spike Day (Promontory, Utah); Mother's Day (Guatemala, and Mexico)

More from the Almanac

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