On This Day: 10 May

10 May in Indian history

• 1857Indian Rebellion of 1857: In India, the first war of Independence begins. Sepoys mutiny against their commanding officers at Meerut.India
• 1773The 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.India
• 1627Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts was appointed governor of Formosa (modern-day Taiwan) by the Dutch East India Company.India

10 May in world history

• 2017Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces, assisted by the U.S. military, captured the Tabqa Dam and surrounding countryside, completing the Battle of Tabqa.
• 2013One World Trade Center in New York City, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, was topped out at a height of 1,776 feet (541 m).
• 2012Suicide bombers detonated two car bombs outside a military intelligence complex in Damascus, killing 55 people.
• 2005A 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.
• 1997An earthquake registering 7.3 Mw struck near Qaen, Iran, killing at least 1,567 and leaving around 50,000 others homeless.
• 1969Vietnam War: The Battle of Dong Ap Bia begins with an assault on Hill 937. It will ultimately become known as Hamburger Hill.
• 1940World 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
• 1933Censorship: In Germany, the Nazis stage massive public book burnings.
• 1922The United States annexes the Kingman Reef.
• 1881Carol I is crowned the King of the Romanian Kingdom.
• 1869The First transcontinental railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory with the golden spike.
• 1849Astor 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.
• 1801First 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.
• 1796War 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.
• 1775American 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.

Born on 10 May

• 1963Lisa Nowak, American commander and astronaut
• 1960Dean Heller, American lawyer and politician, United States Senator from Nevada
• 1958Rick Santorum, American lawyer and politician, United States Senator from Pennsylvania
• 1942Jim Calhoun, American basketball player and coach
• 1878Gustav Stresemann, German journalist and politician, Chancellor of Germany, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1929)
• 1855Yukteswar Giri, Indian guru and educator (died 1936)India

Died on 10 May

• 2002Kaifi Azmi, Indian poet and songwriter (born 1919)India
• 2001Sudhakarrao Naik, Indian politician, Governor of Himachal Pradesh (born 1934)India
• 1977Joan Crawford, American actress (year of birth disputed)
• 1945Richard Glücks, German SS officer (born 1889)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 10 May in history?

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. 2013: One World Trade Center in New York City, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, was topped out at a height of 1,776 feet (541 m). 2012: Suicide bombers detonated two car bombs outside a military intelligence complex in Damascus, killing 55 people. 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.

What happened on 10 May in Indian history?

1857: Indian Rebellion of 1857: In India, the first war of Independence begins. Sepoys mutiny against their commanding officers at Meerut. 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. 1627: Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts was appointed governor of Formosa (modern-day Taiwan) by the Dutch East India Company.

Which famous people were born on 10 May?

Lisa Nowak, American commander and astronaut (1963); Dean Heller, American lawyer and politician, United States Senator from Nevada (1960); Rick Santorum, American lawyer and politician, United States Senator from Pennsylvania (1958); Jim Calhoun, American basketball player and coach (1942).

Which day is observed on 10 May?

Children's Day (Maldives); 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).