March 10

Thursday 10, 2005:

In Edmonton, Alberta, the largest memorial (of its kind) in Canadian history was held for four RCMP constables who were gunned down March 3, 2005.

Wednesday 10, 2004:

Six Flags sells 8 of its theme parks to private investors.

Friday 10, 2000:

The NASDAQ stock market index peaks at 5048.62, signaling the beginning of the end of the dot-com boom.

Tuesday 10, 1998:

American troops stationed in the Persian Gulf begin to receive the first vaccinations against anthrax.

Sunday 10, 1996:

The "Summit of Peacemakers" takes place in Egypt.

Sunday 10, 1991:

540,000 American troops begin to leave the Persian Gulf.

Saturday 10, 1990:

In Haiti, Prosper Avril is ousted 18 months after seizing power in a coup.

Tuesday 10, 1987:

Reproductive rights: The Holy See condemns the practice of surrogate motherhood, along with test-tube babies and artificial insemination.

Wednesday 10, 1982:

Syzygy: all 9 planets align on the same side of the Sun.

Thursday 10, 1977:

Rings of Uranus: Astronomers discover rings around Uranus.

Monday 10, 1975:

Vietnam War: North Vietnamese troops attack Ban Me Thout, South Vietnam, on their way to capturing Saigon.

Tuesday 10, 1970:

Vietnam War: Capt. Ernest Medina is charged with My Lai war crimes

Monday 10, 1969:

In Memphis, Tennessee, James Earl Ray pleads guilty to assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. Ray would later retract his guilty plea.

Thursday 10, 1966:

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands marries Claus von Amsberg.

Tuesday 10, 1964:

The Ford Mustang is first produced by the Ford Motor Company.

Monday 10, 1952:

Fulgencio Batista leads a successful coup in Cuba

Saturday 10, 1951:

Henri Queuille becomes Prime Minister of France

Saturday 10, 1945:

The U.S. Army Air Force firebombs Tokyo, and the resulting firestorm kills more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians.

Friday 10, 1933:

An earthquake in Long Beach, California kills 120 people.

Wednesday 10, 1926:

The first Book-of-the-Month-Club selection is produced

Sunday 10, 1912:

Yuan Shikai is sworn in as the second Provisional President of the Republic of China.

Monday 10, 1902:

Tochangri, Turkey, is completely destroyed by an earthquake.

Friday 10, 1893:

Côte d'Ivoire becomes a French colony.

Tuesday 10, 1891:

Almon Strowger, an undertaker in Topeka Kansas, patents the strowger switch, a device which led to the automation of telephone circuit switching.

Wednesday 10, 1880:

Members of the Salvation Army land in the United States and begin operations.

Friday 10, 1876:

Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call by saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."

Thursday 10, 1864:

American Civil War: The Red River Campaign begins as Union troops reach Alexandria, Louisiana.

Sunday 10, 1861:

El Hadj Umar Tall seizes the city of Segou, destroying the Bambara Empire of Mali.

Friday 10, 1848:

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is ratified by the United States Senate, ending the Mexican-American War.

Thursday 10, 1831:

The French Foreign Legion is established by King Louis-Philippe to support his war in Algeria.

Thursday 10, 1814:

Napoleon I of France is defeated at the Battle of Laon in France.

Saturday 10, 1804:

Louisiana Purchase: In St. Louis, a formal ceremony is conducted to transfer ownership of Louisiana Territory from France to the United States.

Saturday 10, 1629:

Charles I of England dissolves Parliament, starting the Eleven Years Tyranny in which there was no parliament.

Tuesday 10, 1496:

Christopher Columbus leaves Hispaniola for Spain, ending his second visit to the Western Hemisphere.

Monday 10, -241:

The Romans sinks the Carthaginian fleet; end of First Punic War.

More on March, 10

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