May 10

Tuesday 10, 2005:

A live hand grenade lands about 100 feet from United States President George W. Bush while he is giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, but malfunctions and does not detonate.

Saturday 10, 2003:

May 2003 tornado outbreak ends.

Friday 10, 2002:

Lynda Lyon Block is executed in Yellow Mama, the electric chair of Alabama.

Thursday 10, 2001:

In Ghana, a stampede at a football game kills over 120 spectators.

Sunday 10, 1998:

National elections are held in Hungary.

Saturday 10, 1997:

An earthquake near Ardekul in northeastern Iran kills at least 2,400 people.

Friday 10, 1996:

A "rogue storm" near the summit of Mount Everest kills eight climbers, making this the deadliest day in the mountain's history. Among the dead are experienced climbers Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, both of whom were leading paid expeditions to the summit.

Tuesday 10, 1994:

An annular eclipse of the sun is visible across much of North America.

Tuesday 10, 1988:

Michel Rocard becomes Prime Minister of France.

Sunday 10, 1981:

François Mitterrand takes office as the first Socialist President of France.

Thursday 10, 1979:

The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing.

Saturday 10, 1969:

The first "Zip to Zap" rural outdoor rock concert at Zap, North Dakota, is ended prematurely as North Dakota National Guard is ordered to disperse the unruly crowd.

Tuesday 10, 1960:

The nuclear submarine USS Triton completes the first underwater circumnavigation of the earth.

Monday 10, 1954:

Bill Haley and the Comets release "Rock Around the Clock", the first rock and roll record to reach number one on the charts.

Saturday 10, 1941:

World War II: Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland in order to try and negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Nazi Germany.

Friday 10, 1940:

World War II: Winston Churchill appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Wednesday 10, 1933:

Censorship: In Germany, the Nazis stage massive public book burnings.

Saturday 10, 1924:

J. Edgar Hoover is appointed the Director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, and remains so until his death in 1972.

Sunday 10, 1908:

Mother's Day is observed for the first time (Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, USA).

Thursday 10, 1877:

Romania declares itself independent from Turkey, recognized on March 26, 1881 after the end of the Romanian independence war.

Friday 10, 1872:

Victoria Woodhull becomes the first woman nominated for President of the United States.

Monday 10, 1869:

The First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah (not Promontory Point, Utah).

Wednesday 10, 1865:

American Civil War: Union soldiers ambush and mortally wound Confederate raider William Quantrill in Kentucky (he lingered until his death on June 6).

Sunday 10, 1857:

Indian Mutiny: In India, the Sepoys revolt against the British Army.

Wednesday 10, 1837:

Panic of 1837: New York City banks fail, and unemployment reaches record levels.

Sunday 10, 1801:

First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States.

Tuesday 10, 1796:

First Coalition: Napoleon I of France wins a decisive victory against Austrian forces at Lodi bridge over the River Adda in Italy. The Austrians lose some 2,000 men.

Wednesday 10, 1775:

American Revolutionary War: Representatives from the 13 colonies of the United States meet in Philadelphia and raise the Continental Army to defend the new republic. They place it under command of Cavalier George Washington of Virginia.

Tuesday 10, 1774:

Louis XVI becomes King of France.

Tuesday 10, 1768:

John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for the North Briton severely criticizing King George III. This action provokes rioting in London.

Thursday 10, 1534:

Jacques Cartier visits Newfoundland.

Sunday 10, 1503:

Christopher Columbus visits the Cayman Islands and names them Las Tortugas after the numerous sea turtles there.

Monday 10, 1497:

Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World.

Thursday 10, 1291:

Scottish nobles recognize the authority of King Edward I of England.

More on May, 10

• People Born on May, 10
• They left us on May, 10