On This Day - What Happened On May 10 | Britannica

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1994 Nelson Mandela inaugurated as president of South Africa Nelson Mandela, whose efforts to end apartheid led to his imprisonment (1962–90) and earned him a share (with F.W. de Klerk) of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, became president of South Africa this day in 1994. © Joao Silva—AAI Fotostock/age fotostock

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Fred Astaire American dancer and singer bornMay 10, 1899Omaha, NebraskadiedJune 22, 1987 (aged 88)Los Angeles, California© 1936 RKO Radio Pictures Inc. 1965 Linda Evangelista Canadian fashion model 1960 Bono Irish singer 1946 Donovan Scottish singer-songwriter 1899 Fred Astaire American dancer and singer 1890 Alfred Jodl German general See All Biographies On This Day

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2013 A spire was installed on One World Trade Center in Manhattan, taking its height to 1,776 feet (541 meters) and making it the tallest building in the United States.© aluxum—iStock/Getty Images 2002 FBI agent Robert Hanssen was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to spying for Moscow; he was one of the Soviet Union's and Russia's most-valuable double agents and the most-damaging spy ever to penetrate the FBI. Read about 10 famous names in the espionage game 1999 Cartoonist, children's author, poet, and playwright Shel Silverstein, who was best known for his light verse and quirky cartoons, died at age 68. Test your knowledge of children's authorsCSU Archive/Everett Collection/Alamy 1962 Marvel Comics released the first issue of The Incredible Hulk; the towering muscle-bound antihero was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. What are all of the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?Universal Studios/Marvel Entertainment 1960 Musician and human rights activist Bono, who was the lead singer of the popular rock band U2, was born in Dublin, Ireland. Take our quiz about pop music© Brill—ullstein bild/Getty Images 1940 Germany invaded Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands during World War II. Test your knowledge of Germany and World War II 1940 After losing the support of many Conservatives in the House of Commons, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned his office and was replaced by Winston Churchill. Take our quiz about notable prime ministersFSA-Office of War Information Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-USW33-019093-C) 1924 J. Edgar Hoover was made acting director of the FBI and later in the year became director; he built the agency into an effective, at times controversial, arm of U.S. federal law enforcement. Read how Hoover described the FBI in an article he wrote for Encyclopædia Britannica in 1956© Jonathan Weiss/Dreamstime.com 1872 American reformer Victoria Woodhull became the first woman to be nominated for president when the Equal Rights Party selected her as its candidate. Read about seven female firsts in U.S. politicsBilly Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library 1869 The tracks of the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific were joined at Promontory, Utah, to form the first transcontinental railway in the United States. Test your knowledge of U.S. historyLibrary of Congress, Washington, D.C. 1865 Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, was captured by Union troops near Irwinville, Georgia. How much do you know about the American Civil War?Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com 1857 The Indian Rebellion began in Meerut in response to a military crackdown on Indian troops by their British officers as well as, more broadly, British dominance in the political, economic, and cultural life of India. Explore a timeline of the Indian Independence Movement© Photos.com/Getty Images 1838 John Wilkes Booth, who would assassinate President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, was born near Bel Air, Maryland. Read about nine infamous assassins and the world leaders they dispatchedCopyright © 2008 by Dover Publications, Inc. Electronic image © 2008 Dover Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. 1818 Paul Revere—a folk hero of the American Revolution known for his dramatic horseback ride in 1775, warning Boston-area residents that the British were coming—died in Boston. Take our quiz about famous Americans© SuperStock 1775 The Green Mountain Boys, under the joint command of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, captured the British-controlled Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolution. How much do you know about the American Revolution?Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (cph 3a47655) 1774 Louis XVI acceded to the throne of France, and his wife, Marie-Antoinette, became queen consort; later they both were beheaded during the French Revolution. Test your knowledge of French historyFine Art Images/age fotostock SIGN UP FOR History's Biggest Headlines Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors. SIGN UP Thanks for signing up for Today in History. Your first newsletter will arrive soon! SIGN UP By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.