Vintage News · Odd history for April 10

What Happened On April 10

Q: What happened on April 10?

1815: Mount Tambora (pictured) in Indonesia began the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history, killing at least 71,000 people and affecting temperatures worldwide. 1724: Bach led the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig. 847: Pope Leo IV was consecrated without imperial consent following the Saracen sack of Rome. 1887: On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIII authorizes the establishment of the Catholic University of America. 1872: The first Arbor Day is celebrated in Nebraska. 1865: American Civil War: A day after his surrender to Union forces, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his troops for the last time. 1815: The Mount Tambora volcano begins a three-month-long eruption, lasting until July 15. The eruption ultimately kills 71,000 people and affects Earth's climate for the next two years. 1796: War of the First Coalition: A surprise Austrian attack at the Battle of Voltri marks the beginning of the Italian Campaign, the decisive campaign under Napoleon Bonaparte that will end the war a year later. 1724: Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig. 1717: Robert Walpole resigns from the British government, commencing the Whig Split which lasts until 1720.

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10 odd things that happened on April 10

1815 Oddly true
Mount Tambora (pictured) in Indonesia began the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history, killing at least 71,000 people and affecting temperatures worldwide.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1724 First ever
Bach led the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
847 Oddly true
Pope Leo IV was consecrated without imperial consent following the Saracen sack of Rome.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1887 Oddly true
On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIII authorizes the establishment of the Catholic University of America.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1872 First ever
The first Arbor Day is celebrated in Nebraska.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1865 Oddly true
American Civil War: A day after his surrender to Union forces, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his troops for the last time.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1815 Oddly true
The Mount Tambora volcano begins a three-month-long eruption, lasting until July 15. The eruption ultimately kills 71,000 people and affects Earth's climate for the next two years.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1796 First ever
War of the First Coalition: A surprise Austrian attack at the Battle of Voltri marks the beginning of the Italian Campaign, the decisive campaign under Napoleon Bonaparte that will end the war a year later.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1724 First ever
Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1717 Oddly true
Robert Walpole resigns from the British government, commencing the Whig Split which lasts until 1720.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

2023A mass shooting occurs at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, that leaves five victims dead and eight wounded. Wikipedia →
2016The Paravur temple accident, in which a devastating fire caused by the explosion of firecrackers stored for Vishu kills more than one hundred people out of the thousands gathered for the seventh day of Bhadrakali worship. Wikipedia →
2016An earthquake of 6.6 magnitude strikes 39 km west-southwest of Ashkasham, impacting India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Srinagar and Pakistan. Wikipedia →
2010Polish Air Force Tu-154M crashes near Smolensk, Russia, killing 96 people, including Polish President Lech Kaczyński, his wife, and dozens of other senior officials and dignitaries. Wikipedia →
2009President of Fiji Ratu Josefa Iloilo announces the abrogation of the constitution and assumes all governance in the country, creating a constitutional crisis. Wikipedia →
1998The Good Friday Agreement is signed in Northern Ireland. Wikipedia →
1991Italian ferry MS Moby Prince collides with an oil tanker in dense fog off Livorno, Italy, killing 140. Wikipedia →
1991A rare tropical storm develops in the South Atlantic Ocean near Angola, the first to be documented by satellites. Wikipedia →
1988The Ojhri Camp explosion kills or injures more than 1,000 people in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Wikipedia →
1981Imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands is elected to Westminster as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He died twenty-six days later. Wikipedia →
1979Red River Valley tornado outbreak: A tornado lands in Wichita Falls, Texas, killing 42 people. Wikipedia →
1973Invicta International Airlines Flight 435 crashes in a snowstorm on approach to Basel, Switzerland, killing 108 people. Wikipedia →
1972Tombs containing bamboo slips, among them Sun Tzu's Art of War and Sun Bin's lost military treatise, are discovered by construction workers in Shandong. Wikipedia →
1972Vietnam War: For the first time since November 1967, American B-52 bombers reportedly begin bombing North Vietnam. Wikipedia →
1970Paul McCartney announces that he is leaving The Beatles for personal and professional reasons. Wikipedia →
1968The TEV Wahine, a New Zealand ferry, sinks in Wellington harbour due to a fierce storm – the strongest winds ever in Wellington. Out of the 734 people on board, fifty-three died. Wikipedia →
1963One hundred twenty-nine American sailors die when the submarine USS Thresher sinks at sea. Wikipedia →
1944Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler escape from Birkenau death camp. Wikipedia →
1941World War II: The Axis powers establish the Independent State of Croatia. Wikipedia →
1925The Russian city of Tsaritsyn is renamed Stalingrad to honor the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Soviet Communist Party General Secretary, who had guided the defense of Tsaritsyn during the Russian Civil War in 1920. Wikipedia →
1919Mexican Revolution leader Emiliano Zapata is ambushed and shot dead by government forces in Morelos. Wikipedia →
1919The Third Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents is held by the Makhnovshchina at Huliaipole. Wikipedia →
1912RMS Titanic sets sail from Southampton, UK, on her maiden and only voyage. Wikipedia →
1900British suffer a sharp defeat by the Boers south of Brandfort. Six hundred British troops are killed and wounded and 800 taken prisoner. Wikipedia →
1896Summer Olympics: The Olympic marathon is run ending with the victory of Greek athlete Spyridon Louis. Wikipedia →
1887On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIII authorizes the establishment of the Catholic University of America. Wikipedia →
1872The first Arbor Day is celebrated in Nebraska. Wikipedia →
1868At Arogee in Abyssinia, British and Indian forces defeat an army of Emperor Tewodros II. While 700 Ethiopians are killed and many more injured, only two British/Indian troops die. Wikipedia →
1866The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by Henry Bergh. Wikipedia →
1865American Civil War: A day after his surrender to Union forces, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his troops for the last time. Wikipedia →
1864Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg is proclaimed emperor of Mexico during the French intervention in Mexico. Wikipedia →
1858After the original Big Ben, a 14.5 tonnes (32,000 lb) bell for the Palace of Westminster, had cracked during testing, it is recast into the current 13.76 tonnes (30,300 lb) bell by Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Wikipedia →
1826The 10,500 inhabitants of the Greek town of Missolonghi begin leaving the town after a year's siege by Turkish forces. Very few of them survive. Wikipedia →
1821Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople is hanged by the Ottoman government from the main gate of the Patriarchate and his body is thrown into the Bosphorus. Wikipedia →
1821Greek War of Independence: the island of Psara joins the Greek struggle for independence. Wikipedia →
1816The Federal government of the United States approves the creation of the Second Bank of the United States. Wikipedia →
1815The Mount Tambora volcano begins a three-month-long eruption, lasting until July 15. The eruption ultimately kills 71,000 people and affects Earth's climate for the next two years. Wikipedia →
1814Allied forces under the Duke of Wellington attack Toulouse held by Marshall Soult, driving out the French after fierce fighting. Wikipedia →
1809Napoleonic Wars: The War of the Fifth Coalition begins when forces of the Austrian Empire invade Bavaria. Wikipedia →
1796War of the First Coalition: A surprise Austrian attack at the Battle of Voltri marks the beginning of the Italian Campaign, the decisive campaign under Napoleon Bonaparte that will end the war a year later. Wikipedia →
1741War of the Austrian Succession: Prussia gains control of Silesia at the Battle of Mollwitz. Wikipedia →
1724Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig. Wikipedia →
1717Robert Walpole resigns from the British government, commencing the Whig Split which lasts until 1720. Wikipedia →
1710The Statute of Anne, the first law regulating copyright, comes into force in Great Britain. Wikipedia →
1606The Virginia Company of London is established by royal charter by James I of England with the purpose of establishing colonial settlements in North America. Wikipedia →
1545The settlement of Villa Imperial de Carlos V (now the city of Potosí) in Bolivia is founded after the discovery of huge silver deposits in the area. Wikipedia →
1500Ludovico Sforza is captured by Swiss troops at Novara and is handed over to the French. Wikipedia →
1407Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama visits the Ming dynasty capital at Nanjing and is awarded the title "Great Treasure Prince of Dharma". Wikipedia →
847Election of Pope Leo IV following the death of Pope Sergius II. Wikipedia →
837Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth at a distance equal to 0.0342 AU (5.1 million kilometres/3.2 million miles). Wikipedia →
428Nestorius becomes the Patriarch of Constantinople. Wikipedia →
238During the year of Six Emperors, forces of Gordian I and Gordian II are defeated by those of Maximinus Thrax in the battle of Carthage. Wikipedia →

From The Guardian Archives — On This Day

2025The Guardian
Six people killed after helicopter crashes into Hudson River in New York
Pilot and a family with three children who are believed to have been Spanish tourists were killed onboard aircraft
Read on The Guardian →
2019The Guardian
William Barr says 'spying did occur' on Trump campaign during Obama era
Nancy Pelosi says attorney general went ‘off the rails’ and is serving the president, not the public
Read on The Guardian →
2002The New York Times
A Hard Day for Valentine and the Mets
Bobby Valentine was having a bad day Tuesday, and the Mets hadn't even played yet. First, he chatted with Mo Vaughn i…
Read on NYTimes.com →

Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API

Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.