What Happened on February 10 in History?
February 10 in history is marked by significant diplomatic breakthroughs, scientific "firsts," and cultural milestones.
Major Historical Events
The "Bridge of Spies" Exchange (1962): On the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin, captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.
Treaty of Paris (1763): The signing of this treaty ended the Seven Years' War (the French and Indian War in North America), with France ceding Quebec to Great Britain.
Deep Blue Defeats Kasparov (1996): IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in a game for the first time.
Royal Marriage (1840): Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
25th Amendment Ratified (1967): The U.S. Constitution was amended to clarify procedures for presidential succession and disability.
World War II Peace Treaties (1947): The Paris Peace Treaties were signed by the Allies and former Axis powers including Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Finland.
Satellite Collision (2009): The first major accidental collision between two intact spacecraft in orbit occurred when the American Iridium 33 and Russian Kosmos 2251 satellites collided over Siberia.
Culture & Science
Invention of the Fire Extinguisher (1863): Alanson Crane was granted the first U.S. patent for a fire extinguisher.
Tom and Jerry Debut (1940): The iconic cat-and-mouse duo made their first appearance in the cartoon Puss Gets the Boot.
Ziggy Stardust Debut (1972): David Bowie premiered his "Ziggy Stardust" persona during a concert at the Toby Jug pub in London.
Hogwarts Legacy Release (2023): The hit video game set in the Harry Potter universe was first released for PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.
Famous Birthdays
Thomas Edison (1847): Prolific American inventor.
Bertolt Brecht (1898): Influential German playwright.
Leontyne Price (1927): Renowned American operatic soprano.
Laura Dern (1967): Academy Award-winning American actress.
Elizabeth Banks (1974): American actress and filmmaker.
Emma Roberts (1991): American actress.
Notable Observances
National Umbrella Day: Celebrating the invention and utility of the umbrella.
Teddy Day: A part of Valentine’s Week where people exchange teddy bears.
