This day in history: 10 february

Europa

• 1763 – Treaty of Paris Signed: This treaty ended the Seven Years’ War (known in North America as the French and Indian War), resulting in France ceding Quebec and other territories to Great Britain. This dramatically reshaped the colonial map of Europe and its empires.
• 1840 – Queen Victoria Marries Prince Albert: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, marking the beginning of one of the most famous royal partnerships in British history.
• 1898 – Birth of Bertolt Brecht: The influential German dramatist and poet, known for developing epic theatre, was born in Augsburg, Germany.
• 1945 – World War II Events:
  • The Battle of Hürtgen Forest ended with a German defensive victory, one of the longest and bloodiest battles fought on German soil.
  • German forces opened the Schwammenauel Dam to slow the Allied advance in western Germany.
  • The Red Army began the East Pomeranian Offensive and captured the city of Elbing (now Elbląg, Poland).
  • The German passenger liner General von Steuben was sunk by a Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea, resulting in over 4,000 deaths—one of the largest maritime disasters of the war.
• 1947 – Paris Peace Treaties Signed: Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland signed treaties with the Allied powers, formally ending hostilities from World War II and redrawing national boundaries in Europe.
• 1996 – Deep Blue vs. Garry Kasparov: The IBM supercomputer Deep Blue became the first computer to win a game against reigning world chess champion Garry Kasparov, though Kasparov ultimately won the match.

America

• 1763 – Treaty of Paris Signed: This treaty ended the French and Indian War (the North American theater of the Seven Years’ War), resulting in France ceding large territories in North America to Britain. This dramatically altered the colonial landscape and set the stage for future American developments.
• 1862 – American Civil War: A Union naval flotilla destroyed most of the Confederate Mosquito Fleet in the Battle of Elizabeth City on the Pasquotank River in North Carolina, marking a significant Union victory.
• 1933 – First Singing Telegram: The Postal Telegraph Company in New York City introduced the first singing telegram, a novel way to deliver messages with entertainment value.
• 1942 – Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Established: The United States established its first military service for women, opening new roles for women in the armed forces during World War II.
• 1954 – Eisenhower Warns Against Vietnam Intervention: President Dwight D. Eisenhower publicly cautioned against U.S. intervention in Vietnam, foreshadowing later American involvement in Southeast Asia.
• 1962 – Cold War Spy Exchange: Captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel at the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin, a high-profile moment in Cold War espionage history.
• 1967 – 25th Amendment Ratified: The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, clarifying the procedures for presidential succession and disability.
• 1996 – Deep Blue Defeats Kasparov: IBM’s supercomputer Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov for the first time, marking a milestone in artificial intelligence.

Asia

• 1971 – China and Nigeria Establish Diplomatic Relations: On this day, the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria formally established diplomatic ties. This relationship has since grown significantly, with Nigeria becoming a key oil supplier to China and China providing extensive economic, military, and political support to Nigeria.
• 1931 – New Delhi Becomes Capital of India: On February 10, 1931, New Delhi was officially inaugurated as the capital of India, marking a major milestone in Indian administrative and colonial history.
• 1258 – Battle of Baghdad: While not strictly within the modern boundaries of Asia’s largest states, the Mongol conquest of Baghdad on February 10, 1258, was a pivotal event in Middle Eastern and world history, leading to the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate.
• 2024 – AFC Asian Cup Final: On February 10, 2024, Qatar won its second consecutive AFC Asian Cup title, defeating Jordan 3–1 in the final. Akram Afif scored a hat-trick, all from penalty kicks, marking a significant sporting achievement for the region.
• 2024 – Pakistani General Election: Around this date, Pakistan held its general election, with significant political developments and allegations of electoral interference. Despite Imran Khan’s lead, Nawaz Sharif claimed victory amid controversy.
• 2021 – Conflict in Afghanistan: On February 10, 2021, Afghanistan experienced ongoing armed conflict, with attacks and instability continuing to affect the country.
• 2021 – Saudi-Yemeni Border Conflict: On this day, Houthi forces launched a drone strike on Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia, damaging a civilian aircraft, in response to coalition airstrikes in Yemen.

Africa

• 1984 – Wagalla Massacre in Kenya: On this day, Kenyan soldiers killed an estimated 5,000 ethnic Somali Kenyans in the Wagalla massacre. This event remains one of the most tragic episodes of ethnic violence in Kenya’s history.
• 1985 – Nelson Mandela Rejects Conditional Release: Nelson Mandela, then imprisoned, rejected President P.W. Botha’s offer of a conditional release from prison. Mandela insisted he would not accept freedom while the African National Congress (ANC) and the anti-apartheid struggle remained banned and unfree.
• World Pulses Day: February 10 is recognized as World Pulses Day by the United Nations. While not exclusive to Africa, this day is significant for the continent due to the nutritional and economic importance of pulse crops (such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas) for African food security and sustainable agriculture.
• 1989 – Ron Brown Becomes Democratic Party Chair: While this is a U.S. event, it is notable in the context of the African diaspora. Ron Brown became the first Black elected national chairman of the U.S. Democratic Party, a milestone for African American political leadership.