This day in history: 10 october

Europa

• 732 – Battle of Tours: Charles Martel led Frankish forces to a decisive victory over an Umayyad army near Tours, France. This battle is widely regarded as a turning point that halted the northward expansion of Islam into Western Europe.
• 1471 – Sweden Repels Danish Attack: Sten Sture the Elder, Regent of Sweden, with support from farmers and miners, successfully repelled an attack by King Christian I of Denmark.
• 1789 – Guillotin Advocates Decapitation: In Versailles, France, Dr. Joseph Guillotin proposed decapitation by a single blade as the most humane method of execution, a precursor to the guillotine’s later use during the French Revolution.
• 1733 – France Declares War on Austria: This declaration was over the issue of Polish succession, marking another chapter in the complex power struggles of 18th-century Europe.
• European Day Against the Death Penalty: October 10 is recognized as the European Day against the Death Penalty, coinciding with the World Day against the Death Penalty. The European Union and the Council of Europe use this day to reaffirm their opposition to capital punishment and to promote its abolition worldwide.
• 1492 – Columbus’s Crew Attempts Mutiny: While not strictly a European mainland event, the attempted mutiny on Columbus’s ship reflects the era of European exploration and its global impact.
• 1575 – Religious Wars in France: Roman Catholic forces led by Henry I, Duke of Guise, defeated Protestant forces, capturing key figures such as Philippe de Mornay.

America

• 1845 – U.S. Naval Academy Founded: The U.S. Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Maryland, with an initial class of 50 students and seven professors. This institution became a cornerstone for training naval officers in the United States.
• 1863 – Telegraph Line to Denver Completed: The first telegraph line to Denver, Colorado, was completed, connecting the city to the rest of the country and enhancing communication across the expanding American West.
• 1854 – U.S. Assay Office Opens in New York: The U.S. Assay Office was established in New York City to manage the smelting of gold and silver, supporting the nation’s growing economy.
• 1973 – Vice President Spiro Agnew Resigns: Spiro T. Agnew resigned as Vice President of the United States amid charges of corruption and income tax evasion, leading to Gerald Ford’s nomination as his replacement.
• 1913 – Panama Canal Construction Completed: President Woodrow Wilson triggered the explosion of the Gamboa Dike by telegraph, marking the effective completion of the Panama Canal, a monumental engineering project linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• 1962 – Drug Safety Law Signed: President John F. Kennedy signed an amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, requiring pharmaceutical companies to prove that their products were safe and effective before marketing, in response to the Thalidomide crisis.
• 1864 – Quebec Conference: The Fathers of Confederation met in Quebec to discuss the feasibility of a political union of British North America. The 72 resolutions passed at this conference formed the core of the 1867 British North America Act, which created modern Canada.
• 1710 – First Anglican Service in Canada: The first Anglican church service in Canada was held in Chebucto, Nova Scotia (now Halifax).
• 1801 – Sable Island Humane Establishment: A year-round lifeguard settlement was set up on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, to aid shipwrecked sailors.
• 1868 – Ten Years’ War Begins in Cuba: The Ten Years’ War, the first major Cuban war of independence against Spanish colonial rule, began on this day.
• 2010 – Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles: The Caribbean Dutch dependency known as the Netherlands Antilles was officially dissolved, resulting in new constitutional statuses for its islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Asia

• The Xinhai Revolution and Double Ten Day
  The most significant event in Asian history on October 10 is the start of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, marked by the Wuchang Uprising. This revolution led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty and the end of over two millennia of imperial rule in China, paving the way for the establishment of the Republic of China.
• October 10 is celebrated as the National Day of the Republic of China (Double Ten Day) in Taiwan. It is also commemorated in mainland China as the anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, though with different political interpretations: in Taiwan, it represents democracy and national identity, while in the People’s Republic of China, it is seen as a milestone on the path to socialism and national rejuvenation.
• Hanoi Liberation Day (Vietnam, 1954): On October 10, 1954, the Vietnamese People’s Army took control of Hanoi from French and State of Vietnam forces, marking a pivotal moment in Vietnam’s struggle for independence.
• Assassination Attempt in Burma (Myanmar, 1983): South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan survived an assassination attempt in Rangoon (now Yangon), resulting in 21 deaths.
• Double Tenth Agreement (China, 1945): The Double Tenth Agreement was signed between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists, aiming to negotiate post-World War II governance. However, it ultimately failed to prevent the Chinese Civil War.

Africa

• Wangari Maathai Wins Nobel Peace Prize (2004)
  On October 10, 2004, Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She was honored for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace, particularly through her founding of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, which focused on environmental conservation and women’s rights.
• Sudan Adopts Interim Constitution (1985)
  On October 10, 1985, Sudan adopted an interim constitution, marking a significant political transition in the country.
• Major Natural Disaster: Algeria Earthquakes (1980)
  On this day in 1980, a pair of devastating earthquakes struck northwestern Algeria, resulting in the deaths of approximately 4,500 people and widespread destruction.
• Historical Treaty in Suriname (1760)
  While not on the African continent, a notable event in the African diaspora occurred on October 10, 1760: the Ndyuka people of Suriname—descendants of escaped African slaves—signed a treaty with Dutch colonial authorities, granting them territorial autonomy.
• In 1957, U.S. President Eisenhower apologized to Ghana’s finance minister, Komla Agbeli Gbdemah, after he was refused service in a Delaware restaurant, highlighting the global impact of civil rights issues.
• The African Free School, important in the African diaspora for education and empowerment, was opened on this day in 1897.