Europa
- Assassination of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1898)
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as “Sisi,” was assassinated in Geneva by the Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni. Her death shocked the Austro-Hungarian Empire and remains one of the most infamous royal assassinations in European history. - Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye Signed (1919)
The Republic of German-Austria signed the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye with the Allied powers, formally ending World War I for Austria. The treaty resulted in Austria ceding significant territories to Italy, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, and recognizing the independence of several states including Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. - German Troops Occupy Rome (1943)
During World War II, as part of Operation Achse, German troops began their occupation of Rome, taking control of the city and its surroundings after Italy’s armistice with the Allies. - Last Guillotine Execution in France (1977)
Hamida Djandoubi became the last person to be executed in France, marking the end of the use of the guillotine in Europe and symbolizing a shift away from capital punishment on the continent. - Large Hadron Collider Activated (2008)
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, was switched on by CERN. Located on the French-Swiss border, the LHC was built to probe fundamental questions in physics, including the search for the Higgs boson. - Council of Agde (506): Bishops of Visigothic Gaul met in Agde, present-day France, to discuss church law.
- Assassination of John the Fearless (1419): The Duke of Burgundy was killed by supporters of the Dauphin, the future Charles VII of France, a pivotal moment in the Hundred Years’ War.
- Battle of Pinkie (1547): The last full-scale military confrontation between England and Scotland, resulting in a decisive English victory.
- Nyon Conference (1937): Nine nations met in Switzerland to address piracy in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Sinking of HMS Oxley (1939): The British submarine HMS Oxley was mistakenly sunk by HMS Triton off Norway, becoming the Royal Navy’s first submarine loss of World War II.
America
- 1608 – John Smith Elected President of Jamestown
John Smith was chosen as president of the council at Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America. His leadership was crucial for the colony’s survival amid famine, disease, and conflict with Native Americans. - 1776 – Nathan Hale Volunteers as a Spy
During the American Revolution, Nathan Hale volunteered to gather intelligence behind British lines, an act for which he was later captured and executed. This moment is remembered as a symbol of American patriotism. - 1813 – Battle of Lake Erie
In the War of 1812, U.S. naval forces under Oliver Hazard Perry achieved a decisive victory over the British at the Battle of Lake Erie. This was the first unqualified defeat of a British naval squadron in history and secured American control of the lake and the Northwest Territory. - 1846 – Elias Howe Patents the Sewing Machine
American inventor Elias Howe was granted a patent for his sewing machine, a major milestone in industrial technology and manufacturing. - 1861 – Battle of Carnifex Ferry
During the Civil War, Confederate forces withdrew from the Kanawha Valley in western Virginia after an indecisive battle at Carnifex Ferry, paving the way for the creation of West Virginia as a separate state. - 1897 – Lattimer Massacre
In Pennsylvania, 19 unarmed striking immigrant coal miners were killed by a sheriff’s posse during labor unrest, highlighting the struggles of industrial workers and the ethnic tensions of the era. - 1919 – New York City Welcomes General John J. Pershing
General Pershing and 25,000 soldiers of the U.S. First Division were celebrated in New York City upon their return from World War I, marking the end of their service in Europe. - 1963 – School Integration in Alabama
Following federal intervention, 20 Black students entered public schools in Birmingham, Tuskegee, and Mobile, Alabama, overcoming the resistance of Governor George Wallace and marking a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement. - 1991 – Clarence Thomas Supreme Court Nomination Hearings Begin
The Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings on Clarence Thomas’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. The hearings became a landmark in discussions of sexual harassment in the workplace after Anita Hill’s testimony. - 2005 – Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts
Teams of forensic workers and cadaver dogs searched New Orleans for victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, highlighting the disaster’s devastating human toll. - 1897: First drunk driving arrest in London, England (not America, but often noted in global timelines).
- 1979: Four Puerto Rican nationalists, previously imprisoned for attacks in the 1950s, were granted clemency by President Jimmy Carter.
- 1987: Pope John Paul II began a 10-day tour of the United States, welcomed by President Ronald Reagan in Miami.
Asia
- 1945 – Beginning of the Shangdang Campaign (China)
On September 10, 1945, the Shangdang Campaign began, marking a major military engagement between Communist and Nationalist forces during the Chinese Civil War. This campaign was one of the first large-scale conflicts after the end of World War II and set the stage for subsequent battles in the civil war. - 1945 – Founding of the Indonesian Navy
The Indonesian Navy was established on this day, playing a crucial role in the country’s struggle for independence from Dutch colonial rule.
Africa
- Abebe Bikila Wins Olympic Gold (1960)
On September 10, 1960, Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila made history at the Rome Olympics by becoming the first sub-Saharan African to win an Olympic gold medal. He famously ran the marathon barefoot, inspiring generations of African athletes. - Guinea-Bissau Gains Independence (1974)
Guinea-Bissau formally declared its independence from Portuguese colonial rule on this day, marking a pivotal moment in Africa’s wave of decolonization during the 20th century. - Consecration of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (1990)
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, one of the world’s largest churches, was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on September 10, 1990. The basilica is a symbol of both religious devotion and architectural ambition in West Africa. - Operation Barras Ends Sierra Leone Civil War (2000)
British forces successfully carried out Operation Barras, freeing six British soldiers held captive and contributing to the end of the Sierra Leone Civil War. - African Union Suspends Guinea Following Coup (2021)
In response to a military coup, the African Union suspended Guinea’s membership on September 10, 2021, underscoring the continent’s ongoing struggles with political instability and efforts to uphold democratic norms. - Fire on the Pembroke Castle (1888): A fire on the mail ship Pembroke Castle in Cape Town harbor killed 10 people, highlighting the dangers of maritime travel in colonial Africa.
- First Good Templars Hall Opens in Kimberley (1874): The first Good Templars Hall, associated with the temperance movement, opened in Kimberley, South Africa.
- Mass Arrest of Black Miners in Kimberley (1910): Following a strike at the Wesselton mine, 1,600 Black miners were arrested by police in Kimberley, reflecting the harsh realities of labor and racial tensions in early 20th-century South Africa.
- Discovery of Homo naledi Fossils (2015): Scientists announced the discovery of a new species of human ancestor, Homo naledi, in a South African cave, providing important insights into human evolution.
This day in history: 10 september