June 10 in History

Significant events that happened on this day.

Historical Events

2021

A 132-year-old copy of the rules of basketball sold for $4.3 million at auction

James Naismith's original 13 rules, typed on two pages, became the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold at the time. The buyer was bil...

2003

The Spirit rover was launched toward Mars to search for evidence of water

Designed for a 90-day mission, Spirit exceeded all expectations by operating for over six years. It traveled 4.8 miles across the Martian surface and...

1977

Apple shipped its first Apple II computer

Priced at $1,298, the Apple II featured color graphics and became one of the first successful mass-produced personal computers. It revolutionized the...

1967

The Six-Day War ended with Israel tripling its territory

Major

In less than a week, Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, capturing the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Golan Heights. This stunning...

1940

Italy declared war on France and Britain, entering World War II

Major

Mussolini opportunistically joined the Axis powers after Germany's early successes, believing the war would end quickly. He called it a "stab in the b...

1935

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded when Bill Wilson had his last drink

Major

Wilson, a New York stockbroker, met with Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio, forming the partnership that created AA. The 12-step program they developed wou...

1922

Judy Garland was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Major

Born Frances Ethel Gumm, she would become one of Hollywood's most iconic stars, best known for playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Despite her tremen...

1898

The U.S. Marines landed in Cuba during the Spanish-American War

American forces established a beachhead at Guantánamo Bay, which would become a permanent U.S. naval base. This marked the first major amphibious oper...

1854

The first class of the United States Naval Academy graduated in Annapolis

Only eight midshipmen completed the rigorous program in this inaugural class. The Academy had been established in 1845 to provide professional naval e...

1829

The first Oxford-Cambridge boat race ended in a dead heat

After racing for over 22 minutes, both crews reached the finish line at Westminster Bridge simultaneously. The umpire refused to declare a winner, mak...

1776

The Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence

Major

The five-member committee included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Jefferson was chosen to writ...

1190

Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, drowned while bathing in a river during the Third Crusade

Major

The powerful 67-year-old emperor died in the Saleph River in modern-day Turkey, possibly from a heart attack brought on by the cold water. His death t...