May 10 in History

Historical Events on May 10

1775 American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captures Fort Ticonderoga.

1864 American Civil War: Colonel Emory Upton leads a 10-regiment "Attack-in-depth" assault against the Confederate works at The Battle of Spotsylvania, which, though ultimately unsuccessful, would provide the idea for the massive assault against the Bloody Angle on May 12. Upton is slightly wounded but is immediately promoted to brigadier general.

1877 Romania declares itself independent from the Ottoman Empire following the Senate adoption of Mihail Kogălniceanu's Declaration of Independence.

1940 World War II: German fighters accidentally bomb the German city of Freiburg.

1940 World War II: Winston Churchill is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain.

1969 Vietnam War: The Battle of Dong Ap Bia begins with an assault on Hill 937. It will ultimately become known as Hamburger Hill.

1972 In the Vietnam War, the US had two fighter ace crews. The USAF's Ritchie and DeBellevue scored their first kill while the USN's Cunningham and Driscoll scored their third, fourth and fifth kills.

1993 In Thailand, a fire at the Kader Toy Factory kills 156 workers.

1994 Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first black president.

All Events

Famous Birthdays on May 10

1788 Augustin-Jean Fresnel

1958 Rick Santorum

1975 Hélio Castroneves

All Births

Famous Deaths on May 10

1774 Louis XV of France

1863 Stonewall Jackson

1897 Andrés Bonifacio

1945 Konrad Henlein

All Deaths

Choose Another Date