Fact 1: An Important Date in The Roman Calendar
June 10th was called ‘the “Ides” in the early Roman calendar, which was an important day monthly that often corresponded to full moons. In ancient Rome, this day was identified by the Roman officials and priests as the optimal time to embark on military campaigns and new endeavors.
Fact 2: Established Day of Portugal
June 10th is the official Day of Portugal, commemorating the death of the country's national literature icon, LuÃs de Camões, in 1580. Also known as Camões Day, it is not just celebrated within Portugal but also by Portuguese communities all around the world.
Fact 3: A Grand Royal Wedding
June 10, in 1961, is the date when King Hussein of Jordan married his English bride, Toni Avril Gardiner. She then became known as Queen Alia of Jordan, marking the day with historical significance in the Royal Jordanian family.
Fact 4: Ballpoint Pen Patented
The patent for the world’s first ballpoint pen was filed on June 10, 1943, by Laszlo Biro. A journalist from Hungary, Biro noticed that the ink used in newspaper print dried quickly, thus leading to the idea of a pen using the same kind of ink.
Fact 5: The First Eye Correction Surgery
On June 10, 1939, Dr. Theo O. Seiler performed the first recorded corrective eye surgery using a radial keratotomy technique, an operation that corrects myopia (nearsightedness).
Fact 6: The Origin of Alcoholics Anonymous
In 1935, on June 10, Alcoholics Anonymous, a mutual aid fellowship, was initiated by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio. The organization aimed to help those suffering from alcohol addiction and has ever since grown globally.
Fact 7: Debut of The Can-Can Dance
The popular high-energy Can-Can dance debuted in Paris on June 10, 1830. It became a sensation for its vivacious moves and high leg kicking style and is still performed in various traditional and cultural festivals today.
Fact 8: A Memorable Day in Railway History
The first passenger train made its debut on June 10, 1830, the first rail route for commercial transportation ‘Liverpool-Manchester’ was proposed in the House of Lords.
Fact 9: London Bridge brought to the USA
June 10, 1968, was when the London Bridge was sold to Robert P. McCulloch, an American entrepreneur. The bridge was later reassembled in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and remains a popular tourist attraction today.
Fact 10: Great Barrier Reef’s Sad Day
On June 10, 1770, the famous explorer Captain James Cook ran his ship aground on the Great Barrier Reef. This led to a forced halt for more than six weeks, a rather unfortunate incident in the history of Ocean exploration.
Fact 11: A Significant Leap in Technology
On June 10, 2003, the Spirit Rover, a robotic vehicle, was launched by NASA towards Mars, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
Fact 12: Benjamin Franklin and his Innovations
June 10, 1752, was marked by Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment involving electricity, associating lightning with electricity and leading to the invention of the lightning rod.
Fact 13: The First Female Graduates in the UK
On June 10, 1879, The first female graduates of the United Kingdom received ‘Bachelor of Arts’ degrees from the University of London.
Fact 14: The Formation of Las Vegas
June 10, 1905, marked the founding of Las Vegas, Nevada. The city was established when 110 acres of land, the area that presently constitutes downtown, was purchased to function as a stopover for the pioneering railroad systems.
Fact 15: A Leap in the World of Cricket
The first cricket ball was bowled overarm by Christina Willes on June 10, 1806. This altered the rules of cricket, transforming it from an underarm game.
Fact 16: The Notorious Al Capone
Al Capone, the infamous racketeer, was indicted on 5,000 counts of prohibition and perjury on June 10, 1931.
Fact 17: The Tragic Chernobyl Incident
On June 10, 1986, it was the last day anyone lived in Pripyat before being evacuated due to the catastrophic nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, Ukraine.
Fact 18: The Release of Six-Day War POW's
On June 10, 1967, the conclusion of the Six-Day War between Israel and its neighboring states, led to the release of about 15,000 Egyptian soldiers who were POW's.
Fact 19: The First Female Flight Instructor
June 10, 1943, was marked by Evelyn Pinckert Kilgore becoming the first woman to be licensed as a flight instructor.
Fact 20: Ally of the American Revolution
On June 10, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence from Britain. Often regarded as the birth of American freedom, it led the foundation to one of the most powerful nations today.