What Happened On
Destruction of Lidice
Destruction of Lidice
World War II - Lidice Massacre
June 10, 1942
Under orders of Adolf Hitler, the village of Lidice, in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now in the Czech Republic), is destroyed. The massacre was in retaliation for the assassination of Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich in the late spring of 1942. The Nazis executed all 173 men in the village over the age of 15, plus several others who were already under arrest and 11 others who were not in the village at the time were later arrested and executed. Eighty-eight of the 105 children were sent to concentration camps where they died. Seven children who were considered racially suitable for Germanisation were handed over to SS families. Sixty of the 184 women sent to concentration camps died there. All the animals in the village were also slaughtered. The village was then burned and the buildings destroyed with explosives.
First Envelope with a Window
June 10, 1902
American inventor A.F. Callahan patents the envelope with a window for viewing the contents, thus allowing the letter itself to provide the recipient address and return-address, reducing the need to print these addresses onto the envelope itself.
Benjamin Franklin Flies a Kite
June 10, 1752
Reportedly on this day, flying his kite, Benjamin Franklin proves that lightning is a form of electricity.
According to Franklin's description of the experiment, a silk kite with string that led to a key was to be flown during the early stages of a storm. The kite had a separate silk string that was attached to the kite string near the key. The kite flyer was to stand under a shelter so that he and the silk string stayed dry protecting them from the electric charge.
It is unlikely the kite was struck by lightning, as this would have probably seriously injured Franklin, but simply gathered electricity from the storm as Franklin predicted it would. This and his lightning rod experiments helped prove that lightning was a form of electricity.
Salem Witch Trials
June 10, 1692
Bridget Bishop is hanged for witchcraft, making her the first of 20 people executed in 1692 for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. She was accused of bewitching five young women, who claimed the "shape" of Bishop would pinch, choke, and bite them.
She was also accused of playing shuffleboard and "dressing more artistically than women of the village" by using colored lace - both signs of consorting with the devil.
Octopussy
June 10, 1983
Octopussy premieres in the U.S., 13th in the James Bond series, and the 6th to star Roger Moore as 007.
Produced on a budget of $27.5 million, it earned $187.5 million.
World War II
June 10, 1940
Italy declares war on France and the United Kingdom.
Alcoholics Anonymous
June 10, 1935
Bill Wilson has his last drink. He then contacted Dr. Bob Smith to help him resist the temptation to drink, leading to their starting Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). This is the day AA uses as its anniversary.
Wilson had his first drink in 1917 claiming, "I had found the elixir of life." However, his drinking quickly got out of hand; he failed to graduate from law school because he was too drunk to pick up his diploma. Wilson achieved sobriety when he had a religious experience after asking for God's help to get sober. Wilson then went on to co-found Alcoholics Anonymous, helping thousands of others achieve sobriety. As the proof that the desire to drink never goes away, on his deathbed Wilson asked for a shot of whiskey. His nurse refused his request.
Wilson, a heavy smoker, died of emphysema at the age of 75.
First Radio Broadcast of a National Presidential Convention
June 10, 1924
The Republican Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
Spanish-American War
June 10, 1898
The first U.S. armed forces land at Cuba. During the next several days, U.S. forces and Cuban rebels clear the land of Spanish forces.
First Currency Mint
June 10, 1652
The first currency mint in America is established, in Boston, Massachusetts with John Hull as its master.
Birthdays
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak (Maurice Bernard Sendak)
Born June 10, 1928 d. 2012
American children's author, illustrator. Writings: Where the Wild Things Are (1963), In the Night Kitchen (1970), Outside Over There (1981), and illustrated the Little Bear books by Else Holmelund Minarik (1957-68).
Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
Judy Garland (Frances Gumm)
Born June 10, 1922 d. 1969
American Oscar-Grammy-winning actress. She performed the song Over the Rainbow, from The Wizard of Oz, over 12,000 times.
The coroner attributed her death to "an incautious self-overdosage of barbiturates". Her blood contained the equivalent of ten Seconal capsules, however, her autopsy showed no inflammation of the stomach lining and no drug residue in the stomach, which indicated that the drug had been ingested over a long period of time, rather than in a single dose. The official cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose.
She died three months after marrying her fifth husband. Film: The Wizard of Oz (1939, Dorothy).
Hattie McDaniel
Born June 10, 1895 d. 1952
American Oscar-winning actress. She was the first black woman to sing on U.S. radio, and was the first black actress to win an Oscar (1940 for her supporting role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind). At the Academy Awards ceremony she was racially segregated from her co-stars and had to sit at a separate table at the back of the room.
She the first black American to star in her own radio show (1947, Beulah) and went on to reprise the role on television.
Cook (left) and photo allegedly taken at North Pole
Cook (left) and photo allegedly taken at North Pole
Frederick A. Cook
Born June 10, 1865 d. 1940
American explorer, physician. He claims to have reached the North Pole in 1908, a year before Robert Peary reached the pole. However, his claims are disputed, and Peary is generally regarded as the first to reach the pole.
First Woman U.S. Senator
Rebecca Latimer Felton
Born June 10, 1835 d. 1930
American politician, first woman U.S. senator (Georgia, Only for 24 hours: November 21-22, 1922). When Senator Thomas E. Watson died in September, 1922, then Governor of Georgia Thomas W. Hardwick had to appoint a replacement. Since Hardwick was running for this Senate seat, he wanted someone who would not be a viable opposing candidate in the upcoming election and who could also help pacify the women voters he had alienated with his opposition to women's right to vote. Congress was not expected to reconvene until after the election, so he didn't think she'd get sworn in. However, Walter F. George won the election and when Congress reconvened, George allowed Felton to be sworn in before he took office the following day.
Tara Lipinski
Born June 10, 1982
American figure skater. She became the youngest Winter Olympics gold medal winner (1998 Olympics, although that record has been broken). She is also the youngest to win a World Figure Skating title, having done so in 1997 at the age of 14 years.
Andrew Stevens
Born June 10, 1955
American actor. TV: Dallas (Casey Denault).
Photo Credit: York Minster
Photo Credit: York Minster
John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu
Born June 10, 1949
Ugandan-born religious leader. He was the first Black Archbishop in the Church of England (2005). He was the 97th Archbishop of York - the second highest post in the Church of England.
F. Lee Bailey
Born June 10, 1933 d. 2021
American lawyer, talk show host, publisher of Gallery magazine.
Frederick Loewe
Born June 10, 1901 d. 1988
German composer of Lerner and Loewe. Together they wrote My Fair Lady (1956) and Paint Your Wagon (1969).
Harry Flood Byrd, Sr.
Born June 10, 1887 d. 1966
American politician, Virginia governor (1926-30), U.S. senator (Virginia, 1933-65). He received 15 electoral votes in the 1960 U.S. presidential election even though he wasn't a candidate. Strongly opposed to integration, his segregationist policies caused the closure of some public schools in Virginia (1959-64), creating a large number of black students who were denied their education in several Virginia counties. These students became known as the "lost generation." He was also known for his "pay-as-you-go" fiscal policy.
Deaths
Unabomber
Ted Kaczynski (Theodore Kaczynski)
Died June 10, 2023 b. 1942
American mathematician, Unabomber. He was convicted of killing three people and wounding 29 others by sending mail bombs over a period of almost eighteen years. Kaczynski was the target of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) longest and costliest investigation. The FBI used the acronym "UNABOM" (UNiversity and Airline BOMber) to refer to his case, resulting in the media calling him the "Unabomber". After some of his writings were published in the media, his brother recognized the writing style and beliefs and tipped off the FBI who then captured him.
Gordie Howe (Gordon Howe)
Died June 10, 2016 b. 1928
Canadian Hall of Fame hockey player, 23-time NHL All-Star, "Mr. Hockey." He is considered one of the all-time greatest players.
At his retirement, his 801 goals, 1,049 assists, and 1,850 total points were all NHL records that stood until they were broken by Wayne Gretzky.
Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson)
Died June 10, 2004 b. 1930
American singer, composer, pianist, blind since the age of 6. Music: Georgia On My Mind (1960, #1) and Hit the Road, Jack (1961, #1). The movie Ray (2004, starring Jamie Foxx) is based on his life.
Photo Credit: Thomas J. Kravitz, Los Angeles Times
Photo Credit: Thomas J. Kravitz, Los Angeles Times
Louis L'Amour (Louis Dearborn LaMoore)
Died June 10, 1988 b. 1908
American author. His books - known for their authentic portrayal of frontier life - sold over 200,000,000 copies.
Writings: The Sackett series, Last of the Breed, The Walking Drum, and Hondo, Shalako.
First Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Jack Johnson
Died June 10, 1946 b. 1878
American boxer. He was the first black heavyweight boxing champion (1908-15). In 1913, he became one of the first people prosecuted under the Mann Act of 1910, also known as the White Slave Act. He had taken Lucille Cameron, a white woman, from a brothel and they subsequently crossed state lines. This violated the Mann Act which forbade transporting a woman across state lines for "immoral purposes". Even though they got married, he was still prosecuted and sentenced to a year in prison. He was pardoned in 2018 by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Jo Van Fleet
Died June 10, 1996 b. 1915
American Oscar-Tony-winning actress. Theater: The Trip to Bountiful (1954, Tony). Film: East of Eden (1955, Oscar). TV: Cinderella (1965, the wicked Stepmother).
Adolph Zukor
Died June 10, 1976 b. 1873
Hungarian-born U.S. film executive, founder of Paramount Pictures. He distributed the first feature-length film shown in the U.S. (1912, Queen Elizabeth), which was made in France and starred Sarah Bernhardt.
Spencer Tracy (John Edward Tracy)
Died June 10, 1967 b. 1900
American Oscar-winning actor. He teamed with Katharine Hepburn for numerous films.
Spencer Tracy's 1938 Best Actor Oscar for Boys Town was mistakenly inscribed with the name "Dick Tracy".
Tracy was the first actor to win two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor (1938, 1939).
Film: Boys Town (1938, Father Flanagan, Oscar), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941, Dr. Jekyll), and The Old Man and the Sea (1958, narrator).
Edward Everett Hale
Died June 10, 1909 b. 1822
American author. Writings: The Man Without a Country (1863).
Robert Brown
Died June 10, 1858 b. 1773
British botanist. Known for his description of Brownian motion (1827), which is the rapid movement of minute particles suspended in liquid. Albert Einstein used Brownian motion to prove the existence of atoms (1905).
André Marie Ampère
Died June 10, 1836 b. 1775
French physicist, mathematician. The electrical measurement "ampere" is named for him. He developed the science of electro-magnetism.