This Day In History : February 10

1947 United States

World War II Peace Treaties Signed

On February 10, 1947, peace treaties are signed between the Allied powers and former Axis nations, officially concluding World War II hostilities. These treaties establish new borders, impose reparations, and set the stage for post-war recovery and reconstruction.

Also on This Day in History February 10

Discover what happened on February 10 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, February 10
  • 1901 Richard Dagobert Brauer

    German-American mathematician and educator, a pioneer in the development of algebra theory.

  • 1840 Per Teodor Cleve

    Swedish chemist and geologist who who discovered the elements holmium and thulium.

  • 1842 Agnes Mary Clerke

    Irish astronomical writer who was a diligent compiler of facts rather than a practicing scientist.

  • 1846 Ira Remsen

    American chemist who co-discovered saccharin. He taught chemistry at Johns Hopkins University from 1876 (where he became its second president 1901-13).

  • 1931 James West

    James Edward Maceo West is a Black-American physicist, acoustical engineer and inventor who developed the electret transducer technology and applied it to co-invent the foil electret microphone.

Deaths on This Day, February 10
  • 1997 Jerome Namias

    American meteorologist who served as the first chief of the Extended Forecast Division of the U.S. Weather Bureau (1941-1971).

  • 1942 Lawrence Joseph Henderson

    American physiologist and biochemist who discovered the chemical means by which acid-base equilibria are maintained in nature.

  • 1923 Wilhelm Röntgen

    Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a German physicist who discovered the highly penetrating form of radiation that became known as X-rays on 8 Nov 1895.

  • 1902 Francis Pratt

    American mechanical engineer and manufacturer of machine tools.

  • 2006 Norman E. Shumway

    American surgeon who was a pioneer in heart transplant surgery. He began (1967) the heart transplantation program at Stanford Medical Center.

1961

Niagara Falls hydropower

In 1961, the Niagara Falls hydroelectric project, the largest (at the time) hydroelectric facility in the Western world, was officially opened.
1940

Tom & Jerry Created by Hanna & Barbera, Debut by MGM

On February 10, 1940, the iconic animated duo Tom & Jerry, created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, debut in a short film by MGM. Their antics and timeless rivalry quickly capture audiences' hearts, leading to decades of beloved cartoons and films.
2009

Communication Satellites Iridium 33 and Kosmos-2251 Collide in Orbit

On February 10, 2009, the communication satellites Iridium 33 and Kosmos-2251 collide in orbit, resulting in the destruction of both satellites. This unprecedented event generates thousands of debris fragments, highlighting the growing issue of space debris management.
1996

Deep Blue Defeats Reigning Chess World Champion Garry Kasparov

On February 10, 1996, IBM’s Deep Blue makes history by becoming the first computer to win a chess game against a reigning world champion, Garry Kasparov. This victory showcases the advanced capabilities of artificial intelligence and the potential of computer chess programs.
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