This Day In History : May 10

1503 United Kingdom

Columbus Discovers Caymans

Christopher Columbus is the first European to discover the Cayman Islands, names them Las Tortugas after its sea turtles

Also on This Day in History May 10

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

Births on This Day, May 10
  • 1878 Gustav Stresemann

    German chancellor

  • 1900 Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin

    British-American astronomer and astrophysicist who proposed that stars are composed largely of hydrogen and are not glowing balls of molten rock

  • 1918 Dr. T Berry Brazelton

    American child development pediatrician, author, TV host

  • 1908 Carl Albert

    American politician, US speaker of the House

  • 1890 Alfred Jodl

    German general during World War II (head of the German High Command, signed unconditional Nazi surrender)

Deaths on This Day, May 10
  • 1424 Go-Kameyama

    Emperor of Japan

  • 1920 John Wesley Hyatt (1837-1920)

    American inventor who simplified the production of celluloid

  • 1955 Tommy Burns (1881-1955)

    Canadian boxer (World Heavyweight Champion 1906–08)

  • 1994 John Wayne Gacy

    American serial killer

  • 2022 Leonid Kravchuk

    Ukrainian politician (1st President of Ukraine, 1991-94)

1857

The Indian Mutiny

Indian Mutiny against rule by the British East India Company begins with the revolt of the Sepoy soldiers in Meerut
1893

Imperial Institute in London opens

The foundation stone was laid by the Queen in July 1887 and the official opening by the Queen took place on 10 May 1893 in a temporary hall as the Great Hall was not completed.
1924

Hoover Heads FBI

J. Edgar Hoover led the FBI for decades and became one of the most influential and controversial figures in 20th century America.
1960

John F. Kennedy wins presidential primary in West Virginia

On May 10, 1960, John F. Kennedy defeated Hubert Humphrey in the most important presidential primary ever held in West Virginia
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