This Day In History : September 10

1858 United States

The asteroid 55 Pandora discovered by George Mary Searle

On September 10, 1858, American astronomer George Mary Searle discovered the asteroid 55 Pandora while observing from the Dudley Observatory in Albany, New York. Asteroid 55 Pandora is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and has a diameter of approximately 80 kilometers. Its discovery added to the understanding of celestial bodies in the Solar System.

Also on This Day in History September 10

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

Births on This Day, September 10
  • 1797 Carl Gustaf Mosander

    Carl Gustaf Mosander was a Swedish chemist. He discovered the rare earth elements lanthanum, erbium and terbium.

  • 1839 Charles Sanders Peirce

    American mathematician, logician and philosopher who is noted for his work on the logic of relations and on pragmatism as a method of research.

  • 1892 Arthur Holly Compton

    Arthur Holly Compton was an American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1927 for his 1923 discovery of the Compton effect, which demonstrated the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation.

  • 1898 Waldo Semon

    Waldo Lonsbury Semon was an American inventor born in Demopolis, Alabama. He is credited with inventing methods for making polyvinyl chloride useful.

  • 1870 Lilian Gibbs

    Lilian Suzette Gibbs was an independent English botanist who organized botanical expeditions to some of the most remote places on Earth.

Deaths on This Day, September 10
  • 1966 Emil J. Gumbel

    Emil Julius Gumbel was an American mathematician and statistician is known for his work in reliability theory and order statistics.

  • 1859 Thomas Nuttall

    English naturalist and botanist known for his discoveries of North American plants.

  • 1985 Ernst Julius Öpik

    Estonian astronomer who is best known for his studies of meteors and meteorites, and whose life work was devoted to understanding the structure and evolution of the cosmos.

  • 2005 Hermann Bondi

    Austrian-British mathematician and cosmologist who, working with Fred Hoyle and Thomas Gold, conceived the steady-state theory of the universe (1948).

  • 1984 Jerome C. Hunsaker

    American aeronautical engineer who made major innovations in the design of aircraft and lighter-than-air ships, seaplanes, and carrier-based aircraft.

2002

Switzerland becomes a full member of the United Nations

Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations on September 10, 2002. This marked its formal acceptance into the international organization, contributing to global diplomacy and cooperation efforts.
1932

Independent City Owned Rapid Transit Railroad (IND) opens in NYC

The Independent City Owned Rapid Transit Railroad (IND) opened in New York City on September 10, 1932. This marked a significant expansion of the city's subway system, providing additional transit options for residents and commuters.
1974

Guinea-Bissau gains independence from Portugal

On September 10, 1974, Portugal officially acknowledged the independence of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. This recognition signaled the end of Portuguese colonial control and facilitated Guinea-Bissau's establishment as a self-governing nation.
2018

California passes law to commit to carbon-free electricity sources by 2045

In a landmark move on September 10, 2018, California passed legislation committing to carbon-free electricity sources by 2045. This law positions California as a leader in environmental sustainability, aiming to combat climate change by transitioning to renewable energy sources.
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