Here are some of the most notable events that happened on this day:
Major Historical Events
-1815 – Mount Tambora erupts: In Indonesia, Mount Tambora had one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. At least 71,000 people died, and it caused a "volcanic winter" that cooled the globe.
-1912 – RMS Titanic sets sail: The Titanic departed Southampton, England, on its first and only voyage. It would strike an iceberg and sink 4 days later.
-1970 – The Beatles break up: Paul McCartney publicly announced he was leaving the band, marking the official end of The Beatles.
-1998 – Good Friday Agreement signed: The British and Irish governments signed the historic peace deal for Northern Ireland, largely ending 30 years of conflict known as “The Troubles”.
-2010 – Polish President dies in plane crash: President Lech Kaczyński and many high-ranking Polish officials were killed near Smolensk, Russia.
Other Notable Moments
-1849 – Safety pin patented: Walter Hunt patented the safety pin and sold the rights for $100.
-1866 – ASPCA founded: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was incorporated in New York City.
-1872 – First Arbor Day: The first official Arbor Day took place in Nebraska, with over 1 million trees planted.
-1925 – The Great Gatsby published: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel was released for the first time.
-1972 – Biological weapons banned: The US, USSR, and 70 other nations agreed to ban biological weapons.
-2019 – First black hole photo released: The first image of a black hole, 55 million light-years away, was shown to the public.
Famous Birthdays – April 10
-1847 – Joseph Pulitzer, Hungarian-American publisher who founded the Pulitzer Prizes
-1932 – Omar Sharif, Egyptian actor
-1987 – Hayley Westenra*, New Zealand soprano
Also Celebrated Today
-Sibling Day in the US
-Encourage a Young Writer Day