Today in History
2010 The President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, dies in a plane crash
Several senior officials, members of the Polish clergy, and relatives of Katyn massacre victims were killed. Pilot error and bad weather were blamed for the crash.
2001 Mercy killings become legal in the Netherlands
The Dutch Senate approved a bill legalizing euthanasia for patients with incurable terminal illnesses in a contentious decision.
1998 Negotiators in Northern Ireland reach an historic peace deal
The Good Friday Agreement ended 30 years of violent conflict about Northern Ireland’s constitutional status (“The Troubles”).
1970 The Beatles break up as Paul McCartney leaves the band
According to EMI, the British rock group became one of the most successful bands of all time in their ten years of existence, selling over a billion albums. McCartney’s announcement came just a week before the release of his debut solo album, which served as the launch pad for a successful solo career.
1815 Mount Tambora explodes in one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history
The eruption killed at least 71,000 people. The explosion could be heard up to 2000 kilometers (1200 miles) away.
Births On This Day, April 10
1987 Hayley Westenra
New Zealand soprano
1951 David Helvarg
American journalist, activist
1932 Omar Sharif
Egyptian actor
1847 Joseph Pulitzer
Hungarian/American politician, journalist, publisher, founded Pulitzer, Inc.
1778 William Hazlitt
English critic, painter
Deaths On This Day, April 10
1966 Evelyn Waugh
English author, journalist
1965 Linda Darnell
American actress
1955 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
French/American priest, palaeontologist, philosopher
1931 Kahlil Gibran
Lebanese/American poet
1919 Emiliano Zapata
Mexican general
