Important Events From This day in History – 10 April

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.