Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
April 10 Friday, April 10, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 10 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
2
Holidays
1991
World history 35 years ago
A rare tropical storm develops in the South Atlantic Ocean near Angola, the first to be documented by satellites.
A rare tropical storm forms near Angola, becoming the first such system documented by satellite imagery in the South Atlantic.
History
What happened on April 10
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 238World history
During the year of Six Emperors, forces of Gordian I and Gordian II are defeated by those of Maximinus Thrax in the battle of Carthage.
Gordian I and Gordian II's forces are defeated by Maximinus Thrax near Carthage.
- 428Religion
Nestorius becomes the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Nestorius is appointed as the Patriarch of Constantinople, a position that will later lead to significant theological disputes.
- 837Science
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth at a distance equal to 0.0342 AU (5.1 million kilometres/3.2 million miles).
Halley's Comet reaches its closest point to Earth, coming within 5.1 million kilometers.
- 847Religion
Election of Pope Leo IV following the death of Pope Sergius II.
Leo IV is elected pope, succeeding Sergius II.
- 1407Religion
Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama visits the Ming dynasty capital at Nanjing and is awarded the title "Great Treasure Prince of Dharma".
Deshin Shekpa, the 5th Karmapa Lama, visits the Ming capital at Nanjing and receives the title "Great Treasure Prince of Dharma."
- 1500European history
Ludovico Sforza is captured by Swiss troops at Novara and is handed over to the French.
Ludovico Sforza is captured by Swiss troops and handed over to the French.
- 1545World history
The settlement of Villa Imperial de Carlos V (now the city of Potosí) in Bolivia is founded after the discovery of huge silver deposits in the area.
Villa Imperial de Carlos V, now Potosí, is established following the discovery of extensive silver deposits.
- 1606US history
The Virginia Company of London is established by royal charter by James I of England with the purpose of establishing colonial settlements in North America.
King James I grants a royal charter to the Virginia Company of London, authorizing it to establish English colonial settlements in North America.
- 1717UK history
Robert Walpole resigns from the British government, commencing the Whig Split which lasts until 1720.
Robert Walpole's resignation triggers the Whig Split, a political divide that persists until 1720.
- 1724Pop culture
Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, his first cantata composed for Easter in Leipzig.
Johann Sebastian Bach conducts the premiere of his Easter cantata "Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen," marking his first such composition in Leipzig.
- 1809War
Napoleonic Wars: The War of the Fifth Coalition begins when forces of the Austrian Empire invade Bavaria.
Austrian forces invade Bavaria, marking the start of the War of the Fifth Coalition against Napoleon.
- 1991World history
A rare tropical storm develops in the South Atlantic Ocean near Angola, the first to be documented by satellites.
A rare tropical storm forms near Angola, becoming the first such system documented by satellite imagery in the South Atlantic.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 10
7 this date All birthdays
Don Meredith
American football player and sportscaster
Don Meredith, nicknamed "Dandy Don," the American football quarterback who played nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and later became a sports commentator, was born in 1938.
Born
1938
Died
2010
Leonidas Polk
Scottish-American general and bishop
1806 – 1884
Arnold Orville Beckman
American chemist, inventor, and philanthropist
1900 – 2004
Sheb Wooley
American singer-songwriter and actor
1921 – 2003
Spede Pasanen
Finnish film director and producer, comedian, and inventor
1930 – 2001
Stephanie Sheh
Taiwanese-American voice actress, director, and producer
b. 1977 · 49
Daisy Ridley
English actress
b. 1992 · 34
Music
The number one songs on April 10
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on April 10, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport April 10, 1896
Summer Olympics: The Olympic marathon is run ending with the victory of Greek athlete Spyridon Louis.
Spyridon Louis wins the Olympic marathon, completing the race and securing Greece's only medal at the games.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 10, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
2 celebrated today
Day of the Builder (Azerbaijan)
International
There are several public holidays in Azerbaijan
Siblings Day (International observance)
International
Siblings Day is a holiday recognized in parts of the United States and Canada on April 10, and as Brothers and Sisters Day on May 31 in Europe
❝
If 'ifs' and 'buts' were candy and nuts, wouldn't it be a Merry Christmas?
— Don Meredith · born April 10, 1938