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
August 10 Monday, August 10, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 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
5
Holidays
1755
Canadian history 271 years ago
Under the direction of Charles Lawrence, the British begin to forcibly deport the Acadians from Nova Scotia to the Thirteen Colonies and France.
The British begin forcibly deporting the Acadians from Nova Scotia to the Thirteen Colonies and France under the direction of Governor Charles Lawrence.
History
What happened on August 10
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 654Religion
Pope Eugene I elected to succeed Martinus I.
Pope Eugene I is elected to lead the Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Martin I.
- 955European history
Battle of Lechfeld: Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor defeats the Magyars, ending 50 years of Magyar invasion of the West.
Otto I defeats the Magyars at the Battle of Lechfeld, ending their decades-long invasions in Western Europe.
- 991UK history
Battle of Maldon: The English, led by Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex, are defeated by a band of inland-raiding Vikings near Maldon, Essex.
Byrhtnoth and his English forces are defeated by Viking raiders in a battle near Maldon.
- 1030War
The Battle of Azaz ends with a humiliating retreat of the Byzantine emperor, Romanos III Argyros, against the Mirdasid rulers of Aleppo. The retreat degenerates into a rout, in which Romanos himself barely escapes capture.
Romanos III Argyros suffers a humiliating defeat and near-capture as his forces retreat from Azaz against the Mirdasid rulers of Aleppo.
- 1270World history
Yekuno Amlak takes the imperial throne of Ethiopia, restoring the Solomonic dynasty to power after a 100-year Zagwe interregnum.
Yekuno Amlak ascends to the Ethiopian imperial throne, ending the Zagwe dynasty and reinstating the Solomonic line.
- 1316War
The Second Battle of Athenry takes place near Athenry during the Bruce campaign in Ireland.
Irish and Anglo-Norman forces defeat a Scottish army at the Second Battle of Athenry during Robert the Bruce's brother Edward's campaign in Ireland.
- 1346European history
Jaume Ferrer sets out from Mallorca for the "River of Gold", the Senegal River.
Jaume Ferrer departs Mallorca to explore the Senegal River in search of gold.
- 1512War
The naval Battle of Saint-Mathieu, during the War of the League of Cambrai, sees the simultaneous destruction of the Breton ship La Cordelière and the English ship The Regent.
The naval Battle of Saint-Mathieu sees the Breton warship La Cordelière and English warship The Regent destroy each other in a catastrophic mutual explosion.
- 1519Science
Ferdinand Magellan's five ships set sail from Seville to circumnavigate the globe. The Basque second-in-command Juan Sebastián Elcano will complete the expedition after Magellan's death in the Philippines.
Ferdinand Magellan sets sail from Seville with five ships to circumnavigate the globe; Juan Sebastián Elcano completes the journey after Magellan's death.
- 1628European history
The Swedish warship Vasa sinks on her maiden voyage off Stockholm.
The Swedish warship Vasa sinks shortly after setting sail during her inaugural journey in Stockholm harbor.
- 1680US history
The Pueblo Revolt begins in New Mexico.
Pueblo Native Americans launch a rebellion against Spanish rule, marking the beginning of a year-long struggle for autonomy.
- 1755Canadian history
Under the direction of Charles Lawrence, the British begin to forcibly deport the Acadians from Nova Scotia to the Thirteen Colonies and France.
The British begin forcibly deporting the Acadians from Nova Scotia to the Thirteen Colonies and France under the direction of Governor Charles Lawrence.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 10
7 this date All birthdays
Herbert Hoover
American engineer and politician, 31st President of the United States
Herbert Hoover, the American engineer and politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and led major humanitarian efforts, was born today in 1874.
Born
1874
Died
1964
Camillo Benso
Count of Cavour, Italian soldier and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Italy
1810 – 1861
Alfred Döblin
Polish-German physician and author
1878 – 1957
Jean-François Lyotard
French philosopher, sociologist, and literary theorist
1924 – 1998
Phoolan Devi
Indian lawyer and politician
1963 – 2001
Kevin Randleman
American mixed martial artist and wrestler
1971 – 2016
Lisa Raymond
American tennis player
b. 1973 · 53
Music
The number one songs on August 10
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 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 August 10, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 10, 1990
The Magellan space probe reaches Venus.
The Magellan space probe begins mapping the surface of Venus with radar, revealing details previously hidden beneath the planet's thick clouds.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Argentine Air Force Day (Argentina)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Declaration of Independence of Quito, proclaimed independence from Spain on August 10, 1809. Independence was finally attained on May 24, 1822, at the Battle of Pichincha. (Ecuador)
International
The national public holidays in Ecuador include:
International Biodiesel Day
International
Biodiesel is a renewable biofuel, a form of diesel fuel, derived from biological sources like vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases, and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters
National Veterans Day (Indonesia)
International
The following table indicates declared Indonesian government national holidays
World Lion Day
International
World Lion Day is an international annual event on August 10, dedicated to raising awareness and support for the conservation of lions
❝
Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die.
— Herbert Hoover · born August 10, 1874