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
July 10 Friday, July 10, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 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
4
Holidays
1460
UK history 566 years ago
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, defeats the king's Lancastrian forces and takes King Henry VI prisoner in the Battle of Northampton.
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, defeats Lancastrian forces and captures King Henry VI at the Battle of Northampton during the Wars of the Roses.
History
What happened on July 10
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 138World history
Emperor Hadrian of Rome dies of heart failure at his residence on the bay of Naples, Baiae; he is buried at Rome in the Tomb of Hadrian beside his late wife, Vibia Sabina.
Emperor Hadrian dies of heart failure and is buried alongside his wife, Vibia Sabina, in the Tomb of Hadrian.
- 420World history
Having usurped the throne of Emperor Gong of Jin, Liu Yu proclaims himself Emperor of the Liu Song dynasty.
Liu Yu declares himself emperor, founding the Liu Song dynasty after overthrowing Emperor Gong of Jin.
- 645World history
Isshi Incident: Prince Naka-no-Ōe and Fujiwara no Kamatari assassinate Soga no Iruka during a coup d'état at the imperial palace.
Prince Naka-no-Ōe and Fujiwara no Kamatari assassinate Soga no Iruka in a coup at the imperial palace.
- 988European history
The Norse King Glúniairn recognises Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, High King of Ireland, and agrees to pay taxes and accept Brehon Law; the event is considered to be the founding of the city of Dublin.
Glúniairn, Norse king, recognizes Máel Sechnaill as High King of Ireland, agreeing to pay taxes and abide by Brehon Law, marking the establishment of Dublin.
- 1212UK history
The most severe of several early fires of London burns most of the city to the ground.
The Great Fire of London destroys much of the city, marking one of history's most devastating urban conflagrations.
- 1290European history
Ladislaus IV, King of Hungary, is assassinated at the castle of Körösszeg (modern-day Cheresig in Romania).
Ladislaus IV, King of Hungary, is assassinated at the castle of Körösszeg in what is now Romania.
- 1460UK history
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, defeats the king's Lancastrian forces and takes King Henry VI prisoner in the Battle of Northampton.
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, defeats Lancastrian forces and captures King Henry VI at the Battle of Northampton during the Wars of the Roses.
- 1499World history
The Portuguese explorer Nicolau Coelho returns to Lisbon after discovering the sea route to India as a companion of Vasco da Gama.
Nicolau Coelho returns to Lisbon, completing the first voyage to India by sea alongside Vasco da Gama.
- 1512War
The Spanish conquest of Iberian Navarre commences with the capture of Goizueta.
Spanish forces capture Goizueta, marking the beginning of the conquest of Iberian Navarre.
- 1519World history
Zhu Chenhao declares the Ming dynasty's Zhengde Emperor a usurper, beginning the Prince of Ning rebellion, and leads his army north in an attempt to capture Nanjing.
Zhu Chenhao leads a rebellion against the Ming dynasty's Zhengde Emperor, claiming he is a usurper and marches north to seize control of Nanjing.
- 1645UK history
English Civil War: The Battle of Langport takes place.
Parliamentarian forces defeat King Charles I's army at the Battle of Langport.
- 1778World history
American Revolution: Louis XVI of France declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain.
France enters the American Revolutionary War against Britain, supporting the colonies' fight for independence.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 10
7 this date All birthdays
William Blackstone
English lawyer, judge, and politician
Sir William Blackstone, the English jurist whose Commentaries on the Laws of England became the definitive description of English common law, was born today in 1723.
Born
1723
Died
1780
Ima Hogg
American society leader, philanthropist, patron and collector of the arts
1882 – 1975
Don Herbert
American television host known as "Mr. Wizard"
1917 – 2007
Mahathir Mohamad
Malaysian physician and politician, 4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia
b. 1925 · 101
Chin Han
Taiwanese actor
b. 1946 · 80
Urban Meyer
American football player and coach
b. 1964 · 62
Mvondo Atangana
Cameroon footballer
b. 1979 · 47
Music
The number one songs on July 10
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 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 July 10, 2016
Portugal defeats France in the UEFA Euro 2016 Final to win their first European title.
Portugal wins the UEFA Euro 2016 final against France, securing their first European championship title.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 10, 1962
Telstar, the world's first communications satellite, is launched into orbit.
Telstar becomes the first active communications satellite, relaying television signals across the Atlantic Ocean.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)
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
Independence Day (Bahamas), celebrates the independence of the Bahamas from the United Kingdom in 1973.
International
The holidays in The Bahamas include the following:
Nikola Tesla Day
International
Nikola Tesla is portrayed in many forms of popular culture
Statehood Day (Wyoming)
International
A state of the United States is one of the 50 constituent entities that shares its sovereignty with the federal government
❝
Time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.
— William Blackstone · born July 10, 1723