1567day.year
Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, is found strangled following an explosion at the Kirk o' Field house in Edinburgh, Scotland, a suspected assassination.
Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, is found murdered in a suspected political assassination.
Following a mysterious blast at the Kirk o' Field, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley is discovered dead in the garden, his body showing signs of strangulation. His tumultuous marriage to Mary had soured amid political and religious tensions. Rumors swirl around a conspiracy involving the queen’s close associates, casting a shadow over her reign. The scandal undermines Mary's authority and contributes to her eventual downfall. Darnley’s death remains one of Scotland’s most notorious royal mysteries.
1567
Lord Darnley
Mary, Queen of Scots
Kirk o' Field house
Edinburgh
1861day.year
Jefferson Davis is notified by telegraph that he has been chosen as provisional President of the Confederate States of America.
Jefferson Davis receives word via telegraph of his election as provisional President of the Confederate States of America on February 10, 1861.
As several Southern states seceded following Abraham Lincoln's election, the newly formed Confederate States held a provisional congress to choose their leader. Jefferson Davis, a former U.S. Senator and Secretary of War, was selected to guide the breakaway nation. The telegraph notification underscored the vital role of emerging communications technologies in 19th-century politics. Davis's presidency would span the entirety of the Civil War, defining Confederate strategy and diplomacy. His leadership was marked by controversies over states' rights and military appointments. This appointment symbolized the Confederacy's resolve to establish a separate national identity.
1861
Jefferson Davis
President of the Confederate States of America
1920day.year
Józef Haller de Hallenburg performs the symbolic wedding of Poland to the sea, celebrating restitution of Polish access to open sea.
General Józef Haller conducts the symbolic 'wedding of Poland to the sea' ceremony on February 10, 1920.
After regaining independence at the end of World War I, Poland sought to reconnect with the Baltic coast lost during the partitions. General Józef Haller officiated a ceremony at Puck, casting a platinum ring into the water to symbolize the nation's union with the sea. This event celebrated the restoration of Polish maritime access and national sovereignty. The ritual boosted Polish morale and underscored the importance of a Baltic port for trade and defense. It became an enduring symbol of Poland's rebirth and resilience. The 'wedding' is commemorated annually as a patriotic tradition.
1920
Józef Haller de Hallenburg
symbolic wedding of Poland to the sea
1920day.year
About 75% of the population in Zone I votes to join Denmark in the 1920 Schleswig plebiscites.
In Zone I of the Schleswig plebiscites on February 10, 1920, about 75% of voters choose to join Denmark.
Following the Treaty of Versailles, the disputed Schleswig region was divided into zones for a plebiscite on national affiliation. Zone I, consisting mainly of northern Schleswig, saw an overwhelming majority favoring reunification with Denmark. This vote reshaped the border established after the Second Schleswig War of 1864. The peaceful plebiscite became a model for resolving territorial disputes through democratic processes. It restored Danish sovereignty over towns and countryside with cultural ties to Denmark. The result bolstered Danish national unity and eased long-standing tensions between Denmark and Germany.
1920
Denmark
1920 Schleswig plebiscites
1940day.year
The Soviet Union begins mass deportations of Polish citizens from occupied eastern Poland to Siberia.
In 1940, the Soviet Union forcibly deported thousands of Polish civilians from annexed eastern territories to labor camps in Siberia.
In early 1940, the Soviet NKVD rounded up Polish families living under Soviet occupation and loaded them onto overcrowded trains bound for Siberia. These deportations targeted entire communities including men, women, and children deemed potential threats to Soviet control. Deportees faced brutal winter conditions, inadequate food, and harsh forced labor in remote Gulag camps. Many perished from disease, starvation, and exhaustion during transit and in the camps. This campaign of repression aimed to eliminate Polish resistance and solidify Soviet authority over annexed regions.
1940
Soviet Union
occupied eastern Poland
1947day.year
The Paris Peace Treaties are signed by Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland and the Allies of World War II.
In 1947, the Paris Peace Treaties formally ended hostilities between the Allies and former Axis satellites in Europe.
After World War II, the victorious Allies negotiated separate peace treaties with Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland to settle border adjustments and reparations. On February 10, 1947, the treaties were signed in Paris, outlining territorial changes and limiting the military capabilities of the defeated nations. The agreements also addressed economic reparations to the Soviet Union and other affected countries. By legitimizing postwar borders, the treaties helped stabilize Europe and laid the groundwork for reconstruction. These settlements marked a key step in the transition from wartime alliances to postwar diplomatic relations.
1947
Paris Peace Treaties
Allies of World War II
1954day.year
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower warns against United States intervention in Vietnam.
In 1954, President Eisenhower publicly cautioned against direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
During a press conference on February 10, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower urged the United States to avoid sending combat troops to Vietnam. He expressed concern over the growing conflict between French colonial forces and Vietnamese nationalists led by Ho Chi Minh. Eisenhower warned that intervention could spiral into a larger regional war and advised support for containment through aid rather than ground troops. This statement foreshadowed later debates over American strategy in Southeast Asia. His cautious stance reflected fears of another protracted overseas conflict after Korea.
1954
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Vietnam
1962day.year
Cold War: Captured American U2 spy-plane pilot Gary Powers is exchanged for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.
In 1962, U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was swapped for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, easing Cold War tensions momentarily.
After Francis Gary Powers was shot down during a U-2 reconnaissance mission over Soviet airspace in May 1960, he was detained in Moscow. Meanwhile, Rudolf Abel, a high-ranking KGB agent, was arrested in New York. On February 10, 1962, the two countries arranged a spy exchange at the Glienicke Bridge in Germany. The swap represented one of the most dramatic prisoner exchanges of the Cold War era. It highlighted covert intelligence battles and occasional diplomatic breakthroughs. Powers returned home to debrief the U.S. government, while Abel was taken back to Moscow. The event underscored the high-stakes nature of espionage between superpowers.
1962
Cold War
U2 spy-plane
Gary Powers
Soviet
Rudolf Abel
1967day.year
The 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified.
In 1967, the 25th Amendment was ratified to clarify presidential succession and disability procedures.
Ratified on February 10, 1967, the 25th Amendment established clear guidelines for filling a vacancy in the vice presidency and for addressing presidential incapacity. It allows the president to nominate a new vice president subject to confirmation by both houses of Congress. It also empowers the vice president and Cabinet to declare the president unable to discharge duties, temporarily transferring power to the vice president. The amendment was prompted by ambiguities revealed during earlier administrations when presidents faced health crises. It strengthened the continuity of executive leadership and has since been invoked in various circumstances.
1967
25th Amendment to the United States Constitution
1972day.year
Ras Al Khaimah joins the United Arab Emirates, now making up seven emirates.
In 1972, Ras Al Khaimah became the seventh emirate to join the United Arab Emirates federation.
The United Arab Emirates was formed in December 1971 by six emirates emerging from the British Trucial States. On February 10, 1972, Ras Al Khaimah officially joined the federation, bringing the total number of member emirates to seven. The accession strengthened the political and economic unity of the young nation. It allowed for more coordinated infrastructure development, resource management, and foreign policy. Ras Al Khaimah’s unique history and strategic location contributed to the UAE’s growth. Today, it remains a vital part of the federation, known for its industrial zones and tourism initiatives.
1972
Ras Al Khaimah
United Arab Emirates
1989day.year
Ron Brown is elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee, becoming the first African American to lead a major American political party.
In 1989, Ron Brown was elected chair of the DNC, the first African American to helm a major U.S. political party.
On February 10, 1989, Ron Brown won the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, breaking a historic racial barrier in American politics. A skilled organizer who later served as Commerce Secretary under President Bill Clinton, Brown’s leadership aimed to revitalize the party’s electoral strategies and fundraising efforts. His tenure saw the Democrats regain control of the House and Senate in 1992. He championed inclusion and outreach to diverse communities in the party’s platform. Brown’s legacy endures in the increased representation of African Americans in political leadership roles. His sudden death in 1996 cut short a career that had reshaped the Democratic Party’s dynamics.
1989
Ron Brown
Democratic National Committee
African American
political party
2003day.year
France and Belgium break the NATO procedure of silent approval concerning the timing of protective measures for Turkey in case of a possible war with Iraq.
France and Belgium openly rejected NATO’s silent approval procedure for protective measures for Turkey, highlighting divisions in the alliance over the looming Iraq conflict.
On February 10, 2003, France and Belgium broke NATO’s silent approval mechanism regarding protective measures for Turkey amid tensions over a potential Iraq war.
The silent approval process assumes consent unless a member objects within a set timeframe.
By publicly dissenting, both countries signaled their reluctance to support rapid military intervention.
The move exposed deep divisions within NATO at a critical moment in international relations.
It also sparked debate about alliance unity and the role of European powers in shaping global security policy.
2003
NATO
Turkey
Iraq