Siege of Calais begins: King Edward III of England surrounds the city of Calais during the Hundred Years' War, leading to a prolonged siege lasting over a year.
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On This Day in History: May 10
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on May 10th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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French explorer Jacques Cartier lands in Newfoundland on May 10, 1534, marking the beginning of French exploration in North America. He sailed from Saint-Malo, France with two ships and 61 men. His primary mission for King Francis I was to find a passage to Asia and bring back riches.
On July 24, 1534, he erected a 10-meter cross in Gaspé Bay, claiming the land for France. He returned to France in September 1534, having failed to find a, passage but having identified a new, vast land for his king. During his first voyage, Cartier explored the coasts of Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the Strait of Belle Isle. Cartier is credited with naming Canada, applying the Iroquoian word kanata, meaning "village" or "settlement", to the region around present-day Quebec City in 1535. He initially used "Canada" to refer to Stadacona and the territory controlled by its chief, Donnacona, but the name was soon extended to a much larger area. Jacques Cartier made three major trips to North America all commissioned by King Francis I of France. His voyages were crucial for France's claim to Canada, allowing the nation to explore the St. Lawrence Gulf and River and later colonization efforts.
The British parliament passes the unpopular Tea Act. More
Louis XVI accedes to the throne of France, and his wife, Marie-Antoinette, becomes the queen consort; later they both were beheaded during the French Revolution. Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793. Marie Antoinette's trial began on 14 October 1793; two days later, she was convicted by the Revolutionary Tribunal of high treason and executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793 at the Place de la Révolution.
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Confederate President Jefferson Davis is captured by Union forces in Irwinville, Georgia. General, Robert E. Lee, had surrendered on April 9 at Appomattox in Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant.
The U.S. Transcontinental railroad opens for through traffic linking the East Coast and West Coast by rail, when CPRR President Leland Stanford ceremonially drove the gold "Last Spike" (later often referred to as the "Golden Spike") at Promontory Summit in Utah. More
The peace Treaty of Frankfurt is signed, formally ending the Franco-Prussian War and leaving a stronger unified Germany under Prussian leadership, emerging as a dominant force. It also resulted in significant territorial losses for France, including Alsace and part of Lorraine. More
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John Edgar Hoover becomes the 5th Director of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), the predecessor to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). After 11 years in that post, Hoover became instrumental in founding the FBI in June 1935, where he remained as director for an additional 37 years until his death in May 1972 – serving a total of 48 years leading both the BOI and the FBI under eight Presidents. He built the agency into a highly effective, although sometimes controversial, arm of federal law enforcement. More
Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He lead the U.K through the tumultuous years of World War II. More
Robert Hanssen, FBI agent who was convicted of spying for the Russian government is sentenced to life in prison without parole. Hanssen died in prison on June 5, 2023, at the age of 79. More