On This Day in History – June 10

Major Events

• 1190 – Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) drowns in the Saleph River during the Third Crusade.

• 1829 – The first Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities takes place on the Thames in London.

• 1935 – Alcoholics Anonymous is founded in Akron, Ohio, by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith.

• 1940 – Italy declares war on France and the United Kingdom during World War II, aligning with Nazi Germany.

• 1944 – The Oradour-sur-Glane massacre occurs in Nazi-occupied France, where SS troops kill 642 villagers.

• 1967 – The Six-Day War ends as Israel and Syria agree to a ceasefire, significantly altering the Middle East map.

• 2003 – NASA launches the Spirit rover toward Mars as part of its Mars Exploration Rover mission.

Famous Birthdays

• Judy Garland (1922–1969), American actress and singer, best known for The Wizard of Oz.

• Saul Bellow (1915–2005), Canadian-American writer and Nobel Prize laureate in literature.

• Howlin’ Wolf (1910–1976), American blues singer and guitarist who helped shape modern rock music.

• Prince Philip (1921–2021), Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II.

• Elizabeth Hurley (born 1965), English actress and model.

• Shane West (born 1978), American actor known for A Walk to Remember and Nikita.

• Kate Upton (born 1992), American model and actress.

Notable Deaths

• Frederick I Barbarossa (1122–1190), Holy Roman Emperor who died en route to the Holy Land.

• Alexander Pope (1688–1744), English poet best known for The Rape of the Lock and Essay on Criticism.

• Ray Charles (1930–2004), Legendary American singer, songwriter, and pianist who pioneered soul music.

• Hafez al-Assad (1930–2000), President of Syria and father of the current president, Bashar al-Assad.

Holidays

• Portugal Day (Portugal) – Also known as Dia de Portugal, celebrating the life of poet Luís de Camões and Portuguese heritage.

• Abolition Day (French Guiana) – Commemorates the end of slavery in the region in 1848.

• Alcoholics Anonymous Founders’ Day (U.S.) – Honors the founding of AA and the beginning of the global recovery movement.

Fun Facts

• Ray Charles, who passed away on this day in 2004, was one of the first musicians to successfully blend gospel, R&B, and blues into what became known as soul music.

• Alcoholics Anonymous, founded on June 10, 1935, has since grown into a worldwide fellowship with millions of members.

• The Oradour-sur-Glane massacre stands as one of the most horrific Nazi war crimes committed on French soil.

• Judy Garland was born on this day and became one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars by age 16.

• The Spirit rover launched on this date in 2003 and far outlasted its original mission, operating for over six years on Mars.