Last Updated: August 10, 2026
Today in History – August 10 occupies an important place in world history, with major developments spanning political revolutions, wars, scientific institutions, space exploration and civil rights. From the storming of the Tuileries Palace during the French Revolution to the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution, Japan’s crucial step toward ending World War II, and the Magellan spacecraft’s arrival at Venus, the date has witnessed several historically significant milestones.
This article covers:
- Major historical events on August 10
- Famous personalities born on August 10
- National and international observances
- Important current affairs and competitive exam facts
Table of Contents
🌟 Top Highlights of August 10
- Birth Anniversary of V.V. Giri (1894): Commemorating the 4th President of India, prominent trade union leader, and Bharat Ratna recipient.
- Launch of Eenadu Daily (1974): The revolutionary Telugu newspaper ‘Eenadu’ began its publication from Visakhapatnam in 1974.
- AP State Anthem Creator: Birth anniversary of Sankarambadi Sundarachari, who penned “Ma Telugu Talliki Malle Pudanda”.
- Global Conservation Days: Marked globally as World Lion Day and World Biofuel Day.
🗓️ Important Historical Events on August 10
1519 – Ferdinand Magellan Set Sail
Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet of five ships departed Seville, Spain, to attempt the first circumnavigation of the Earth. This expedition redefined global geography and maritime navigation.
1628 – Swedish Warship Vasa Sinks
The heavily armed Swedish warship ‘Vasa’ sank on its maiden voyage just outside Stockholm harbor. Its recovery and preservation centuries later became one of the most remarkable achievements in maritime archaeology.
1792 – Storming of the Tuileries Palace
Revolutionaries in Paris stormed the Tuileries Palace, arresting King Louis XVI. This event ended the French monarchy and birthed the First French Republic.
1821 – Missouri Admitted as 24th US State
President James Monroe issued the proclamation admitting Missouri as the 24th state of the United States. Missouri’s admission was closely connected to the intense political debate over the expansion of slavery.
1846 – Smithsonian Institution Established
The US Congress officially chartered the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., creating one of the world’s premier museum and research complexes. It was created from the bequest of British scientist James Smithson for the purpose of the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.
1920 – Treaty of Sèvres Signed
Representatives of the Allied powers and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Sèvres after World War I, marking the partitioning of Ottoman territories. Turkish nationalists rejected the settlement, and the subsequent Turkish War of Independence led to a new settlement under the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
1948 – Atomic Energy Commission of India Established
India established its Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) under the chairmanship of pioneer scientist Homi J. Bhabha to spearhead nuclear energy development.
1974 – Launch of Eenadu Telugu Newspaper
The iconic Telugu daily newspaper ‘Eenadu’ launched its inaugural edition from Visakhapatnam under Ramoji Rao. It subsequently developed into one of the major newspapers in Telugu journalism.
1990 – Magellan Enters Orbit Around Venus
NASA’s Magellan spacecraft entered orbit around Venus following a 15-month interplanetary journey. Its radar observations produced extraordinarily detailed maps of the surface hidden beneath Venus’s thick cloud cover.
Other Major Events
- 1675: The foundation stone for the Royal Observatory at Greenwich marked an important stage in Britain’s institutional development of astronomical observation.
- 1840: American aeronaut Louis Anselm piloted the “Star of the East”, Canada’s first manned balloon flight (using a hydrogen gas balloon).
- 1904: The Battle of the Yellow Sea was fought during the Russo-Japanese War as the trapped Russian fleet tried to break out from Port Arthur.
- 1930: British authorities banned the wearing of “Gandhi Caps” in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. 1963: The Congress party initiated the “Kamaraj Plan” to reorganize party leadership.
- 1979: India’s SLV-3 (Satellite Launch Vehicle-3) experimental satellite launch vehicle faced a partial failure and crashed into the Bay of Bengal.
🎂 Famous Birthdays on August 10
| Year | Personality | Domain / Notable Achievement |
| 1782 | Charles James Napier | British military officer associated with the conquest of Sindh |
| 1860 | Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande | Pioneer who reclassified North Indian Classical (Hindustani) Music. |
| 1874 | Herbert Hoover | 31st President of the United States. |
| 1894 | V.V. Giri | 4th President of India, labor union reformer, Bharat Ratna. |
| 1914 | Sankarambadi Sundarachari | Renowned poet who authored AP’s state anthem “Ma Telugu Talliki”. |
| 1927 | M.K. Vainu Bappu | Eminent astrophysicist, father of modern Indian astronomy, former President of the International Astronomical Union and co-discoverer of the Wilson-Bappu effect and Comet Bappu-Bok-Newkirk. |
| 1933 | Turlapati Kutumba Rao | Veteran journalist, freedom fighter, and Padma Shri recipient. |
📌 Other Notable Birthdays: Born on this day were founder of Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana Alladiya Khan (1855), Influential American designer of electric guitars Leo Fender (1909) and Irish footballer and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane (1971).
🕯️ Notable Death Anniversaries on August 10
- 1896 – Otto Lilienthal: German aviation pioneer whose systematic glider experiments contributed important practical knowledge to the development of human flight.
- 1945 – Robert H. Goddard: American physicist considered the Father of Liquid-fueled Rocketry.
- 1986 – General A.S. Vaidya: Former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army who led Operation Blue Star.
- 1988 – Arnulfo Arias: Panamanian political leader who served as President of Panama on three occasions.
- 1995 – Harishankar Parsai: Legendary Hindi satirist and social commentator.
📢 National & International Days Observed on August 10
- World Lion Day: Celebrated globally on August 10 to highlight the importance of lion conservation, protect natural habitats, and address declining populations. It highlights the need for long-term conservation of lions and their ecosystems.
- World Biofuel Day: Commemorates Sir Rudolf Diesel’s successful operation of a diesel engine using peanut oil on August 10, 1893, promoting eco-friendly non-fossil fuels.
- National Deworming Day (India): Organized bi-annually (February 10 & August 10) by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to eradicate intestinal worms among children.
💡Did You Know?
- The Smithsonian began with the fortune of a British donor: James Smithson never visited the United States, yet left his estate for the creation of an institution in Washington devoted to increasing and spreading knowledge.
- Vasa spent more than three centuries underwater: The Swedish warship sank in 1628 and was raised in 1961. Its exceptional preservation makes it one of the world’s most important surviving 17th-century ships.
- Rocketry Pioneer: Robert Goddard created the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926, laying the foundation for modern space exploration.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who wrote the Andhra Pradesh state anthem “Ma Telugu Talliki Malle Pudanda”?
Ans: Sankarambadi Sundarachari, born on August 10, 1914.
Q2: Who was the 4th President of India, and when was he born?
Ans: Varahagiri Venkata Giri (V.V. Giri), born on August 10, 1894.
Q3: When was India’s Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) formed?
Ans: On August 10, 1948, under Dr. Homi J. Bhabha.
Q4: When and from where did the ‘Eenadu’ Telugu newspaper launch?
Ans: On August 10, 1974, from Visakhapatnam.
Q5: Why is World Biofuel Day observed on August 10?
Ans: To honor Sir Rudolf Diesel’s first successful test of a bio-fueled engine on August 10, 1893.
Q6: Who is known as the Father of Liquid-fueled Rocketry?
Ans: Robert H. Goddard, who passed away on August 10, 1945.
Q7: In which Andhra Pradesh district was wearing the ‘Gandhi Cap’ banned in 1930?
Ans: Guntur district.
Q8: On which date is World Lion Day observed globally?
Ans: August 10.
Q9: Whose bequest provided the financial foundation for the Smithsonian Institution?
Ans: British scientist James Smithson.
Q10: When was the Treaty of Sèvres signed?
Q11: Which planet was explored by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft?
Ans: Venus.