On This Day in History

August 10

Historical Events

The Fall of Nineveh as depicted by English painter John Martin

612 BC Fall of Nineveh to the Babylonians and the forces of the Medes leads to the sack of one of the greatest cities in the world, the destruction of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, and the death of King Sinsharishkun [date approximate]

610 Traditional date of Laylat al-Qadr / Night of Power when Muslims believe the Quran is first sent down from heaven to the world and revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad

1497 John Cabot tells King Henry VII of his trip to "Asia"

1675 King Charles II and John Flamsteed lay the foundation stone of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London

1846 US Act of Congress passes establishing the Smithsonian Institution, now the world's largest museum and research complex

More Historical Events

Famous Birthdays

Charles Napier 1782 - 1853 Hugo Eckener 1868 - 1954

Herbert Hoover 1874 - 1964 Antonio Banderas 64th Birthday

Also Vicente Guerrero and Henri Nestlé.

More Famous Birthdays

Famous Deaths

Maarten Tromp 1598 - 1653 Thomas Elkins 1900

Also Robert H. Goddard and Frank Lloyd.

More Famous Deaths

Did a Snake Kill Cleopatra?

Cleopatra, the legendary Queen of Egypt, is said to have died on this day, famously submitting to the bite of a poisonous snake. The story might even be true. . .

Cleopatra Bitten by a Snake?