Today’s Historical Facts – February 10, 2025
Today is Monday, Feb. 10, the 41st day of 2025. There are 324 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Feb. 10, 1962, the Soviet Union exchanged captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel on the Glienicke Bridge connecting West Berlin and East Germany.
Additional historical events on this date:
– In 1736, the treaty ending the Seven Years’ War was signed in Paris, with France ceding its territory in Canada to Great Britain.
– In 1936, Nazi Germany’s Reichstag passed a law giving the Gestapo secret police absolute authority.
– In 1959, a tornado of F4 intensity struck the St. Louis area, resulting in 21 deaths and 345 injuries.
– In 1967, the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dealing with presidential disability and succession, was adopted.
– In 1981, eight people died in a fire at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino.
– In 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov faced off against IBM computer “Deep Blue” in a match in Philadelphia.
Notable birthdays today:
- Opera singer Leontyne Price – 98
- Actor Robert Wagner – 95
- Singer Roberta Flack – 88
- Olympic swimming gold medalist Mark Spitz – 75
- Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman – 70
- Basketball Hall of Fame coach John Calipari – 66
- Filmmaker Alexander Payne – 64
- TV host-political commentator George Stephanopoulos – 64
- Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. – 63
- Political commentator Glenn Beck – 61
- Actor Laura Dern – 58
- Writer-producer-director Vince Gilligan – 58
- Football Hall of Famer Ty Law – 51
- Actor-filmmaker Elizabeth Banks – 51
- Basketball Hall of Famer Tina Thompson – 50
- Reggaeton singer Don Omar – 47
- Actor Uzo Aduba – 44
- Actor Stephanie Beatriz – 44
- Actor Emma Roberts – 34
- Olympic swimming gold medalist Lilly King – 28
- Actor Chloe Grace Moretz – 28
- Actor Yara Shahidi – 25