150 years ago today
Alexander Graham Bell Makes the First Successful Telephone Call
On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell successfully transmitted the first intelligible telephone message in history, speaking the now-famous words "Mr. Watson — come here — I want to see you" to his assistant Thomas Watson in a neighboring room of their Boston workshop. Bell had been awarded the telephone patent just three days earlier, on March 7, 1876. The invention fundamentally transformed human communication, commerce, and society across the globe. Within decades, telephone networks would span entire continents, and the technology Bell pioneered would eventually evolve into the mobile and internet-connected world of today.
Harriet Tubman
American abolitionist and political activist
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery and then made approximately 13 missions to rescue around 70 enslaved people using the Underground Railroad network. During the Civil War she served as a spy and scout for the Union Army, and later became a leading suffragist.
Alexander III of Russia
Emperor of Russia, 1881–1894
Alexander III was a powerful and deeply conservative Tsar who reversed many of his father's liberal reforms following Alexander II's assassination. His reign was marked by intense Russification policies, suppression of revolutionary movements, and the forging of the Franco-Russian Alliance.
Pablo de Sarasate
Spanish violinist and composer
Pablo de Sarasate was one of the foremost violin virtuosos of the 19th century, admired for his silky tone and phenomenal technical command. Major composers including Bruch, Saint-Saëns, and Lalo wrote celebrated concertos and solo pieces specifically for him.
Sharon Stone
American actress and film producer
Sharon Stone rose to global stardom with her role in Basic Instinct (1992) and earned an Academy Award nomination for Casino (1995). She has been a prominent advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and women's issues throughout her career.
Chuck Norris
American martial artist and actor
Chuck Norris is a martial arts champion who became one of Hollywood's most iconic action stars through the Missing in Action series and Walker, Texas Ranger. He has become an enduring figure in popular culture and internet humor.
Battle of the Aegates Ends the First Punic War
Roman forces sink the Carthaginian fleet at the Battle of the Aegates, bringing the First Punic War to a decisive end and establishing Rome as the dominant naval power in the western Mediterranean.
Columbus Departs Hispaniola, Leaving His Brother Behind
After establishing the city of Santo Domingo, Christopher Columbus departs Hispaniola for Spain, leaving his brother Bartholomew in command of the fledgling colony.
Charles I Dissolves Parliament, Starting Eleven Years of Personal Rule
King Charles I dissolves the Parliament of England, beginning an eleven-year period of sole royal rule known as the Personal Rule or the 'Eleven Years' Tyranny.' The decision would ultimately contribute to the outbreak of the English Civil War.
Louis XIV Begins His Personal Rule of France
Following the death of Cardinal Mazarin, France's 'Sun King' Louis XIV assumes direct personal control of the French state, beginning a reign that would transform France into the most powerful nation in Europe.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Ratified, Ending Mexican-American War
The United States Senate ratifies the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, formally ending the Mexican-American War. Mexico cedes a vast territory including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico to the United States.
Europe's Worst Mine Disaster Kills 1,099 in France
The Courrières mine disaster in northern France kills 1,099 miners — the largest mining accident in European history — after a coal dust explosion ripped through the underground tunnels.
Gandhi Arrested for Sedition in India
Mahatma Gandhi is arrested by British colonial authorities in India and tried for sedition, sentenced to six years in prison. He was released after nearly two years due to an appendicitis operation, with his imprisonment making him an international symbol of resistance.
Tibetan Uprising Begins as Thousands Surround Dalai Lama's Palace
Fearing an abduction attempt by China, thousands of Tibetans surround the Dalai Lama's palace in Lhasa to prevent his removal, sparking the Tibetan uprising that would lead to his flight to India.
James Earl Ray Pleads Guilty to Killing Martin Luther King Jr.
In Memphis, Tennessee, James Earl Ray pleads guilty to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., accepting a 99-year sentence. He later attempted to recant the plea, and controversy about his guilt has persisted ever since.
Dot-Com Bubble Peaks as NASDAQ Hits All-Time High
The NASDAQ Composite stock market index reaches its all-time peak of 5,048.62, marking the apex of the dot-com bubble. The market would subsequently lose nearly 80% of its value over the following two years.
Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX Crash Grounds Boeing Fleet Worldwide
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX, crashes shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 on board. Combined with the earlier Lion Air crash, this disaster led to the worldwide grounding of all 737 MAX aircraft.
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American abolitionist and political activist
Harriet Tubman died on March 10, 1913, after a life spent fighting slavery and championing civil rights. Her final words to those gathered around her were reported to be: 'I go to prepare a place for you.'
Jean Calas
French Protestant merchant executed on false charge
Jean Calas, a French Protestant wrongly convicted of murdering his son, died after being broken on the wheel in Toulouse. Voltaire championed his cause and secured his posthumous exoneration three years later, making the case a landmark in the fight for religious tolerance.
Arthur Honegger
French-Swiss composer
Arthur Honegger, a member of the influential group Les Six, died in Paris in 1955. His dramatic oratorio Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher and his celebrated orchestral piece Pacific 231 remain among the most distinctive works in 20th-century French music.
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