June 10

Events - Society & Lifestyle

1358day.year

Battle of Mello: The peasant forces of the Jacquerie are crushed by the army of the French nobility.

On June 10, 1358, French nobility decisively crushed the Jacquerie peasant uprising at the Battle of Mello.
The Battle of Mello was the culmination of the Jacquerie, a violent peasant revolt in northern France triggered by economic hardship and warfare. Peasant forces gathered to protest feudal oppression and demanded relief from unfair taxes and violence. The French nobility assembled a well-armed army and confronted the insurgents at Mello. Overwhelmed by superior cavalry and disciplined troops, the peasants were brutally defeated, with many killed or captured. The rebellion’s suppression restored noble dominance and served as a stark example of the brutal realities of medieval class conflict. The Jacquerie’s legacy influenced later social and political thought on peasant rights.
1358 Battle of Mello Jacquerie
1793day.year

The Jardin des Plantes museum opens in Paris. A year later, it becomes the first public zoo.

In 1793, the Jardin des Plantes museum opened in Paris as a center for natural history; it became the world’s first public zoo a year later.
Amid the upheaval of the French Revolution, the Jardin des Plantes in Paris was transformed into a public museum on June 10, 1793. Its galleries displayed specimens of plants, minerals, and animals for all citizens to study and enjoy. In 1794, the institution expanded its mission by opening menageries that evolved into the first public zoo. The Jardin promoted scientific education and democratized access to natural wonders. It laid the groundwork for modern museums and zoological parks across Europe.
1793 Jardin des Plantes zoo
1854day.year

The United States Naval Academy graduates its first class of students.

In 1854, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis graduated its first class of midshipmen, inaugurating formalized training for naval officers.
Established by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft in 1845, the United States Naval Academy opened at Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland. On June 10, 1854, the academy awarded diplomas to its inaugural class of midshipmen. The graduates had undergone a rigorous curriculum combining seamanship, mathematics, and engineering. This milestone laid the foundation for structured naval education in the U.S., professionalizing the officer corps and promoting a modern navy. The academy has since produced thousands of officers who have shaped American maritime history.
1854 United States Naval Academy
1935day.year

Dr. Robert Smith takes his last drink, and Alcoholics Anonymous is founded in Akron, Ohio, United States, by him and Bill Wilson.

Alcoholics Anonymous is founded in Akron, Ohio, when Dr. Robert Smith achieves sobriety alongside Bill Wilson and establishes a fellowship for recovery from alcoholism.
In 1935, Dr. Robert Smith, known as 'Dr. Bob', took his last drink and began working with Bill Wilson to form Alcoholics Anonymous. Their initial meetings in Akron focused on shared experience and mutual support among alcoholics. They developed the Twelve Steps, a spiritual framework for maintaining sobriety. AA grew rapidly as the program spread across the United States and later worldwide. The organization's emphasis on anonymity and peer-led groups revolutionized addiction treatment. Today, AA remains one of the most influential recovery movements globally.
1935 Robert Smith Alcoholics Anonymous Akron, Ohio Bill Wilson
1963day.year

The Equal Pay Act of 1963, aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on sex, was signed into law by John F. Kennedy as part of his New Frontier Program.

President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, aiming to eliminate wage disparities based on sex in the United States.
On June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law as part of his New Frontier program. The legislation made it illegal to pay women lower wages than men for the same work in the same establishment. It was a landmark moment in the fight for gender equality in the workplace, following years of advocacy by labor and women's rights groups. Employers were required to provide equal pay unless wage differences were justified by seniority, merit, or other factors. Although initial enforcement faced challenges, the Act paved the way for future civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law significantly advanced economic opportunities for women and laid groundwork for ongoing gender pay equity efforts.
1963 Equal Pay Act of 1963 wage disparity based on sex John F. Kennedy New Frontier
1964day.year

United States Senate breaks a 75-day filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, leading to the bill's passage.

The U.S. Senate ended a 75-day filibuster, allowing passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
On June 10, 1964, the United States Senate voted to end a record 75-day filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This cloture vote was the first successful use of the procedure for a civil rights bill in Senate history. The Civil Rights Act aimed to outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Breaking the filibuster cleared the path for the bill's final passage and subsequent signature by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Act became a cornerstone of the civil rights movement, protecting voting rights and desegregation. Its passage marked a major legislative victory for civil rights leaders and set a precedent for future equality measures.
1964 filibuster Civil Rights Act of 1964
1991day.year

Eleven-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard is kidnapped in South Lake Tahoe, California; she would remain a captive until 2009.

Eleven-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard is abducted at gunpoint in South Lake Tahoe on June 10, 1991, beginning an 18-year captivity.
On June 10, 1991, 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard was kidnapped while walking to a school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe, California. Her captors, Phillip and Nancy Garrido, held her in concealed tents and shacks in their backyard for nearly 18 years. During her captivity, Dugard gave birth to two daughters fathered by Phillip Garrido. She was finally discovered in 2009 when Phillip Garrido was spotted by police due to traffic violations, leading to her rescue. Her case spurred national reflection on law enforcement procedures and the resilience of kidnapping survivors.
1991 Jaycee Lee Dugard South Lake Tahoe, California
2001day.year

Pope John Paul II canonizes Lebanon's first female saint, Saint Rafqa.

Pope John Paul II canonizes Lebanon’s first female saint, Rafqa, during a ceremony at the Vatican on June 10, 2001.
On June 10, 2001, Pope John Paul II declared Yvonne ‘Rafqa’ Sarkis the first female saint of Lebanon. Born in 1832, Rafqa became a Maronite nun known for her deep spirituality and devotion despite chronic illness. Her canonization highlighted the universal nature of sainthood and recognized the spiritual heritage of the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and Lebanese diaspora participated in the ceremony, celebrating her legacy. Saint Rafqa’s life continues to inspire Christian communities in Lebanon and beyond for her faith and solidarity with the suffering.
2001 Pope John Paul II Lebanon Saint Rafqa