On This Day May 10th

 OTD

May 10th is the one-hundred-thirtieth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 235 days remain until the end of the year.

 

Events

28 BCE – Han dynasty astronomers observe a sunspot during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, one of the earliest dated sunspot observations in China.

1503 – Christopher Columbus visits the Cayman Islands, naming them Las Tortugas after the numerous turtles there.

1773—The Parliament of Great Britain passed the Tea Act, designed to save the British East India Company by reducing taxes on its tea and granting it the right to sell tea directly to North America. The legislation led to the Boston Tea Party.

1774 – Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France.

1801 – First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America.

1869 – The First transcontinental railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed with the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory.

1916 – Sailing in the lifeboat James Caird, Ernest Shackleton arrives at South Georgia after a journey of 800 nautical miles from Elephant Island.

1946 – First successful launch of an American V-2 rocket at White Sands Proving Ground.

1962 – Marvel Comics publishes the first issue of The Incredible Hulk.

1994 – Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first black president.

1996 – A blizzard strikes Mount Everest, killing eight climbers by the next day.

2013 – One World Trade Center becomes the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

2022 – Queen Elizabeth II misses the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years. It was the first time that a new session of Parliament was opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge acting as Counsellors of State.

 

Birthdays

1697 – Jean-Marie Leclair, French violinist and composer (d. 1764)

1755 – Robert Gray, American captain, and explorer (d. 1806)

1878 – Gustav Stresemann, German journalist, and politician, Chancellor of Germany, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1929)

1899 – Fred Astaire, American actor, singer, and dancer (d. 1987)

1909 – Maybelle Carter, American autoharp player (d. 1978)

1946 – Dave Mason, English singer-songwriter and guitarist.

1957 – Sid Vicious, English singer and bass player (d. 1979)

1960 – Bono, Irish singer-songwriter, musician and activist.

1963 – Lisa Nowak, American commander and astronaut.

1978 – Kenan Thompson, American actor and comedian.

 

Holiday Highlight

NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS DAY

Small businesses have been the heart of life and the economy in the U.S. since the first settlers arrived. The idea of a self-made man emerged when the virtuous pioneer built a home and life for his family despite the odds. Many colonists during this period lived on small farms in far-flung rural areas. With only the wilderness and their farms for sustenance, families had no choice but to be self-sufficient. Many people also made essential items at home.

 

Since the country was still very young, all businesses were small-scale. Trading in crops and services helped the economy go ‘round. However, the transportation of goods from one point to another took ages. There were also no machines since automation didn’t exist yet, and banks, as we know them today, had not been established. Fast forward to the 1800s, and a new America was born. It marked the era of large-scale economic activity and manufacturing. The number of affluent Americans increased, as did the demand for goods. Modern corporations that employed thousands of workers fuelled this booming economy. In this environment, small businesses had trouble keeping up.

 

The story came full circle in the 20th century when large corporations faced stiff competition from overseas businesses. America’s small businesses rose to the occasion during this period. As small businesses thrived, so did America’s economy. Many more people began to take an interest in entrepreneurship. Turning an idea into a business was no longer a dream but a viable possibility. Start-ups were born, and venture capital financing took the world by storm.

 

Today, the U.S. is home to a staggering 32.5 million small businesses, ranging from local stores to enterprises that sustain entire communities. The landscape of America would be unrecognizable without the contributions of these small businesses, underscoring their enduring importance.

Holidays And Observance

Alaska Mining Day

Child Care Provider Day

Clean Up Your Room Day

Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks a Voice

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

National Lipid Day

National Provider Appreciation Day

National Public Gardens Day

National Shrimp Day

National Small Business Day

One Day Without Shoes

Trust Your Intuition Day

World Lupus Day

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