June 10 in History: A Day of Significance
Today is Tuesday, June 10, the 161st day of 2025. With 204 days left in the year, let’s take a look back at some significant events that have occurred on this day in history.
On This Day in 2018: Farewell to Opportunity Rover
On June 10, 2018, the rover Opportunity bid its final farewell from the surface of Mars. Originally slated for a three-month mission, Opportunity surpassed all expectations by functioning for over 14 years. During its tenure, the rover traveled a remarkable 28 miles across the Martian terrain, uncovering invaluable insights into the planet’s geology.
Other Notable Events on June 10:
In 1692, the first execution resulting from the Salem witch trials occurred as Bridget Bishop was hanged.
In 1854, the U.S. Naval Academy held its inaugural graduation ceremony.
In 1940, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini declared war on France and Great Britain, officially thrusting Italy into World War II.
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963 into law, a crucial step towards eliminating gender-based wage disparities.
In 1967, a six-day war in the Middle East involving Israel, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq concluded with Israel and Syria accepting a United Nations-mediated ceasefire.
In 1977, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., escaped from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Tennessee, only to be recaptured three days later.
In 1978, racehorse Affirmed, ridden by Steve Cauthen, clinched the 110th Belmont Stakes to secure the 11th Triple Crown title.
In 1991, 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard was abducted by Phillip and Nancy Garrido in California, leading to an 18-year captivity before her rescue.
In 2009, white supremacist James von Brunn opened fire at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., tragically claiming the life of security guard Stephen T. Johns.
In 2020, protesters in Richmond, Virginia, toppled a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, symbolizing a shift in societal values.
Celebrity Birthdays on June 10:
- Political commentator Jeff Greenfield turns 82 today.
- Actor Frankie Faison celebrates his 76th birthday.
- Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts marks his 74th year.
- Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is 72 today.
- Actor Gina Gershon turns 63.
- Actor-model Elizabeth Hurley celebrates her 60th birthday.
- Comedian Bill Burr is 57 years old.
- Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai turns 53 today.
- R&B singer Faith Evans celebrates her 52nd birthday.
- Actor Hugh Dancy turns 50.
- Country musician Lee Brice is 46.
- Actor Leelee Sobieski celebrates her 42nd birthday.
- Olympic figure skating gold medalist Tara Lipinski is 43.
- Model Kate Upton turns 33 today.
- Former first daughter Sasha Obama celebrates her 24th birthday.
