March 10 in history — What Happened Today in History

1979 International Women's Day protests in Tehran: Protestor involvement peaks with 15,000 Iranian women and girls performing a three‐hour-long sit‐in at the Courthouse of Tehran.

Astronomers discover the rings of Uranus.

Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh Campaign: North Vietnamese troops attack Ban Mê Thuột in the South on their way to capturing Saigon in the final push for victory over South Vietnam.

1974 Belgian general election: Elections are held in Belgium for all 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives, the Belgian Socialist Party taking the majority with 59.

John Gorton resigns as Prime Minister of Australia and the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia after a secret ballot vote of confidence, being replaced in both positions by William McMahon.

Vietnam War: Captain Ernest Medina is charged by the U.S. military with My Lai war crimes.

In Memphis, Tennessee, James Earl Ray pleads guilty to assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. He later unsuccessfully attempts to recant.

Military Prime Minister of South Vietnam Nguyễn Cao Kỳ sacks rival General Nguyễn Chánh Thi, precipitating large-scale civil and military dissension in parts of the nation.

Tibetan uprising: Fearing an abduction attempt by China, thousands of Tibetans surround the Dalai Lama's palace to prevent his removal.

Fulgencio Batista leads a successful coup in Cuba.

Mildred Gillars ("Axis Sally") is convicted of treason.

World War II: The U.S. Army Air Force firebombs Tokyo, and the resulting conflagration kills more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians.

Greek Civil War: The Political Committee of National Liberation is established in Greece by the National Liberation Front.

The Long Beach earthquake affects the Greater Los Angeles Area, leaving around 108 people dead.

Mahatma Gandhi is arrested in India, tried for sedition, and sentenced to six years in prison, only to be released after nearly two years for an appendicitis operation.

By signing the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, Thailand relinquishes its sovereignty over the Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu, which become British protectorates.

The Courrières mine disaster, Europe's worst ever, kills 1099 miners in northern France.

Almon Strowger patents the Strowger switch, a device which led to the automation of telephone circuit switching.

The first successful test of a telephone is made by Alexander Graham Bell.

The first Azerbaijani play, The Adventures of the Vizier of the Khan of Lenkaran, prepared by Akhundov, is performed by Hassan-bey Zardabi and dramatist and Najaf-bey Vezirov.

El Hadj Umar Tall seizes the city of Ségou, destroying the Bamana Empire of Mali.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is ratified by the United States Senate, ending the Mexican–American War.

The French Foreign Legion is created by Louis Philippe, the King of France, from the foreign regiments of the Kingdom of France.

The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is created.

Emperor Napoleon I is defeated at the Battle of Laon in France.

French Huguenot Jean Calas, who had been wrongly convicted of killing his son, dies after being tortured by authorities; the event inspired Voltaire to begin a campaign for religious tolerance and legal reform.

An agreement between Nader Shah and Russia is signed near Ganja, Azerbaijan and Russian troops are withdrawn from occupied territories.

French "Sun King" Louis XIV begins his personal rule of France after the death of his premier, the Cardinal Mazarin.

Neeskens Kebano, French-Congolese footballer

Emily Osment, American actress and singer-songwriter

Kenshi Yonezu, Japanese singer-songwriter and illustrator

Stefanie Vögele, Swiss tennis player

Simon Moser, Swiss ice hockey player

Dayán Viciedo, Cuban baseball player

Clarissa dos Santos, Brazilian basketball player

Josh Hoffman, Australian-New Zealand rugby league player

Ego Nwodim, American actress

Quincy Pondexter, American basketball player and coach

Ivan Rakitić, Croatian football player

Martellus Bennett, American football player

Greg Eastwood, New Zealand rugby league player

Bill Blackbeard, American author and illustrator (born 1926)

Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, Egyptian scholar and academic (born 1928)

Corey Haim, Canadian actor (born 1971)

Ernie Ladd, American football player and wrestler (born 1938)

Dave Allen, Irish-English comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1936)

Oswaldo Guayasamín, Ecuadorian painter and sculptor (born 1919)

Lloyd Bridges, American actor and director (born 1913)

LaVern Baker, American singer and actress (born 1929)

Ross Hunter, American film producer (born 1926)

Giorgos Zampetas, Greek bouzouki player and composer (born 1925)

Andy Gibb, Australian singer-songwriter and actor (born 1958)

Ray Milland, Welsh-American actor and director (born 1907)

Konstantin Chernenko, Russian soldier and politician, Head of State of The Soviet Union (born 1911)