June 10: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Swedish authorities finally closed a 34-year-old inquiry into the murder of their prime minister.

On February 28, 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme was walking home from the cinema with his family when he was fatally shot in the back. Over the following 34 years, over 10,000 suspects were interviewed. A new team investigated the case in 2017 and concluded that Stig Engström, a now-deceased suspect, was the killer and decided to close the case for good.

The Opportunity Mars rover sent its last signal to Earth.

In London, the Millenium Bridge closed for safety checks following large crowds, which caused the bridge to start swaying.

The last episode of David Lynch’s original Twin Peaks aired.

Twin Peaks, a mystery serial drama, ran for two seasons before being canned by the American Broadcasting Corporation. As with many other cult classics, it was only in the following years that it started being lauded as one of the greatest TV series of all time. Twin Peaks finally returned in 2017 for a third season.

NASA’s Explorer 49 was launched into Earth’s orbit to research long-range radio waves within the Milky Way.

The US signed the Equal Pay Act to reduce the difference in pay between sexes.

Swedish company Saab, previously known for making aircraft, produced their first automobile.

A team of 16 engineers with no experience in automobiles spent years producing the car and covered 33,000 miles in test drives.

President Franklin Roosevelt became the first president to travel abroad during war.

The journey was from the US to Casablanca, North Africa, to meet with Sir Winston Churchill to discuss the war.

Italy declared war on France and Britain.

Benito Mussolini was the Italian leader at the time, and he wanted to end the Anglo-French presence within the Mediterranean.

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron, Ohio.

William G. Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith were both alcoholics seeking help with sobriety. Smith's last drink was on June 10, 1935, and this is the day AA members acknowledge as the founding date of the group.

Robber John Dillinger stole $10,000 in his first robbery at a bank in New Carlisle, Ohio.

The Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire led by Lawrence of Arabia was initiated in Mecca.

The first class of students graduated from the United States Naval Academy.

Innocent Bridget Bishop was the first person to be trialed and hung for witchcraft in Massachusetts, US.