This Day in History: February 10

1720 Edmond Halley appointed as the second Astronomer Royal at the Greenwich Observatory

In 1720, Edmond Halley, a prominent English astronomer, was appointed as the second Astronomer Royal at the Greenwich Observatory. He succeeded John Flamsteed in this position and held it until his death in 1742. Halley is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley's Comet and his work on magnetic variation.

1763 Treaty of Paris ends French-Indian War, surrendering Canada to Britain

The Treaty of Paris of 1763 marked the end of the French-Indian War and the Seven Years' War. The treaty was signed between Britain, France, and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. The treaty resulted in France ceding Canada to Britain and also marked the beginning of British dominance in North America.

1824 Simón Bolívar named dictator by the Congress of Peru

In 1824, the Congress of Peru named Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan military and political leader, as dictator. Bolívar played a key role in the independence movement of several Latin American countries from Spanish colonial rule. He is widely regarded as a hero in South America and has been called the "George Washington of South America".

1879 Henry Morton Stanley departs for the Congo

Henry Morton Stanley, a Welsh-American journalist and explorer, departed for the Congo in 1879. Stanley is best known for his exploration of central Africa and his famous greeting to the missionary and explorer David Livingstone: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" Stanley's expedition to the Congo was aimed at exploring and mapping the region for European colonization.

1906 British battleship HMS Dreadnought launches after only 100 days, renders all other capital ships obsolete with its revolutionary design

The British battleship HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1906, only 100 days after the keel was laid. Its revolutionary design, which included an "all-big-gun" armament and steam turbine engines, rendered all other capital ships obsolete. The launch of the Dreadnought triggered a naval arms race among the world's major powers, as they rushed to build their own Dreadnought-style battleships.

1952 India holds its first general election: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru remains in power

In 1952, India held its first general election since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. The election was a landmark event in Indian democracy, with over 173 million people eligible to vote. The Indian National Congress, led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, won a sweeping victory and Nehru remained in power.

1962 Francis Gary Powers, a U.S. spy captured by the Soviet Union, is released

In 1962, Francis Gary Powers, an American U-2 spy plane pilot, was released by the Soviet Union in exchange for a Soviet spy held by the United States. Powers had been shot down while flying over the Soviet Union in 1960 and was subsequently captured and convicted of espionage. His release was seen as a major breakthrough in U.S.-Soviet relations.

1964 Bob Dylan's album “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is released</h3