10 August 1974

The term “the 10th of August” is widely used by historians as a shorthand for the Storming of the Tuileries Palace on the 10th of August, 1792, the effective end of the French monarchy until it is restored in 1814. But that’s only the best known of several revolutionary events to have happened on this day.

There’s the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, against Spanish rule in Mexico, which started on this day. It’s also the day that news of the American declaration of independence reached London in 1776, as well as the day that what would become Ecuador first declared independence from Spain in 1809 (it didn’t take until 1822). Happy Independence Day, Ecuador!

In 1846 the Smithsonian Institution was established through an act of congress, signed into law by James Polk, funded by a $500,000 bequest of British scientist James Smithson. At the time of the bequest, there was a lot of controversy about whether or not Congress should accept such large sums of money — how much has changed since then.

In 1904 the Battle of the Yellow Sea took place, between Imperial Russia and Imperial Japan. It ended in a draw, but was a strategic victory for Japan. The Russians had attempted to leave Port Arthur in Korea to steam to Vladivostok and combine with the squadron there, which the Japanes prevented, damaging one battleship and causing others to sail into neutral ports to be interned for the duration of the war. It was the first hint all was not well in the Russian navy, as well as the strength and skills of the Japanese.

And August 10, 1948 saw the first broadcast of Candid Camera…

There are of course quite a few celebrity births that happened on this day — Curt Siodmak and Ward Moore being two of them with sfnal connections– as well as plenty of celebrity deaths — Maarten Tromp in 1653, Haydn in 1806, not to mention Isaac Hayes just last year.

The reason I mention all of this? Take a wild guess…