Today in History – April 10: Titanic Sets Sail and Other Key Moments

by World History Edu · April 9, 2025

April 10 is packed with major historical milestones—from the maiden voyage of the world’s most famous ocean liner to the birth of powerful movements and unforgettable figures.

Let’s travel through time and explore what happened on April 10 throughout history.

1912 – RMS Titanic Departs on Its Maiden Voyage

On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic, the largest and most luxurious ship ever built at the time, set sail from Southampton, England. Bound for New York City, the Titanic boasted state-of-the-art technology, lavish amenities, and a reputation for being “unsinkable.”

On board were over 2,200 passengers and crew, including some of the wealthiest people of the era, as well as hopeful immigrants seeking a new life in America.

Just four days later, the Titanic would strike an iceberg and sink in the icy North Atlantic, claiming over 1,500 lives in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

“God himself could not sink this ship.” — A phrase famously associated with the Titanic, now remembered with tragic irony.

1970 – Paul McCartney Announces He’s Leaving The Beatles

On this day in 1970, Paul McCartney publicly announced he was leaving The Beatles, effectively ending one of the most influential bands in music history.

Though the breakup had been brewing behind the scenes, McCartney’s statement shocked fans and marked the end of an era. The Beatles had revolutionized music and culture, and their split symbolized the changing spirit of the 1960s giving way to a new decade.

1944 – Rudolf Vrba Escapes Auschwitz to Tell the World

Rudolf Vrba, a 19-year-old Slovak Jew, escaped from the Auschwitz concentration camp on April 10, 1944, along with fellow prisoner Alfred Wetzler.

Their daring escape and the subsequent Vrba-Wetzler Report became one of the first detailed accounts of the Holocaust to reach the outside world. It played a crucial role in informing Allied leaders and helped save thousands of Hungarian Jews.

1998 – The Good Friday Agreement Is Signed in Northern Ireland

One of the most important peace accords of the 20th century was signed on April 10, 1998. Known as the Good Friday Agreement, it marked a major step toward ending three decades of violence known as The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Brokered with the help of the British and Irish governments (and strong U.S. support), the agreement led to power-sharing between Protestant and Catholic communities and reduced sectarian tensions across the region.

1942 – Bataan Death March Begins

After months of fighting in the Philippines during World War II, American and Filipino forces surrendered to the Japanese on April 9. The next day, on April 10, they were forced to begin a brutal 65-mile march under harsh conditions with little food or water.

Over 10,000 soldiers died on what became known as the Bataan Death March, a horrifying chapter in the Pacific Theater and a lasting symbol of wartime cruelty.