Today in history: on May 10 the transcontinental railway ended National

Today’s moment of history:

On May 10, 1940, during World War II, German troops began invading the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France. The same day, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned and Winston Churchill formed a new government.

In 1775, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, along with Colonel Benedict Arnold, captured the British-held fortress in Ticanderoga, New York.

In 1818, 83-year-old American patriot Paul Rever died in Boston.

In 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured by Union troops in Irwinville, Georgia.

In 1869, a golden thorn was killed in Cape, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

In 1924, J. Edgar Hoover was appointed Acting Director of the Bureau of Investigation (later known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI).

In 1933, the Nazis staged mass public book burns in Germany.

In 1941, Adolf Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess parachuted into Scotland on what he claimed was a peaceful mission. (Hess ended up serving a life sentence in the Spanda prison until 1987, when he apparently committed suicide at the age of 93.)

In 1994, Nelson Mandela was sworn in in Pretoria to become South Africa’s first black president. In Illinois, serial killer John Wayne Gacy, 52, was executed for killing 33 young men and boys.

In 1995, 104 miners were killed in an elevator accident in the Orkney Islands, South Africa.

In 2002, a tense 39-day confrontation between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem ended with 13 suspected militants being sent into European exile and 26 released into the Gaza Strip.

In 2013, the Internal Revenue Service apologized for finding it “inappropriate” to target conservative political groups during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.

In 2014, Michael Sam was selected by the St. Louis Reims in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, becoming the first openly gay man to be drafted by a professional football team. (Sam resigned after a failed job with Rams and Dallas Cowboys.)

Ten years ago: alleged Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney apologized for “stupid” school pranks that could go too far, and quickly eradicated any allegations that he mocked his classmates because they were gay. In Syria, two suicide bombers exploded near a military intelligence building, killing 55 people. 89-year-old legendary car designer Carol Shelby has died in Dallas.

Five years ago, virtually ignoring the drama surrounding Russia and the US election, President Donald Trump sought to promote cooperation between former Cold War enemies in Syria and elsewhere during a rare meeting in the Oval Office with chief diplomat, Foreign Minister Vladimir Putin. Laurels (sir-GAY ‘lahv-RAWF’).

A year ago: eleven days of fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas erupted when Hamas fired a barrage of long-range missiles at Jerusalem in response to what he said were Israeli provocations; Israel quickly responded with a series of air strikes. U.S. regulators have expanded the use of the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 to children as young as 12 years old. The White House said it was controlling fuel shortages in the southeast as a result of an attack by ransomware programs that closed a major pipeline system.

Today’s Birthday: Barbara Taylor Bradford turns 89. R&B singer Henry Fambro (The Spinners) is 84. Actor David Klenan is 79. Screenwriter, producer and director Jim Abrahams is 78. Singer Donovan is 78. Singer Donavan is 76 and Singer 10 Graham Gouldman) 76. Singer Dave Mason 76. Actor Mike Hagerty 68. Sports host Chris Berman 67. Actor Bruce Penhol 65. Former Senator Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania, 64. Senator Cindy-Heide-Heade. 63. Actor Victoria Rowell – 63. Rock singer Bono (BAH’-noh) (U2) – 62. Former Senator Dean Heller, R-Nev., 62. Rock musician Danny Carey (Tool) – 61. Actor Daryl M. Bell 59. Playwright Susan-Lori Parks 59. Models Linda Evangeliste 57. Rapper Young MS – 55. Actor Eric Paladin 54. Rock singer Richard Patrick (Filter) 54. Actor Lenny Venit – 54 years old. 53. Actor Dallas Roberts 52. Actor Leslie Stephanson 51 years old. Actor-singer Todd Lowe – 50. Actor Andrea Anders – 47. Car racer Helio Castroneves – 47. Rock musician Jesse West – 45. Actor Ke Nan Thompson – 44. Rhythm and blues singer Jason Deliriple (Real) – 42 Actor Odette Aneble – 37. Actor Lindsay Shaw – 33. Actor Lauren Potter – 32. Swimmer Missy Franklin – 27 years old.