10 May It Happened Today

1838  Birth of John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

1863  Death of Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. He had been accidentally shot by his own troops eight days before.

1869   The east  and west coasts of the USA are finally linked by railway as the final rail is slotted into place.

1899  Birth of American actor and dancer Fred Astaire.

1941   Rudolf Hess flies to Scotland to engage in peace talks.

1977   Death of American film actress Joan Crawford.