March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 296 days remaining until the end of the year.
- 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing the First Punic War to an end.
- 1629 - Charles I of England dissolves Parliament, starting the Eleven Years Tyranny in which there was no parliament.
- 1735 - An agreement between Nadir Shah and Paul I of Russia is signed near Ganja and Russian troops are withdrawn from Baku.
- 1762 - French Huguenot Jean Calas, who was wrongly convicted of killing his son, dies after being tortured by authorities; the event inspired Voltaire to begin a campaign for religious tolerance and legal reform
- 1801 - First census in Great Britain
- 1804 - Louisiana Purchase: In St. Louis, a formal ceremony is conducted to transfer ownership of the Louisiana Territory from France to the United States.
- 1814 - Napoleon I of France is defeated at the Battle of Laon in France.
- 1830 - The KNIL also known as the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is created.
- 1831 - The French Foreign Legion is established by King Louis-Philippe to support his war in Algeria.
- 1848 - The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is ratified by the United States Senate, ending the Mexican-American War.
- 1861 - El Hadj Umar Tall seizes the city of Segou, destroying the Bambara Empire of Mali.
- 1864 - American Civil War: The Red River Campaign begins as Union troops reach Alexandria, Louisiana.
- 1876 - Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call by saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."
- 1880 - Members of the Salvation Army land in the United States and begin operations.
- 1891 - Almon Strowger, an undertaker in Topeka, Kansas, patents the strowger switch, a device which led to the automation of telephone circuit switching.
- 1893 - Côte d'Ivoire becomes a French colony.
- 1902 - Second Boer War: South African Boers win their last battle over British forces, with the capture of a British general and 200 of his men.
- 1902 - A United States court of appeals rules that Thomas Edison did not invent the movie camera.
- 1905 - Eleftherios Venizelos asks the independence of Crete and its union with Greece again, starting the Cretan Revolution in Theriso.
- 1906 - The Courrières mine disaster, Europe's worst ever, kills 1099 miners in Northern France.
- 1912 - Yuan Shikai is sworn in as the second Provisional President of the Republic of China.
- 1917 - Batangas was formally founded as one of the Philippines's earliest encomiendas.
- 1922 - Mahatma Gandhi is arrested in India, tried for sedition, and sentenced to six years in prison, although he is released after two years in February 1924 after an operation for appendicitis.
- 1933 - An earthquake in Long Beach, California kills 120 people.
- 1945 - The Army Air Force firebombs Tokyo, and the resulting firestorm kills more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians.
- 1948 - The Indian Union Muslim League is founded, by remnants of the old Muslim League.
- 1952 - Fulgencio Batista leads a successful coup in Cuba.
- 1959 - Tibet leads an unsuccessful uprising against ten years of Chinese occupation in Lhasa. Thousands are massacred by the occupying Chinese army.
- 1969 - In Memphis, Tennessee, James Earl Ray pleads guilty to assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. He would later retract his guilty plea.
- 1970 - Vietnam War: Captain Ernest Medina is charged with My Lai war crimes.
- 1975 - Vietnam War: North Vietnamese troops attack Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam, on their way to capturing Saigon.
- 1975 - Sanyo Shinkansen open between Osaka and Fukuoka.
- 1977 - Rings of Uranus: Astronomers discover rings around Uranus.
- 1980 - Madeira School headmistress Jean Harris shoots and kills Scarsdale diet doctor Herman Tarnower
- 1982 - The United States places an embargo on Libyan petroleum imports because of their support of terrorist groups.
- 1982 - Syzygy: all 9 planets align on the same side of the Sun. See also Jupiter effect.
- 1987 - The Holy See condemns the practice of surrogate motherhood, along with test-tube babies and artificial insemination.
- 1990 - In Haiti, Prosper Avril is ousted 18 months after seizing power in a coup.
- 2000 - The NASDAQ Composite stock market index peaks at 5132.52, signaling the beginning of the end of the dot-com boom.
- 2006 - The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter arrives at Mars.
- 2006 - Mass unrest by the PCC started in São Paulo (the biggest city in Brazil) which would eventually kill more than 152 people.
- 1415 - Vasili II of Russia (d. 1462)
- 1452 - Ferdinand II of Aragon (d. 1516)
- 1503 - Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1564)
- 1536 - Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, English politician (d. 1572)
- 1628 - Marcello Malpighi, Italian physician (d. 1694)
- 1709 - Georg Steller, German naturalist (d. 1746)
- 1745 - John Gunby, Maryland Soldier in the American Revolutionary War (d. 1807)
- 1749 - Lorenzo da Ponte, Italian librettist (d. 1838)
- 1769 - Joseph Williamson, English philanthropist and tunnel builder (d. 1840)
- 1772 - Friedrich von Schlegel, German aesthetician (d. 1829)
- 1776 - Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen consort of Prussia (d. 1810)
- 1787 - William Etty, English painter (d. 1849)
- 1788 - Joseph von Eichendorff, German writer (d. 1857)
- 1810 - Samuel Ferguson, Irish poet (d. 1886)
- 1842 - Mykola Lysenko, Ukrainian composer (d. 1912)
- 1844 - Pablo de Sarasate, Spanish violinist (d. 1908)
- 1845 - Alexander III of Russia (d. 1894)
- 1847 - Kate Sheppard, New Zealand suffragist (d. 1934)
- 1850 - Spencer Gore, British tennis player and cricketer (d. 1906)
- 1880 - Broncho Billy Anderson, American actor (d. 1971)
- 1887 - Toshitsugu Takamatsu, Grandmaster of Ninjutsu (d. 1972)
- 1888 - Barry Fitzgerald, Irish actor (d. 1961)
- 1892 - Arthur Honegger, French-born Swiss composer (d. 1955)
- 1892 - Gregory La Cava, American director (d. 1952)
- 1899 - Robert Meier, German WW1 veteran, formerly Germany's oldest man. (d. 2007)
- 1903 - Bix Beiderbecke, American musician (d. 1931)
- 1905 - Betty Amann, German-American actress. (d. 1990)
- 1905 - Richard Haydn, English actor (d. 1985)
- 1915 - Harry Bertoia, Italian artist (d. 1978)
- 1915 - Sir Charles Groves, English conductor(d. 1992)
- 1918 - Günther Rall, German ace fighter pilot
- 1917 - Frank Perconte, American sergeant from Easy Company during WWII.
- 1919 - Marion Hutton, American singer (d. 1987)
- 1920 - Alfred Peet, Dutch-American entrepreneur and the founder of Peet's Coffee & Tea (d. 2007)
- 1920 - Boris Vian, French writer and musician (d. 1959)
- 1923 - Val Logsdon Fitch, Nobel Prize laureate
- 1925 - Manolis Anagnostakis, Greek poet (d. 2005)
- 1928 - James Earl Ray, American assassin (d. 1998)
- 1928 - Sara Montiel, Spanish actress and singer
- 1931 - Georges Dor, Quebec author, playwright, singer and songwriter (d. 2001)
- 1935 - Graham Farmer, Australian rules footballer
- 1936 - Sepp Blatter, Swiss ice hockey and football official
- 1936 - Alfredo Zitarrosa, Uruguayan Vocals and journalist (d. 1989)
- 1937 - Joe Viterelli, American actor (d. 2004)
- 1938 - Marina Vlady, French actress
- 1940 - Chuck Norris, American actor, martial artist and all round nice guy (but don't let him hear you say that!)
- 1940 - Dean Torrence, American singer (Jan and Dean)
- 1945 - Birgitta Sellén, Swedish politician
- 1946 - Jim Valvano, American basketball coach (d. 1993)
- 1946 - Mike Hollands, Australian animator
- 1946 - Hiroshi Fushida, Japanese racing driver
- 1947 - Kim Campbell, 19th Prime Minister of Canada
- 1947 - Paul Condon, Baron Condon, former Commissioner of The Metropolitan Police
- 1947 - Bob Greene, American journalist
- 1947 - Tom Scholz, American songwriter and guitarist (Boston)
- 1948 - Richard Park (broadcaster), British Media Consultant and Broadcaster
- 1952 - Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe politician
- 1953 - Paul Haggis, Canadian film director
- 1955 - Youssra, Egyptian actress and singer
- 1955 - Toshio Suzuki, Japanese racing driver
- 1956 - Mitchell Lichtenstein, American actor; son of Roy Lichtenstein
- 1957 - Osama bin Laden, Islamic militant
- 1957 - Matt Knudsen, American actor
- 1957 - Shannon Tweed, Canadian actress and model
- 1957 - Jim White, American folk singer-songwriter
- 1958 - Steve Howe, American baseball player (d. 2006)
- 1958 - Sharon Stone, American actress
- 1960 - Anne MacKenzie, journalist and broadcaster
- 1961 - Laurel Clark, physician and astronaut (d. 2003)
- 1961 - Mitch Gaylord, American gymnast
- 1961 - Bobby Petrino, American football coach
- 1961 - Pam Oliver, American sportscaster
- 1962 - Seiko Matsuda, Japanese pop singer
- 1963 - Jeff Ament, American musician (Pearl Jam)
- 1963 - Rick Rubin, American record producer
- 1964 - Neneh Cherry, Swedish musician
- 1964 - Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
- 1964 - David Faber, American television reporter
- 1964 - Jasmine Guy, American actress
- 1965 - Rod Woodson, American football player
- 1966 - Edie Brickell, American singer
- 1966 - Gráinne Mulvey, Irish composer
- 1966 - Mike Timlin, American baseball player
- 1968 - Felice Arena, Australian children's author
- 1968 - Shoichi Funaki, Japanese professional wrestler
- 1968 - Thio Li-ann, Singaporean law academic and Nominated Member of Parliament
- 1969 - Paget Brewster, American actress
- 1970 - Matt Barlow, American singer (Iced Earth)
- 1971 - Steve Arnold, British racing driver
- 1971 - Jon Hamm, American actor
- 1971 - Timbaland, American rapper
- 1972 - Takashi Fujii, Japanese television performer
- 1972 - Matt Kenseth, American race car driver
- 1972 - Paraskevi Tsiamita, Greek triple jumper
- 1973 - Eva Herzigova, Czech model
- 1973 - Chris Sutton, English footballer
- 1973 - Mauricio Taricco, Argentine footballer
- 1973 - John LeCompt, American guitarist
- 1974 - Hugo Ferreira, American rock musician
- 1975 - Lyne Bessette, Quebec professional bicycle racer
- 1976 - Haifa Wehbe, Lebanese actress, model and singer
- 1976 - Kisaki, Japanese musician
- 1977 - Peter Enckelman, Finnish footballer
- 1977 - Shannon Miller, American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
- 1977 - Colin Murray, British radio DJ
- 1977 - Bree Turner, American dancer and actress
- 1977 - Matt Rubano, American musician (Taking Back Sunday)
- 1977 - Robin Thicke, American singer
- 1978 - Ben Burnley, American musician (Breaking Benjamin)
- 1981 - Samuel Eto'o, Cameroonian footballer
- 1981 - Efthimios Kouloucheris, Greek footballer
- 1981 - Steven Reid, English-born footballer
- 1982 - Timo Glock, German racing car driver
- 1982 - Katharine Isabelle, Canadian actress
- 1983 - Carrie Underwood, American country singer
- 1983 - Che'Nelle, Malaysian Australian Singer
- 1983 - Reena Virk, Canadian murder victim (d. 1997)
- 1983 - Rafe Spall, English Actor
- 1984 - Ben May, English footballer
- 1984 - Olivia Wilde, American actress
- 1985 - Lassana Diarra, French footballer
- 1985 - Casey Dienel, American singer-songwriter
- 1985 - Kim Leclerc, Canadian politician
- 1986 - JC de Vera, Filipino Actor
- 1988 - Ivan Rakitić, Croatian Footballer
- 1992 - Emily Osment, American actress and singer
- 1291 - Arghun, Persian ruler
- 1391 - Tvrtko I first king of Bosnia (b. 1338)
- 1510 - Johann Geiler von Kaisersberg, Swiss-born preacher (b. 1445)
- 1513 - John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, English commander (b. 1443)
- 1549 - Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, English politician and diplomat
- 1584 - Thomas Norton, English politician and writer (b. 1532)
- 1585 - Rembert Dodoens, Flemish physician and botanist (b. 1517)
- 1588 - Theodor Zwinger, Swiss scholar (b. 1533)
- 1669 - John Denham, English poet (b. 1615)
- 1670 - Johann Rudolf Glauber, German chemist (b. 1604)
- 1776 - Élie Catherine Fréron, French critic (b. 1719)
- 1776 - Niclas Sahlgren, Swedish merchant and philanthropist (b. 1701)
- 1792 - John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (b. 1713)
- 1832 - Muzio Clementi, Italian composer (b. 1752)
- 1861 - Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian poet (b. 1814)
- 1872 - Giuseppe Mazzini, Italian politician (b. 1805)
- 1895 - Charles Frederick Worth, English-born couturier (b. 1826)
- 1910 - Karl Lueger, mayor of Vienna (b. 1844)
- 1910 - Carl Reinecke, German pianist, conductor and composer (b. 1824)
- 1913 - Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist (b. 1820)
- 1937 - Yevgeny Zamyatin, Russian writer (b. 1884)
- 1940 - Mikhaïl Boulgakov, Russian writer (b. 1891)
- 1942 - William Henry Bragg, English physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1862)
- 1948 - Zelda Fitzgerald, American artist, wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (b. 1900)
- 1948 - Jan Masaryk, Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia (b. 1886)
- 1949 - James Rector, American athlete (b. 1884)
- 1950 - Marguerite De La Motte, American actress (b. 1902)
- 1951 - Kijūrō Shidehara, Prime minister of Japan (b. 1872)
- 1966 - Frits Zernike, Dutch physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1888)
- 1967 - Yiorgos Batis, Greek composer and musician (b. 1885)
- 1970 - Vasilis Avlonitis, Greek actor (b. 1904)
- 1973 - Eugene 'Bull' Connor, American segregationist (b. 1897)
- 1977 - E. Power Biggs, English-born American organist (b. 1906)
- 1984 - June Marlowe, American actress (b. 1903)
- 1985 - Konstantin Chernenko, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (b. 1911)
- 1985 - Bob Nieman, American baseball player (b. 1927)
- 1986 - Ray Milland, British actor (b. 1905)
- 1988 - Andy Gibb, English-born singer (b. 1958)
- 1999 - Oswaldo Guayasamin, Ecuadorian paintor and sculptor (b. 1919)
- 1992 - Giorgos Zampetas, Greek composer and musician (b. 1925)
- 1994 - Abdelkader Alloula, Algerian playwright (assassinated) (b. 1929)
- 1996 - Ross Hunter, American film producer (b. 1920)
- 1997 - La Vern Baker, American singer (b. 1929)
- 1998 - Lloyd Bridges, American actor (b. 1913)
- 2001 - Massimo Morsello, Italian musician and far right activist (b. 1958)
- 2003 - Barry Sheene, British motorcycle racer (b. 1950)
- 2004 - Dave Blood, real name David Schulthise; American musician, bassist for The Dead Milkmen (b. 1956)
- 2005 - Dave Allen, Irish comedian (b. 1936)
- 2005 - Danny Joe Brown, American singer (Molly Hatchet) (b. 1951)
- 2006 - Anna Moffo, American soprano (b. 1932)
- 2007 - Richard Jeni, American comedian (b. 1957)
- 2007 - Ernie Ladd, American football player and professional wrestler (b. 1938)
- 2008 - Richard Fran Biegenwald, an American serial killer (b. 1940)
