On this day, May 10

1869 A golden spike was driven in Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

1924 The city’s fifth trolley strike in 15 years started; the Downtown area was jammed with automobile traffic; and the Pittsburgh Railways imported 900 electric railways operators and guards from New York to run trolleys. The strike caused caused a traffic jam in the Liberty Tubes, which were closed for further work on the ventilation system after 12 persons were overcome by gas.

1933 The Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany.

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

1941 Adolf Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess, parachuted into Scotland on what he claimed was a peace mission. (Hess ended up serving a life sentence at

Spandau Prison until 1987, when he apparently committed suicide at age 93.)

1968 Ling-Temco-Vought, Inc. of Texas offered $85 a share for up to 5 million shares of Pittsburgh’s Jones & Laughlin Steel. The deal would give LTV 63% of J&L stock.

1975 Sony began selling its Betamax home videocassette recorder in Japan.

1994 Nelson Mandela took the oath of office in Pretoria to become South Africa’s first black president.

2008 Manfred Honeck, the incoming music director for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, made his first recording with the symphony.

2010 President Barack Obama introduced Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, billing her as a unifying force for a fractured court. 2015 Cuban President Raul Castro met with Pope Francis at the Vatican to thank him for working for U.S.-Cuba detente — and said he was so impressed by the pontiff, he was considering returning to the Catholic church . ... In the

first round of Poland’s presidential elections, Andrzej Duda narrowly edged out incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski. (Since neither candidate polled more than 50%, a runoff was held two weeks later; Duda won.)

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology). — Compiled by Alyssa Brown

Today’s birthdays: Author Barbara Taylor Bradford, 87. Rhythm-and-blues singer Henry Fambrough (The Spinners), 82. Singer Donovan, 74. Singer-songwriter Graham Gouldman (10cc), 74. Singer Dave Mason, 74. Actor Mike Hagerty, 66. Sports anchor Chris Berman, 65. Former Sen. Rick Santorum, RPa.,, 62. Actress Victoria Rowell, 61. Rock singer Bono (U2), 60. Model Linda Evangelista, 55. Race car driver Helio Castroneves, 45. Actor Kenan Thompson, 42. Olympic gold medal swimmer Missy Franklin, 25.

Thought for today: “Nothing recedes like success.”