On this day, April 10

1845 A fire that started in the back of an icehouse at Ferry Street and Second Avenue destroyed 982 buildings, made about 12,000 people homeless, resulted in damage estimated between $5 million and $8 million, and left one-third of Pittsburgh in ashes.

1912 The British liner RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

1924 It was announced that the first citycounty airport would be built and named in honor of Calbraith Perry Rodgers of the city, first aviator to span the U.S. on Nov. 5, 1911.

1947 Brooklyn Dodgers President Branch Rickey purchased the contract of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals.

1981 Imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands was declared the winner of a byelection to the British Parliament.

2005 The University of Pittsburgh hosted a 50th anniversary celebration of the Salk polio vaccine.

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

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin

Today’s birthdays: Actor Liz Sheridan, 92. Football Hall of Famer John Madden, 85. Actor Steven Seagal, 69. Actor Peter MacNicol, 67. Actor Olivia Brown, 64. Rock musician Steven Gustafson (10,000 Maniacs), 64. Singer-producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, 63. Rock singer-musician Brian Setzer, 62. Rock singer Katrina Leskanich, 61.Olympic gold medal speedskater Cathy Turner, 59. Actor-comedian Orlando Jones, 53. Rock musician Mike Mushok (Staind), 52. Rapper Q-Tip (aka Kamaal), 51. Actor David Harbour, 46. Blues singer Shemekia Copeland, 42. Actor Chyler Leigh, 39. Pop musician Andrew Dost (fun.), 38. Actor Ryan Merriman, 38. Singer Mandy Moore, 37. Actor Barkhad Abdi, 36. Actor Shay Mitchell, 34. Actor Haley Joel Osment, 33. Actor Alex Pettyfer, 31. Actorsinger AJ (aka Amanda) Michalka, 30. Actor Daisy Ridley, 29. Singer-actor Sofia Carson, 28.

Thought for today: “To understand another human being you must gain some insight into the conditions which made him what he is.”