Historical Events on January 24, Facts & Special Events On This Day

AD 41

Roman Emperor Caligula, known for his eccentricity and sadistic despotism, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guards. The Guard then proclaims Caligula's uncle Claudius as Emperor

1438

The Council of Basel suspends Pope Eugene IV.

1458

Matthias Corvinus becomes king of Hungary.

1624

Afonso Mendes, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa.

1679

King Charles II of England dissolves the Cavalier Parliament.

1739

Peshva warrior Chimnaji Appa defeats Portuguese forces and captures Tarapur Fort, India.

1742

Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

1758

During the Seven Years' War the leading burghers of Königsberg submit to Elizabeth of Russia, thus forming Russian Prussia (until 1763)

1817

Crossing of the Andes: Many soldiers of Juan Gregorio de las Heras are captured during the Action of Picheuta.

1835

Slaves in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, stage a revolt, which is instrumental in ending slavery there 50 years later.

1848

California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.

1857

The University of Calcutta is formally founded as the first fully fledged university in South Asia.

1859

The United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (later named Romania) formed as a personal union under the rule of Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza.

1862

Bucharest is proclaimed the capital of Romania.

1900

Second Boer War: Boers stop a British attempt to break the Siege of Ladysmith in the Battle of Spion Kop.

1908

The first Boy Scout troop is organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell.

1915

World War One: British Grand Fleet battle cruisers under Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty engage Rear-Admiral Franz von Hipper's battle cruisers in the Battle of Dogger Bank.

1916

In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., the Supreme Court of the United States declares the federal income tax constitutional.

1918

The Gregorian calendar is introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars effective February 14(NS)

1933

The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, changing the beginning and end of terms for all elected federal offices.

1939

The deadliest earthquake in Chilean history strikes Chillán, killing approximately 28,000 people.

1942

World War II: The Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom.

1943

World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.

1946

The United Nations General Assembly passes its first resolution to establish the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.

1960

Algerian War: Some units of European volunteers in Algiers stage an insurrection known as the "barricades week", during which they seize government buildings and clash with local police.

1961

Goldsboro B-52 crash: A bomber carrying two H-bombs breaks up in mid-air over North Carolina. The uranium core of one weapon remains lost.

1968

Vietnam War: The 1st Australian Task Force launches Operation Coburg against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during wider fighting around Long Bình and Biên Hòa

1972

Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi is found hiding in a Guam jungle, where he had been since the end of World War II.

1977

Atocha massacre occurs in Madrid during the Spanish transition to democracy.

1978

Soviet satellite Kosmos 954, with a nuclear reactor on board, burns up in Earth's atmosphere, scattering radioactive debris over Canada's Northwest Territories. Only 1% is recovered.

1984

Apple Computer places the Macintosh personal computer on sale in the United States.

1990

Japan launches Hiten, the country's first lunar probe, the first robotic lunar probe since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976, and the first lunar probe launched by a country other than Soviet Union or the United States.

2003

The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.

2009

Cyclone Klaus makes landfall near Bordeaux, France, causing 26 deaths as well as extensive disruptions to public transport and power supplies.

2011

January 24 in History

Historical Events on January 24

Roman Emperor Caligula, known for his eccentricity and sadistic despotism, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guards. The Guard then proclaims Caligula's uncle Claudius as Emperor

The Council of Basel suspends Pope Eugene IV.

Matthias Corvinus becomes king of Hungary.

Afonso Mendes, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa.

King Charles II of England dissolves the Cavalier Parliament.

Peshva warrior Chimnaji Appa defeats Portuguese forces and captures Tarapur Fort, India.

Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

During the Seven Years' War the leading burghers of Königsberg submit to Elizabeth of Russia, thus forming Russian Prussia (until 1763)

Crossing of the Andes: Many soldiers of Juan Gregorio de las Heras are captured during the Action of Picheuta.

Slaves in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, stage a revolt, which is instrumental in ending slavery there 50 years later.

California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.

The University of Calcutta is formally founded as the first fully fledged university in South Asia.

The United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (later named Romania) formed as a personal union under the rule of Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza.

Bucharest is proclaimed the capital of Romania.

Second Boer War: Boers stop a British attempt to break the Siege of Ladysmith in the Battle of Spion Kop.

The first Boy Scout troop is organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell.

World War One: British Grand Fleet battle cruisers under Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty engage Rear-Admiral Franz von Hipper's battle cruisers in the Battle of Dogger Bank.

In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., the Supreme Court of the United States declares the federal income tax constitutional.

The Gregorian calendar is introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars effective February 14(NS)

The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, changing the beginning and end of terms for all elected federal offices.

The deadliest earthquake in Chilean history strikes Chillán, killing approximately 28,000 people.

World War II: The Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom.

World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.

The United Nations General Assembly passes its first resolution to establish the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.

Algerian War: Some units of European volunteers in Algiers stage an insurrection known as the "barricades week", during which they seize government buildings and clash with local police.

Goldsboro B-52 crash: A bomber carrying two H-bombs breaks up in mid-air over North Carolina. The uranium core of one weapon remains lost.

Vietnam War: The 1st Australian Task Force launches Operation Coburg against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during wider fighting around Long Bình and Biên Hòa

Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi is found hiding in a Guam jungle, where he had been since the end of World War II.

Atocha massacre occurs in Madrid during the Spanish transition to democracy.

Soviet satellite Kosmos 954, with a nuclear reactor on board, burns up in Earth's atmosphere, scattering radioactive debris over Canada's Northwest Territories. Only 1% is recovered.

Apple Computer places the Macintosh personal computer on sale in the United States.

Japan launches Hiten, the country's first lunar probe, the first robotic lunar probe since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976, and the first lunar probe launched by a country other than Soviet Union or the United States.

The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.

Cyclone Klaus makes landfall near Bordeaux, France, causing 26 deaths as well as extensive disruptions to public transport and power supplies.

At least 35 die and 180 are injured in a bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport.

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