All Events

Historical Events on May 24

  • John Brown (abolitionist)

    1856

    John Brown and his men kill five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas.

  • American Civil War

    1861

    American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia.

  • World War I

    1915

    World War I: Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary, joining the conflict on the side of the Allies.

  • Soviet Union

    1940

    Acting on the orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, NKVD agent Iosif Grigulevich orchestrates an unsuccessful assassination attempt on exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky in Coyoacán, Mexico.

  • World War II

    1941

    World War II: In the Battle of the Atlantic, the German Battleship Bismarck sinks then-pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood, killing all but three crewmen.

  • American civil rights movement

    1961

    American civil rights movement: Freedom Riders are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, for "disturbing the peace" after disembarking from their bus.

  • Egypt

    1967

    Egypt imposes a blockade and siege of the Red Sea coast of Israel.

  • Israel

    1991

    Israel conducts Operation Solomon, evacuating Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

  • Thailand

    1992

    The last Thai dictator, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, resigns following pro-democracy protests.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on May 24

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on May 24

23. May

25. May