February 24
Appearance
February 24is the 55th day of the year in theGregorian calendar.There are 310 days remaining until the end of the year (311 inleap years).
Events[change|change source]
Up to 1900[change|change source]
- 303-Galeriuspublishes his edict that begins the persecution ofChristiansin his portion of theRoman Empire.
- 1303– An English Army is defeated by a ScottishArmyin theBattle of Roslin.
- 1377–Charles III of NaplesandHungaryis assassinated inBuda.
- 1525- TheSpanishImperial Army defeats theFrenchArmy at theBattle of Pavia.
- 1582–Pope Gregory XIIIannounces the introduction of theGregorian calendar.
- 1607– TheL'OrfeooperabyClaudio Monteverdipremieres.
- 1711-Londonpremiere(first performance) ofRinaldobyGeorge Friedric Handel,the first Italianoperawritten for the London stage.
- 1803- TheUnited States Supreme Courtcreates the principle ofJudicialreview.
- 1809-London's Dury LaneTheatreburns to the ground.
- 1826- The signing of theTreaty of Yandaboomarks the end of theFirst Burmese War.
- 1831-Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek:The first removaltreatyin line with theIndian Removal Actin theUnited Statesis announced. TheChoctawsofMississippicede land east of theriverin exchange and payment for land in the west.
- 1848–Louis Philippe Igives up the French throne. He isFrance's last king.
- 1857-New Orleansholds its firstMardi Grasparade in present form.
- 1863–Arizonabecomes aUSterritory.
- 1868–Andrew Johnsonbecomes the firstUSPresident to be impeached, by theHouse of Representatives.
- 1875– The ship SSGothenburghits theGreat Barrier Reef,and sinks, killing around 100 people.
- 1895- TheSecond Cuban War of Independencebegins.
1901 – 2000[change|change source]
- 1918–Estoniadeclares its independence.
- 1920– TheNaziParty is founded.
- 1942- ThesteamerStruma,with 764Jewishrefugees on board is sunk in theBosporusby aSovietU-boat, having sailed under theFlagofPanama.
- 1945–EgyptianPremierAhmed Maher Pashais killed inparliament.
- 1966– While abroad,Ghana'sPresidentKwame Nkrumahis diposed from power in amilitarycoup, and replaced byJoseph Arthur Ankrah.
- 1968-Vietnam War:TheTet Offensiveis halted;South Vietnamre-capturesHue.
- 1969-NASAlaunches thespaceprobeMariner 6towardsMars.
- 1976- A nationalconstitutionforCubais proclaimed.
- 1980– TheShekelbecomes the currency ofIsrael.
- 1980– TheUSmen'sice hockeyteam wins the gold medal overFinlandat theWinter Olympics.
- 1981– A magnitude 6.7earthquakehitsAthens.
- 1981–Charles, Prince of Walesand the futureDiana, Princess of Walesannounce their engagement.
- 1983- A special commission of theUnited States Congressreleases a report that condemns the practice ofJapaneseinternment duringWorld War II.
- 1984-Tyrone Mitchellcarries out the 49th StreetElementary Schoolshooting inLos Angeles,California,killing 2 children and injuring 12.
- 1987- In theGreat Magellanic Cloud,theSupernova1987Ais discovered.
- 1989-Ayatollah Khomeinioffers 3million$to anyone who kills the writerSalman Rushdiefor his novelThe Satanic Verses.
- 1989-United AirlinesFlight 811, travelling fromHonolulu,HawaiitoNew Zealand,rips open during mid-flight, blowing 9passengersout of the business class section, all of died as result.
- 1991– InOperation Desert Stormthe ground war begins.
- 1993-Yukihiro Matsumotoinvents the "Ruby" programming language.
- 1996- Last occurrence of February 24 asleap yearday in theEuropean Unionand theRoman Catholic Church.
- 1997- A magnitude 6.5earthquakehitsTurkmenistanand northernIran,killing 100 people.
From 2001[change|change source]
- 2002- The2002 Winter OlympicsinSalt Lake Citycome to an end.Norwaywins the mostgoldmedals, withGermanywinning the most medals overall.
- 2003– A magnitude 6.3earthquakeinXin gian gProvince inChinakills 261 people.
- 2004– AnearthquakeinMoroccokills 571 people.
- 2006– After an attempted coup in thePhilippines,PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyodeclares a state of emergency.
- 2007–Japanlaunches its fourth spy satellite to monitor potential threats, such asNorth Korea.
- 2008–Raul CastrobecomesPresidentofCuba,succeeding his brotherFidel Castro.
- 2011– TheSpace Shuttle Discoverylaunches for the last time.
- 2016- Tara Air Flight 193 crashes in the Myagdi District inNepal,killing 23 people.
- 2020-Mahathir Mohamadresigns asPrime Minister of Malaysia.
- 2022-Russia starts invading Ukraine.
Births[change|change source]
Up to 1900[change|change source]
- 1103–Emperor TobaofJapan(d.1156)
- 1304–Ibn Battuta,traveller from present-dayMorocco(date of death unknown)
- 1463–Giovanni Pico della Mirandola,Italianhumanist(d.1494)
- 1500–Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor(d.1558)
- 1536–Pope Clement VIII(d.1605)
- 1547- DonJohn of Austria,Spanish general (d.1578)
- 1557–Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor(d.1619)
- 1595-Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski,Polish writer and Latin poet (d.1640)
- 1597–Vincent Voiture,Frenchpoet(d.1648)
- 1619-Charles Le Brun,French painter (d.1690)
- 1622-Johannes Clauberg,Germantheologianandphilosopher(d.1665)
- 1709-Jacques de Vaucanson,French inventor (d.1782)
- 1721-John McKinly,Americanphysicianandpolitician,PresidentofDelaware(d.1796)
- 1723–John Burgoyne,British general and writer (d.1792)
- 1743-Joseph Banks,Britishbotanist(d.1820)
- 1767-Buddha Loeta Nabhalai,KingofSiam(d.1824)
- 1774-Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge(d.1850)
- 1786–Wilhelm Grimm,German storyteller (d.1859)
- 1791-Sveinbjörn Egilsson,Icelandictheologian,teacher,translator andpoet(d.1852)
- 1805–Julius Vogel,8thPrime Minister of New Zealand(d.1899)
- 1811-Edward Dickinson Baker,British-born Americangeneralandpolitician(d.1861)
- 1811-Friedrich Daniel Bassermann,Germanentrepreneurand liberal politician (d.1855)
- 1827-Lydia Becker,Britishactivist(d.1890)
- 1831–Leo von Caprivi,Chancellor of Germany(d.1899)
- 1836–Winslow Homer,American artist (d.1910)
- 1837-Rosalia de Castro,Galicianwriter and poet (d.1885)
- 1842-Arrigo Boito,Italian composer (d.1918)
- 1843–Teofilo Braga,Portuguese writer andstatesman(d.1924)
- 1846-Luigi Denza,Italian composer (d.1922)
- 1848-Andrew Inglis Clark,Tasmanianpolitician (d.1907)
- 1852-George Moore,Irish writer (d.1933)
- 1864-Jose Pardo y Barreda,two-timePresidentofPeru(d.1947)
- 1866–Pyotr Nikolaevich Lebedev,Russianphysicist(d.1912)
- 1868-Edouard Alphonse James de Rothschild,French financier andpoloplayer (d.1949)
- 1874-Honus Wagner,Americanbaseballplayer and manager (d.1955)
- 1877-Rudolph Ganz,Swiss pianist, conductor and composer (d.1972)
- 1880–Einar Arnorsson,Prime MinisterofIceland(d.1955)
- 1885–Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz,Polish writer, painter and philosopher (d.1939)
- 1885–Chester W. Nimitz,Americanadmiral(d.1966)
- 1893-Ralph E. Gates,GovernorofIndiana(d.1978)
- 1895-Vsevolod Ivanov,Russian writer (d.1963)
- 1896-Richard Thorpe,American movie director (d.1991)
- 1897-Yang Xiufeng,Chinese politician (d.1983)
- 1898-Kurt Tank,Germanengineerandpilot(d.1983)
- 1899–Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gromov,Soviet-Russian pilot (d.1985)
1901 – 1950[change|change source]
- 1903-Vladimir Bartol,Slovenewriter(d.1967)
- 1909–Max Black,Americanphilosopher(d.1988)
- 1912–Jiri Trnka,Czech puppet maker and illustrator (d.1969)
- 1914-Weldon Kees,American poet, musician and painter (d.1955)
- 1914-Zachary Scott,American actor (d.1965)
- 1914-Ralph Erskine,Britisharchitect(d.2005)
- 1921-Ingvar Lidholm,Swedishcomposer(d.2017)
- 1921-Abe Vigoda,American actor (d.2016)
- 1921-Douglass Watson,American actor (d.1989)
- 1922–Richard Hamilton,British painter andcollageartist (d.2011)
- 1922–Steven Hill,American actor (d.2016)
- 1924-Erik Nielsen,Canadian politician (d.2008)
- 1925-Etel Adnan,Lebanese-American writer and artist
- 1926-Erich Loest,German writer (d.2013)
- 1927-Emmanuelle Riva,French actress (d.2017)
- 1927-Trevor Colbourn,Australian-Americanprofessor(d.2015)
- 1930-Barbara Lawrence,American actress (d.2013)
- 1931–Dominic Chianese,American actor
- 1932-Michel Legrand,French composer
- 1932-Zell Miller,formerGovernorofGeorgia
- 1932-John Vernon,Canadian actor (d.2005)
- 1933-Ali Mazrui,Kenyan-American academic and writer (d.2014)
- 1934-Renata Scotto,Italiansoprano
- 1934–Bettino Craxi,Italian politician (d.2000)
- 1934–Bingu wa Mutharika,PresidentofMalawi(d.2012)
- 1934-George Ryan,formerGovernorofIllinois
- 1935-Ryhor Baradulin,Belarussianpainter (d.2014)
- 1938–James Farentino,American actor (d.2012)
- 1938-Phil Knight,Americanbusinessman,co-founder ofNike, Inc.
- 1940–Denis Law,Scottish footballer
- 1940-Jimmy Ellis,American boxer (d.2014)
- 1940-James Sloyan,American actor
- 1942–Paul Jones,English singer
- 1942–Joe Lieberman,American politician
- 1942-Colin Bond,Australian racing driver
- 1942-Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak,Indianphilosopherand theorist
- 1943-Terry Semel,formerCEOofYahoo
- 1943-Catherine Cesarky,Frenchastronomer
- 1944-David J. Wineland,Americanphysicist
- 1944-Ivica Racan,7thPrime MinisterofCroatia(d.2007)
- 1946-Don Spiegelman,formerGovernorofAlabama
- 1946-Ratomir Dujkovic,Serbian football manager
- 1947-Mike Fratello,Americanbasketballplayer
- 1947-Edward James Olmos,American actor and director
- 1948–Walter Smith,Scottish football manager
- 1948–Dennis Waterman,English actor
- 1948-François Lacombe,Canadianice hockeyplayer
- 1948-Jayalalithaa,Indianactressandpolitician,16thChief MinisterofTamil Nadu(d.2016)
- 1950-George Thorogood,American singer and guitarist
1951 – 1975[change|change source]
- 1951-Debra Jo Rupp,American actress
- 1951-Helen Shaver,Canadian actress
- 1951-Laimdota Straujuma,formerPrime MinisterofLatvia
- 1951-David Ford,Northern Irish politician and former leader of theAlliance Party of Northern Ireland
- 1952-Bruno Zuppiger,Swiss politician (d.2016)
- 1954-Plastic Bertrand,Belgiansingerandmusician
- 1954-Sid Meier,Canadian-Americancomputerprogrammer
- 1955–Steve Jobs,American computer pioneer,CEOofApple Inc.(d.2011)
- 1955–Alain Prost,French race car driver
- 1956–Judith Butler,American philosopher
- 1956-Paula Zahn,American journalist
- 1958-Sammy Kershaw,American musician
- 1958-Mark Moses,American actor
- 1959-Beth Broderick,American actress
- 1961-Erna Solberg,Prime MinisterofNorway
- 1963-Mike Vernon,Canadianice hockeyplayer
- 1963-Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro
- 1965–Hansi Flick,Germanfootballcoach
- 1965-Kristin Davis,American actress
- 1965-Jane Swift,formerGovernor of Massachusetts
- 1966–Billy Zane,American actor
- 1966–Ben Miller,British comedian, actor and director
- 1967–Brian Schmidt,American-Australianastrophysicist,2011Nobel Prizewinner
- 1967-Fernando Tejero,Spanishactor
- 1968–Mitch Hedberg,American comedian (d.2005)
- 1971–Pedro de la Rosa,Spanish racing driver
- 1971-Josh Bernstein,American explorer and TV host
- 1971-Brian Savage,Canadianice hockeyplayer
- 1971-Leda Battisti,Italian singer
- 1972-Manon Rhéaume,Canadianice hockeyplayer
- 1973–Chris Fehn,American musician (Slipknot)
- 1973-Yordan Yovchev,Bulgariangymnast
- 1973-Alexei Kovalev,Russianice hockeyplayer
- 1974–Karim Bagheri,Iranianfootballer
- 1974-Chad Hugo,American musician
- 1974-Bonnie Somerville,American actress
- 1975-Ashley MacIsaac,Canadiansinger-songwriterandfiddler
From 1976[change|change source]
- 1976–Eric Griffin,American rockguitarist
- 1976–Zach Johnson,Americangolfer
- 1977–Bronson Arroyo,Americanbaseballplayer
- 1977–Floyd Mayweather, Jr.,American boxer
- 1979–Claire Cooper,Englishactress
- 1981–Lleyton Hewitt,Australiantennisplayer
- 1981–Mauro Rosales,Argentine footballer
- 1982–Fala Chen,Chineseactressandmodel
- 1983–Matt McGinley,American musician
- 1984–Marina Timofeieva,Estonianice dancer
- 1985–William Kvist,Danishfootballer
- 1986–Wojtek Wolski,Polish-Canadianice hockeyplayer
- 1987–Chieko Kawabe,Japanesesinger,modelandactress
- 1989–Trace Cyrus,American musician
- 1989–Daniel Kaluuya,British actor and writer
- 1989–Kostas Koufas,Greek-Americanbasketballplayer
- 1991–Madison Hubbell,American ice dancer
- 1994–Earl Sweatshirt,American rapper
- 2001–Ramona Marquez,English actress
Deaths[change|change source]
Up to 1900[change|change source]
- 616- KingEthelbert of Kent
- 1386–Charles III of NaplesandHungary
- 1563–Francis, Duke of Guise,French soldier and politician (b.1519)
- 1588-Johann Weyer,Dutchphysicianandoccultist
- 1666-Nicholas Lanier,English composer (b.1588)
- 1721-John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby,Englishstatesmanandpoet(b.1648)
- 1777–Joseph I of Portugal(b.1714)
- 1785-Carlo Buonaparte,Corsicanlawyerandpolitician(b.1746)
- 1799-Georg Christoph Lichtenberg,Germanphysicist(b.1742)
- 1810–Henry Cavendish,English physicist (b.1731)
- 1812-Etienne-Louis Malus,Frenchphysicistandmathematician(b.1725)
- 1815–Robert Fulton,American inventor (b.1765)
- 1856–Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky,Russianmathematician(b.1792)
- 1876–Joseph Jenkins Roberts,firstPresidentofLiberia(b.1809)
- 1879-Shiranui Koemon,Japanesesumowrestler (b.1825)
1901 – 2000[change|change source]
- 1914-Joshua Chamberlain,American Civil Warfigure (b.1828)
- 1925–Hjalmar Branting,Prime MinisterofSweden(b.1860)
- 1929-André Messager,French composer and conductor (b.1853)
- 1945–Ahmed Maher Pasha,Egyptian Premier
- 1953-Gerd von Rundstedt,German field marshal (b.1875)
- 1970-Conrad Nagel,American actor (b.1897)
- 1973-Eugen Rosenstock-Hussey,German-American sociologist and historian (b.1888)
- 1975–Nikolai Bulganin,Soviet premier (b.1895)
- 1982-Virginia Bruce,American actress and singer (b.1910)
- 1986–Tommy Douglas,Scottish-Canadian politician (b.1904)
- 1988–Memphis Slim,Americanbluessinger and musician (b.1915)
- 1990–Sandro Pertini,PresidentofItaly(b.1896)
- 1991-George Gobel,Americancomedianandactor(b.1919)
- 1991-John Charles Daly,Americannewsbroadcaster and game show host (b.1914)
- 1993–Bobby Moore,English footballer (b.1941)
- 1994–Dinah Shore,American actress and singer (b.1916)
- 1994-Jean Sablon,Frenchsingerandactor(b.1906)
- 1998–Antonio Prohias,Cuban-born cartoonist (b.1921)
- 1998-Clara Fraser,Americanactivist(b.1923)
From 2001[change|change source]
- 2001–Claude Shannon,Americanmathematicianand electro technician (b.1916)
- 2002-Leo Ornstein,Ukrainian-Americanpianistandcomposer(b.1912)
- 2003–Bernard Loiseau,French chef (b.1951)
- 2003-Christopher Hill,British historian (b.1912)
- 2006–Don Knotts,American actor (b.1924)
- 2006-Dennis Weaver,American actor (b.1924)
- 2007-Leroy Jenkins,American composer andviolinist(b.1932)
- 2008-Larry Norman,American musician, singer, songwriter and producer (b.1947)
- 2011-Anant Pai,Indian educator and comics creator (b.1929)
- 2012-Jan Berenstain,American writer (b.1923)
- 2014-Harold Ramis,Americanactor,director,producerandscreenwriter(b.1944)
- 2014-Franny Beecher,American musician (Bill Haley & His Comets) (b.1921)
- 2014-Alexis Hunter,New Zealand-English painter and photographer (b.1948)
- 2014-Prokash Karmakar,Indian painter (b.1932)
- 2015-Rakhat Aliyev,Kazakhstani politician and diplomat (b.1962)
- 2015-Irving Kahn,American financier (b.1905)
- 2015-Donald Keough,American businessman (b.1926)
- 2015-Maurice Hurley,American television writer and producer (b.1939)
- 2015-Bertrice Small,American writer (b.1937)
- 2016-Ryszard Bender,Polish politician (b.1932)
- 2016-Peter Kenilorea,Prime Ministerof theSolomon Islands(b.1943)
- 2016-Peter van der Merwe,Dutchfootballer(b.1942)
- 2016-Rafael Iriondo,Spanishfootballer(b.1918)
- 2016-Adriana Benetti,Italian actress (b.1919)
- 2017-Gustaw Lutkiewicz,Polish actor (b.1924)
- 2017-Daryl,American magician (b.1955)
- 2018-Shmuel Auerbach,Israelirabbi(b.1931)
- 2018-Bud Luckey,American actor and animator (b.1934)
- 2018-Folco Quilici,Italian film director and screenwriter (b.1930)
- 2018-Sridevi,Indian actress (b.1963)
- 2019-Donald Keene,American and Japanese scholar, writer, translator and Japanese studies expert (b. 1922)