On This Day in History — June 24

Highlights of June 24

• 2021 — A portion of a 12-story condominium building collapsed (aftermath pictured) in Surfside, Florida, United States, killing 98 people and injuring 11 others. Read more
• 2010 — Julia Gillard was sworn in as the first female prime minister of Australia after incumbent Kevin Rudd declined to contest a leadership spill in the Labor Party. Read more
• 2010 — John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut at the Wimbledon Championships, concluding the longest match in tennis history, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. Read more
• 1989 — Following the Tiananmen Square massacre, the 13th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party appointed Jiang Zemin as general secretary in place of Zhao Ziyang. Read more
• 1943 — Amid racial tensions, U.S. Army military police shot and killed a black serviceman after a confrontation at a pub in Bamber Bridge, England. Read more
• 1940 — Second World War: The British Army carried out Operation Collar, its first commando raid into German-occupied France. Read more
• 1939 — The first of the Thai cultural mandates was issued, officially changing the country's name from Siam to Thailand. Read more
• 1937 — The U.S. Navy's first two fast battleships, North Carolina and Washington, of the North Carolina class, were respectively ordered from the New York and Philadelphia Naval Shipyards. Read more
• 1932 — A group of military officers and civilians engineered a bloodless coup in Siam, ending the absolute rule of the Chakri dynasty. Read more
• 1880 — "O Canada", the present-day national anthem of Canada, was first performed in Quebec City during a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day banquet. Read more
• 1812 — Napoleonic Wars: Led by Napoleon, the French Grande Armée crossed the Neman, beginning their invasion of Russia. Read more
• 1724 — On the Feast of St. John the Baptist, Bach led the first performance of Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7, the third cantata of his chorale cantata cycle. Read more
• 1717 — The first Grand Lodge of Freemasonry, the Premier Grand Lodge of England, was founded in London. Read more
• 1559 — The Book of Common Prayer, a major component of the Elizabethan religious settlement, was introduced as the liturgy of the Church of England through the Act of Uniformity 1558. Read more
• 1374 — An outbreak of dancing mania, in which crowds of people danced themselves to exhaustion, began in Aachen (in present-day Germany) before spreading to other parts of Europe. Read more
• 1340 — Hundred Years' War: The English fleet commanded by Edward III almost completely destroyed the French fleet at the Battle of Sluys. Read more
• 1314 — In the decisive battle of the First War of Scottish Independence, Scottish forces led by Robert the Bruce defeated English troops under Edward II near Bannockburn, Scotland. Read more
• 474 — Western Roman emperor Glycerius, who was not recognized by his Eastern counterpart Leo I, was forced to abdicate. Read more

Events

• 2026 — Two earthquakes strike Venezuela, leaving more than 2,200 people dead and dozens of others missing. Read more
• 2023 — The Wagner Group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin launches an insurrection against the Russian government. Read more
• 2022 — In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the U.S. Constitution does not assign the authority to regulate abortions to the federal government, thereby returning such authority to the individual states. This overturns the prior decisions in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). Read more
• 2021 — The Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida suffers a sudden partial collapse, killing 98 people inside. Read more
• 2013 — Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is found guilty of abusing his power and engaging in sex with an underage prostitute, and is sentenced to seven years in prison. Read more
• 2012 — Death of Lonesome George, the last known individual of Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii, a subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise. Read more
• 2010 — At Wimbledon, John Isner of the United States defeats Nicolas Mahut of France, in the longest match in professional tennis history. Read more
• 2010 — Julia Gillard assumes office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia. Read more
• 2004 — In New York, capital punishment is declared unconstitutional. Read more
• 2002 — The Igandu train disaster in Tanzania kills 281, the worst train accident in African history. Read more
• 1995 — Rugby World Cup: South Africa defeats New Zealand and Nelson Mandela presents Francois Pienaar with the Webb Ellis Cup in an iconic post-apartheid moment. Read more
• 1994 — A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress crashes at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington, killing four. Read more
• 1989 — Jiang Zemin succeeds Zhao Ziyang to become the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. Read more
• 1982 — "The Jakarta Incident": British Airways Flight 009 flies into a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, resulting in the failure of all four engines. Read more
• 1981 — The Humber Bridge opens to traffic, connecting Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It remained the world's longest bridge span for 17 years. Read more
• 1978 — Ahmad al-Ghashmi, the president of the Yemen Arab Republic, is killed when a bomb exploded in a suitcase carried by a South Yemeni envoy. Read more
• 1975 — Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 encounters severe wind shear and crashes on final approach to New York's JFK Airport killing 113 of the 124 passengers on board, making it the deadliest U.S. plane crash at the time. This accident led to decades of research into downburst and microburst phenomena and their effects on aircraft. Read more
• 1973 — The UpStairs Lounge arson attack takes place at a gay bar located on the second floor of the three-story building at 141 Chartres Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, US. Thirty-two people die as a result of fire or smoke inhalation. Read more
• 1963 — The United Kingdom grants Zanzibar internal self-government. Read more
• 1960 — Venezuelan President Rómulo Betancourt is injured in an assassination attempt. Read more
• 1957 — In Roth v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment. Read more
• 1954 — First Indochina War: Battle of Mang Yang Pass: Viet Minh troops belonging to the 803rd Regiment ambush G.M. 100 of France in An Khê. Read more
• 1950 — Apartheid: In South Africa, the Group Areas Act is passed, formally segregating races. Read more
• 1949 — The first television western, Hopalong Cassidy, starring William Boyd, is aired on NBC. Read more
• 1948 — Cold War: Start of the Berlin Blockade: The Soviet Union makes overland travel between West Germany and West Berlin impossible. Read more
• 1947 — Kenneth Arnold makes the first widely reported UFO sighting near Mount Rainier, Washington. Read more
• 1945 — The first Victory Day Parade takes place on Red Square in Moscow, Soviet Union, symbolizing the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany. Read more
• 1943 — US military police attempt to arrest a black soldier in Bamber Bridge, England, sparking the Battle of Bamber Bridge mutiny that leaves one dead and seven wounded. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Operation Collar, the first British Commando raid on occupied France, by No 11 Independent Company. Read more
• 1939 — Siam is renamed Thailand by Plaek Phibunsongkhram, the country's third prime minister. Read more
• 1932 — A bloodless revolution instigated by the People's Party ends the absolute power of King Prajadhipok of Siam (now Thailand). Read more
• 1922 — The American Professional Football Association is renamed the National Football League. Read more
• 1918 — First airmail service in Canada from Montreal to Toronto. Read more
• 1916 — Mary Pickford becomes the first female film star to sign a million-dollar contract. Read more
• 1913 — Greece and Serbia annul their alliance with Bulgaria. Read more
• 1894 — Assassination of the French President, Sadi Carnot by Sante Caserio during the Ère des attentats (1892–1894). Read more
• 1880 — First performance of O Canada at the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français. The song would later become the national anthem of Canada. Read more
• 1866 — Austro-Prussian War: In the Battle of Custoza an Austrian army defeats the Italian army. Read more
• 1859 — Battle of Solferino (Battle of the Three Sovereigns): Sardinia and France defeat Austria in Solferino, northern Italy. Read more
• 1839 — An Egyptian army under Ibrahim Pascha routs an Ottoman army under Hafiz Pasha in the battle of Nezib. Read more
• 1821 — Battle of Carabobo: Decisive battle in the war of independence of Venezuela from Spain. Read more
• 1813 — Battle of Beaver Dams: A British and Indian combined force defeats the United States Army. Read more
• 1812 — Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon's Grande Armée crosses the Neman river beginning the invasion of Russia. Read more
• 1793 — The first Republican constitution in France is adopted. Read more
• 1779 — American Revolutionary War: The Great Siege of Gibraltar begins. Read more
• 1762 — Battle of Wilhelmsthal: The British-Hanoverian army of Ferdinand of Brunswick defeats French forces in Westphalia. Read more
• 1724 — On the Feast of St. John the Baptist, Bach leads the first performance of his Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7, the third cantata of his chorale cantata cycle. Read more
• 1717 — The Premier Grand Lodge of England is founded in London, the first Masonic Grand Lodge in the world (now the United Grand Lodge of England). Read more
• 1713 — The treaty of Adrianople ends the Russo-Turkish War of 1710–1713, which restores territory to the Ottomans while allowing the Russians to focus on their war against the Swedes. Read more
• 1663 — The Spanish garrison of Évora capitulates, following the Portuguese victory at the Battle of Ameixial. Read more
• 1622 — Battle of Macau: The Dutch make a failed attempt to capture Macau. Read more
• 1604 — Samuel de Champlain encounters the mouth of the Saint John River, site of Reversing Falls and the present-day city of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Read more
• 1593 — The Dutch city of Geertruidenberg held by the Spanish, capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army led by Maurice of Nassau. Read more
• 1571 — Miguel López de Legazpi conquers Manila for Spain, modern day capital of the Philippines. Read more
• 1540 — English King Henry VIII commands his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, to leave the court. Read more
• 1535 — The Anabaptist state of Münster is conquered and disbanded. Read more
• 1520 — The Field of the Cloth of Gold, a summit meeting between Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France, ends. Read more
• 1509 — Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon are crowned King and Queen of England. Read more
• 1497 — John Cabot lands in North America at Newfoundland leading the first European exploration of the region since the Vikings. Read more
• 1374 — A sudden outbreak of St. John's Dance causes people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion. Read more

Born on June 24

• 2008 — Mathis Jangéal, French footballer Read more
• 2000 — Nehuén Pérez, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1999 — Darwin Núñez, Uruguayan footballer Read more
• 1998 — Federico Gatti, Italian footballer Read more
• 1998 — Pierre-Luc Dubois, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1996 — Duki, Argentine rapper Read more
• 1992 — David Alaba, Austrian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Yasmin Paige, English actress Read more
• 1991 — Aidan Sezer, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1990 — Michael Del Zotto, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1990 — Richard Sukuta-Pasu, German footballer Read more
• 1989 — Teklemariam Medhin, Eritrean runner Read more
• 1988 — Micah Richards, English footballer Read more
• 1988 — Nichkhun, Thai-American singer and actor Read more
• 1987 — Simona Dobrá, Czech tennis player Read more
• 1987 — Lionel Messi, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1987 — Pierre Vaultier, French snowboarder Read more
• 1986 — Stuart Broad, English cricketer Read more
• 1986 — Phil Hughes, American baseball player Read more
• 1986 — Solange Knowles, American singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1985 — Diego Alves Carreira, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Tom Kennedy, English footballer Read more
• 1985 — Nate Myles, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1985 — Vernon Philander, South African cricketer Read more
• 1985 — Yukina Shirakawa, Japanese model Read more
• 1984 — Andrea Raggi, Italian footballer Read more
• 1984 — JJ Redick, American basketball player and coach Read more
• 1984 — Johanna Welin, Swedish-born German wheelchair basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Rebecca Cooke, English swimmer Read more
• 1983 — John Lloyd Cruz, Filipino actor Read more
• 1983 — Gianni Munari, Italian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Gard Nilssen, Norwegian drummer Read more
• 1983 — David Shillington, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1982 — Kevin Nolan, English footballer Read more
• 1982 — Jarret Stoll, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1980 — Cicinho, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1980 — Nina Dübbers, German tennis player Read more
• 1980 — Andrew Jones, Australian race car driver Read more
• 1980 — Minka Kelly, American actress Read more
• 1979 — Mindy Kaling, American actress and producer Read more

Died on June 24

• 2025 — Bobby Sherman, American singer-songwriter and actor (born 1943) Read more
• 2024 — Shifty Shellshock, American vocalist (born 1974) Read more
• 2021 — Benigno Aquino III, 15th President of the Philippines (born 1960) Read more
• 2021 — Trần Thiện Khiêm, 7th Prime Minister of South Vietnam and army officer (born 1925) Read more
• 2015 — Cristiano Araújo, Brazilian singer-songwriter (born 1986) Read more
• 2015 — Mario Biaggi, American police officer, politician and criminal (born 1917) Read more
• 2015 — Marva Collins, American author and educator (born 1936) Read more
• 2015 — Susan Ahn Cuddy, American lieutenant (born 1915) Read more
• 2014 — John Clement, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1928) Read more
• 2014 — Marilyn Fisher Lundy, American businesswoman (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Olga Kotelko, Canadian runner and softball player (born 1919) Read more
• 2014 — Ramón José Velásquez, Venezuelan journalist, lawyer, and politician, President of Venezuela (born 1916) Read more
• 2014 — Eli Wallach, American actor (born 1915) Read more
• 2013 — Mick Aston, English archaeologist and academic (born 1946) Read more
• 2013 — Emilio Colombo, Italian politician, 40th Prime Minister of Italy (born 1920) Read more
• 2013 — Joannes Gijsen, Dutch bishop (born 1932) Read more
• 2013 — William Hathaway, American lawyer and politician (born 1924) Read more
• 2013 — James Martin, English-Bermudian computer scientist and author (born 1933) Read more
• 2013 — Alan Myers, American drummer (born 1955) Read more
• 2012 — Darrel Akerfelds, American baseball player and coach (born 1962) Read more
• 2012 — Gad Beck, German author and educator (born 1923) Read more
• 2012 — Gu Chaohao, Chinese mathematician and academic (born 1926) Read more
• 2012 — Miki Roqué, Spanish footballer (born 1988) Read more
• 2012 — Ann C. Scales, American lawyer, educator, and activist (born 1952) Read more
• 2012 — Lonesome George, last known Pinta Island tortoise (hatched c. 1910) Read more
• 2011 — Tomislav Ivić, Croatian football coach and manager (born 1933) Read more
• 2010 — Fred Anderson, American jazz tenor saxophonist (born 1929) Read more
• 2009 — Roméo LeBlanc, Canadian journalist and politician, 25th Governor General of Canada (born 1927) Read more
• 2008 — Gerhard Ringel, Austrian mathematician and academic (born 1919) Read more
• 2007 — Natasja Saad, Danish rapper and reggae singer (born 1974) Read more
• 2007 — Chris Benoit, Canadian wrestler (born 1967) Read more
• 2007 — Derek Dougan, Northern Irish footballer and manager (born 1938) Read more
• 2005 — Paul Winchell, American actor, voice artist, and ventriloquist (born 1922) Read more
• 2004 — Ifigeneia Giannopoulou, Greek songwriter and author (born 1957) Read more
• 2002 — Pierre Werner, Luxembourgish banker and politician, 21st Prime Minister of Luxembourg (born 1913) Read more
• 2001 — Konstantin Gerchik, the second head of the world's first cosmodrome — "Baikonur" (1958–1961). Read more
• 2000 — Vera Atkins, British intelligence officer (born 1908) Read more
• 2000 — David Tomlinson, English actor and comedian (born 1917) Read more
• 2000 — Rodrigo Bueno, Argentine cuarteto singer (born 1973) Read more
• 1997 — Brian Keith, American actor (born 1921) Read more

Holidays & observances

Army Day or Battle of Carabobo Day (Venezuela); Bannockburn Day (Scotland); Christian feast day: Gohard; Christian feast day: Joseph Yuan; Christian feast day: María Guadalupe García Zavala; Christian feast day: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist; Christian feast day: Rumbold of Mechlin; Christian feast day: June 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of the Caboclo (Amazonas, Brazil); Inti Raymi, a winter solstice festival and a New Year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere (Sacsayhuamán); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Enyovden (Bulgaria); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Catalan Countries National Day (Andorra, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Northern Catalonia, Valencia); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Jaanipäev (Estonia); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Jāņi (Latvia); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Jónsmessa (Iceland); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Midsummer Day (England); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Saint Jonas' Festival or Joninės (Lithuania); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Sânziene (western Carpathian Mountains of Romania); St John's Day and the second day of the Midsummer celebrations (although this is not the astronomical summer solstice, see June 20) (Roman Catholic Church, Europe), and its related observances: Wattah Wattah Festival (Philippines); Fors Fortuna, ancient Roman festival to Fortuna

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