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On This Day in History — March 24
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Highlights of March 24
- 2015 — The co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 deliberately crashed the aircraft, an Airbus A320, in a mass murder–suicide in the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board. Read more
- 2008 — Led by Jigme Thinley, the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party won 45 of 47 seats in the country's first National Assembly election. Read more
- 2006 — Hannah Montana, starring Miley Cyrus as an actress whose alter ego is the titular character, premiered. Read more
- 2002 — At the 74th Academy Awards, Halle Berry became the first African American to win Best Actress, winning for her role as Leticia Musgrove in Monster's Ball. Read more
- 1980 — One day after making a plea to Salvadoran soldiers to stop carrying out the government's repression, Archbishop Óscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in San Salvador. Read more
- 1964 — Royal assent was given to Prince Edward Island's Provincial Flag Act, which outlined the design of its provincial flag. Read more
- 1939 — Members of the German National Movement in Liechtenstein attempted to overthrow the government and provoke Liechtenstein's annexation into Nazi Germany. Read more
- 1934 — The Tydings–McDuffie Act came into effect, which provided for self-government of the Philippines and for Filipino independence from the United States after a period of ten years. Read more
- 1922 — Irish War of Independence: In Belfast, two men wearing police uniforms broke into a house and murdered a Catholic family in what was believed to be a reprisal for the deaths of two policemen the day before. Read more
- 1921 — The inaugural Women's Olympiad (cover pictured), the first international women's sports event, opened at the International Sporting Club of Monaco in Monte Carlo. Read more
- 1900 — Robert Anderson Van Wyck, mayor of New York City, broke ground for a new underground Rapid Transit Railroad that would link Manhattan and Brooklyn. Read more
- 1898 — The Winton Motor Carriage Company (ad pictured), one of the first American car companies, sold its first unit. Read more
- 1882 — German physician Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen that causes tuberculosis. Read more
- 1860 — Japanese chief minister Ii Naosuke was assassinated by rōnin samurai upset with his role in opening Japan to foreign powers. Read more
- 1603 — James VI of Scotland succeeded to the thrones of England and Ireland as James I, uniting the realms under a single monarch. Read more
- 1387 — Hundred Years' War: An English fleet led by Richard Fitzalan attacked 250 to 360 French, Flemish and Castilian vessels in the Battle of Margate. Read more
Events
- 2026 — OpenAI announces that their flagship Sora app and API are shutting down. Read more
- 2024 — The 2024 Senegalese presidential election is held following anti-government protests. Read more
- 2023 — An EF4 tornado strikes the towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi, causing mass destruction. Read more
- 2018 — Syrian civil war: The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Syrian National Army (SNA) take full control of Afrin District, marking the end of the Afrin offensive. Read more
- 2018 — Students across the United States stage the March for Our Lives demanding gun control in response to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Read more
- 2015 — Germanwings Flight 9525 crashes in the French Alps in an apparent pilot mass murder-suicide, killing all 150 people on board. Read more
- 2008 — Bhutan officially becomes a democracy, with its first ever general election. Read more
- 1999 — Kosovo War: NATO begins attacks on Yugoslavia without United Nations Security Council (UNSC) approval, marking the first time NATO has attacked a sovereign country. Read more
- 1999 — A lorry carrying margarine and flour catches fire inside the Mont Blanc Tunnel, creating an inferno that kills 39 people. Read more
- 1998 — Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, aged 11 and 13 respectively, open fire upon teachers and students at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas; five people are killed and ten are wounded. Read more
- 1998 — A tornado sweeps through Dantan in India, killing 250 people and injuring 3,000 others. Read more
- 1998 — Dr. Rüdiger Marmulla performs the first computer-assisted Bone Segment Navigation at the University of Regensburg, Germany. Read more
- 1992 — Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-45. Read more
- 1990 — Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War ends with the last ship of Indian Peace Keeping Force leaving Sri Lanka. Read more
- 1989 — In Prince William Sound in Alaska, the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (38,000 m3) of crude oil after running aground. Read more
- 1986 — The Loscoe gas explosion leads to new UK laws on landfill gas migration and gas protection on landfill sites. Read more
- 1982 — Bangladeshi President Abdus Sattar is deposed in a bloodless coup led by Army Chief Lieutenant general Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who suspends the Constitution and imposes martial law. Read more
- 1980 — El Salvadorian Archbishop Óscar Romero is assassinated while celebrating Mass in San Salvador. Read more
- 1977 — Morarji Desai becomes the prime minister of India, the first prime minister not to belong to Indian National Congress. Read more
- 1976 — In Argentina, the armed forces overthrow the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón and start a seven-year dictatorial period self-styled the National Reorganization Process. Read more
- 1972 — Direct rule is imposed on Northern Ireland by the Government of the United Kingdom under Edward Heath. Read more
- 1949 — Hanns Albin Rauter, a chief SS and Police Leader in the Netherlands, is convicted and executed for crimes against humanity. Read more
- 1946 — A British Cabinet Mission arrives in India to discuss and plan for the transfer of power from the British Raj to Indian leadership. Read more
- 1944 — German troops massacre 335 Italian civilians in Rome. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: In an event later dramatized in the movie The Great Escape, 76 Allied prisoners of war begin breaking out of the German camp Stalag Luft III. Read more
- 1939 — The 1939 Liechtenstein putsch takes place; approximately 40 members of the VBDL starting from Nendeln march towards Vaduz with the intention of overthrowing the government and provoking Liechtenstein's annexation into Germany. Read more
- 1934 — The Tydings–McDuffie Act is passed by the United States Congress, allowing the Philippines to become a self-governing commonwealth. Read more
- 1927 — Nanking Incident: Foreign warships bombard Nanjing, China, in defence of the foreign citizens within the city. Read more
- 1922 — The McMahon killings take place in Belfast. Six Catholic civilians are shot dead, two others wounded and a female family member assaulted. Police were suspected as being responsible, but no one was prosecuted. Read more
- 1921 — The 1921 Women's Olympiad begins in Monte Carlo, becoming the first international women's sports event. Read more
- 1900 — Mayor of New York City Robert Anderson Van Wyck breaks ground for a new underground "Rapid Transit Railroad" that would link Manhattan and Brooklyn. Read more
- 1900 — Carnegie Steel Company is formed in New Jersey; its capitalization of $160 million is the largest to date. Read more
- 1882 — Robert Koch announces the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis. Read more
- 1878 — The British frigate HMS Eurydice sinks, killing more than 300. Read more
- 1870 — A Chilean prospecting party led by José Díaz Gana discovers the silver ores of Caracoles in the Bolivian portion of Atacama Desert, leading to the last of the Chilean silver rushes and a diplomatic dispute over its taxation between Chile and Bolivia. Read more
- 1869 — The last of Tītokowaru's forces surrender to the New Zealand government, ending his uprising. Read more
- 1860 — Sakuradamon Incident: Japanese chief minister (Tairō) Ii Naosuke is assassinated by rōnin samurai outside the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle. Read more
- 1854 — President José Gregorio Monagas abolishes slavery in Venezuela. Read more
- 1832 — In Hiram, Ohio, a group of men beat and tar and feather Mormon leader Joseph Smith. Read more
- 1829 — The Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, allowing Catholics to serve in Parliament. Read more
- 1794 — In Kraków, Tadeusz Kościuszko announces a general uprising against Imperial Russia and the Kingdom of Prussia, and assumes the powers of the Commander in Chief of all of the Polish forces. Read more
- 1765 — Great Britain passes the Quartering Act, which requires the Thirteen Colonies to house British troops. Read more
- 1721 — Johann Sebastian Bach dedicates six concertos to Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt, now commonly called the Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046–1051. Read more
- 1720 — Count Frederick of Hesse-Kassel is elected King of Sweden by the Riksdag of the Estates, after his consort Ulrika Eleonora abdicated the throne on 29 February. Read more
- 1663 — The Province of Carolina is granted by charter to eight Lords Proprietor in reward for their assistance in restoring Charles II of England to the throne. Read more
- 1603 — James VI of Scotland is proclaimed King James I of England and Ireland, upon the death of Elizabeth I. Read more
- 1603 — Tokugawa Ieyasu is granted the title of shōgun from Emperor Go-Yōzei, and establishes the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo, Japan. Read more
- 1401 — Turco-Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. Read more
- 1387 — English victory over a Franco-Castilian-Flemish fleet in the Battle of Margate off the coast of Margate. Read more
- 1199 — King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting in France, leading to his death on April 6. Read more
Born on March 24
- 2004 — Gonzalo García, Spanish footballer Read more
- 2001 — Clara Burel, French tennis player Read more
- 1999 — Katie Swan, English tennis player Read more
- 1998 — Christopher Briney, American actor Read more
- 1998 — Ethel Cain, American singer-songwriter, record producer, and model Read more
- 1998 — Damar Hamlin, American football player Read more
- 1997 — Mina, Japanese singer and dancer Read more
- 1996 — Myles Turner, American basketball player Read more
- 1995 — Enzo Zidane, French-Spanish footballer Read more
- 1993 — Daniel Sazonov, Finnish politician Read more
- 1991 — Nick Browne, English cricketer Read more
- 1991 — Dalila Jakupovic, Slovenian tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Aljur Abrenica, Filipino actor Read more
- 1990 — Keisha Castle-Hughes, Australian-New Zealand actress Read more
- 1990 — Starlin Castro, American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Lacey Evans, American wrestler Read more
- 1990 — Alyssa Healy, Australian cricketer Read more
- 1990 — JonTron, American YouTuber Read more
- 1989 — Zyzz, Russian-Australian bodybuilder and internet personality (died 2011) Read more
- 1988 — Aiga Grabuste, Latvian heptathlete Read more
- 1988 — Ryan Higgins, Zimbabwean cricketer Read more
- 1988 — Matías Martínez, Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Kardo Ploomipuu, Estonian swimmer Read more
- 1988 — Matt Todd, New Zealand rugby union player Read more
- 1987 — Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladeshi cricketer Read more
- 1987 — Yuma Asami, Japanese actress and singer Read more
- 1987 — Billy Jones, English footballer Read more
- 1987 — Ramires, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Haruka Ayase, Japanese actress and singer Read more
- 1985 — CJ Perry, American wrestler, manager, and actress Read more
- 1984 — Benoît Assou-Ekotto, French-Cameroonian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Park Bom, South Korean singer Read more
- 1984 — Chris Bosh, American basketball player Read more
- 1984 — Adrian D'Souza, Indian field hockey player Read more
- 1984 — Lucy Wangui Kabuu, Kenyan runner Read more
- 1984 — Philipp Petzschner, German tennis player Read more
- 1983 — Luca Ceccarelli, Italian footballer Read more
- 1983 — T. J. Ford, American basketball player Read more
- 1983 — Riccardo Musetti, Italian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
Died on March 24
- 2026 — Biruté Galdikas, Canadian primatologist and conservationist (born 1946) Read more
- 2026 — Tracy Kidder, American writer (born 1945) Read more
- 2026 — Mel Schilling, Australian TV personality and coach (born 1972) Read more
- 2025 — Dick Carlson, American journalist and diplomat (born 1941) Read more
- 2024 — Lou Whittaker, American mountaineer, mountain guide, and businessman (born 1929) Read more
- 2023 — Gordon Moore, American businessman, engineer and co-founder of Intel Corporation (born 1929) Read more
- 2023 — Pradeep Sarkar, Indian writer and director (born 1955) Read more
- 2022 — Dagny Carlsson, Swedish blogger and influencer (born 1912) Read more
- 2021 — Jessica Walter, American actress and voice artist (born 1941) Read more
- 2020 — Albert Uderzo, French comic book artist (born 1927) Read more
- 2020 — Manu Dibango, Cameroonian musician and songwriter (born 1933) Read more
- 2019 — Joseph Pilato, American film and voice actor (born 1949) Read more
- 2018 — Lys Assia, Swiss singer and First Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest (born 1924) Read more
- 2018 — Rim Banna, Palestinian singer, composer, arranger and activist (born 1966) Read more
- 2016 — Johan Cruyff, Dutch footballer (born 1947) Read more
- 2016 — Garry Shandling, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1949) Read more
- 2015 — Yehuda Avner, English-Israeli diplomat (born 1928) Read more
- 2015 — notable deaths of the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash: Read more
- 2015 — notable deaths of the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash: Read more
- 2014 — Oleksandr Muzychko, Ukrainian activist (born 1962) Read more
- 2014 — John Rowe Townsend, English author and scholar (born 1922) Read more
- 2014 — David A. Trampier, American illustrator (born 1954) Read more
- 2013 — Barbara Anderson, New Zealand author (born 1926) Read more
- 2013 — Inge Lønning, Norwegian theologian, academic, and politician (born 1938) Read more
- 2013 — Gury Marchuk, Russian physicist, mathematician, and academic (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Paolo Ponzo, Italian footballer (born 1972) Read more
- 2013 — Mohamed Yousri Salama, Egyptian dentist and politician (born 1974) Read more
- 2013 — Francis Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 8th Baron Thurlow, English diplomat (born 1912) Read more
- 2012 — Paul Callaghan, New Zealand physicist and academic (born 1947) Read more
- 2012 — Nick Noble, American singer-songwriter (born 1926) Read more
- 2010 — Robert Culp, American actor (born 1930) Read more
- 2010 — Jim Marshall, American photographer (born 1936) Read more
- 2009 — George Kell, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1922) Read more
- 2009 — Hans Klenk, German racing driver (born 1919) Read more
- 2009 — Gábor Ocskay, Hungarian ice hockey player (born 1975) Read more
- 2008 — Chalmers Alford, American guitarist (born 1955) Read more
- 2008 — Neil Aspinall, Welsh-English record producer and manager (born 1941) Read more
- 2008 — Rafael Azcona, Spanish author and screenwriter (born 1926) Read more
- 2008 — Richard Widmark, American actor (born 1914) Read more
- 2008 — Boris Dvornik, Croatian actor (born 1939) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Catherine of Vadstena; Christian feast day:
Hildelith of Barking; Christian feast day:
Mac Cairthinn of Clogher; Christian feast day:
Maria Karłowska; Christian feast day:
Óscar Romero (Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism); Christian feast day:
Paul Couturier (Church of England); Christian feast day:
Walter Hilton (Church of England); Christian feast day:
March 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice (Argentina); International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims; National Tree Planting Day (Uganda); World Tuberculosis Day (International)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “March 24”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.