What Happened on May 24?
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events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON MAY 24
Explore the most important historical events that happened on May 24, featuring key moments that shaped the world.
John Brown (abolitionist)
Year:
1856
John Brown and his men kill five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas.
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American Civil War
Year:
1861
American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia, with Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth becoming the first Union officer to be killed during the war.
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Samuel Morse
Year:
1844
Samuel Morse sends the message "What hath God wrought" (a biblical quotation, Numbers 23:23) from a committee room in the United States Capitol to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore, Maryland, to inaugurate a commercial telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington D.C.
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Kingdom of Greece
Year:
1832
The First Kingdom of Greece is declared in the London Conference.
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Simón Bolívar
Year:
1813
South American independence leader Simón Bolívar enters Mérida, leading the invasion of Venezuela, and is proclaimed El Libertador ("The Liberator").
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Battle of Pichincha
Year:
1822
Battle of Pichincha: Antonio José de Sucre secures the independence of the Presidency of Quito.
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Patrick Francis Healy
Year:
1873
Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first black president of a predominantly white university in the United States.
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Brooklyn Bridge
Year:
1883
The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City is opened to traffic after 14 years of construction.
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BIRTHS ON MAY 24
Discover famous people and historical figures born on May 24, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.
Tommy Chong
Year of birth:
1938
Tommy Chong, Canadian-American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
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Maryvonne Dupureur
Year of birth:
1937
Maryvonne Dupureur, French runner and educator (died 2008)
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Archie Shepp
Year of birth:
1937
Archie Shepp, American saxophonist and composer
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Harold Budd
Year of birth:
1936
Harold Budd, American composer and poet (died 2020)
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Prince Buster
Year of birth:
1938
Prince Buster, Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer (died 2016)
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Joseph Brodsky
Year of birth:
1940
Joseph Brodsky, Russian-American poet and essayist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1996)
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Hannu Mikkola
Year of birth:
1942
Hannu Mikkola, Finnish race car driver (died 2021)
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Ichirō Ozawa
Year of birth:
1942
Ichirō Ozawa, Japanese lawyer and politician, Japanese Minister of Home Affairs
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DEATHS ON MAY 24
Look back at notable individuals who passed away on May 24, and learn about their lasting influences on history.
Freddie Frith
Year of death:
1988
Freddie Frith, English motorcycle road racer (born 1909)
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Sylvestre François Lacroix
Year of death:
1843
Sylvestre François Lacroix, French mathematician and academic (born 1765)
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Gene Clark
Year of death:
1991
Gene Clark, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1944)
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John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll
Year of death:
1806
John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll, Scottish field marshal and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Argyllshire (born 1723)
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Vincent J. McMahon
Year of death:
1984
Vince McMahon Sr., American wrestling promoter and businessman, founded WWE (born 1914)
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Herbert Müller (racing driver)
Year of death:
1981
Herbert Müller, Swiss race car driver (born 1940)
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Duke Ellington
Year of death:
1974
Duke Ellington, American pianist and composer (born 1899)
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Denise Pelletier
Year of death:
1976
Denise Pelletier, Canadian actress (born 1923)
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HOLIDAYS ON MAY 24
See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on May 24 around the world.
Independence Day (Eritrea)
Independence Day (Eritrea), celebrates the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia in 1993.
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May 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: May 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
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Vincent of Lérins
Christian feast day: Vincent of Lérins
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Lubiri
Lubiri Memorial Day (Buganda)
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Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture
Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (Eastern Orthodox Church, Julian Calendar) and its related observance: Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavonic Literature Day (Bulgaria)
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National Patriots' Day
Victoria Day; celebrated on Monday on or before May 24. (Canada), and its related observance: National Patriots' Day or Journée nationale des patriotes (Quebec)
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Public holidays in North Macedonia
Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (Eastern Orthodox Church, Julian Calendar) and its related observance: Saints Cyril and Methodius, Slavonic Enlighteners' Day (North Macedonia)
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Aldersgate Day
Aldersgate Day/Wesley Day (Methodism)
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