What Happened on October 24?

All

events

births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON OCTOBER 24

Explore the most important historical events that happened on October 24, featuring key moments that shaped the world.

Danish West Indies

Year: 1900

U.S. Government announces plans to buy Danish West Indies for $7 million.

Annie Edson Taylor

Year: 1901

Annie Edson Taylor becomes the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

First Sino-Japanese War

Year: 1894

First Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Jiuliancheng: Under the command of General Yamagata Aritomo, the Imperial Japanese Army covertly crosses the Yalu River into Qing territory and launches an assault on the fortifications at Hushan.

Henry Parkes

Year: 1889

Henry Parkes delivers the Tenterfield Oration, effectively starting the federation process in Australia.

Shinpūren rebellion

Year: 1876

Shinpūren rebellion: Upset at the Westernisation of Meiji Japan and the abolition of the Tokugawa feudal hierarchy, the Keishintō, a group of extremist Shinto former samurai, launch a surprise attack against the Meiji government in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Normanton incident

Year: 1886

Normanton incident: As the British merchant vessel Normanton sinks off the coast of Japan, her European officers appear to commandeer the ship's lifeboats for themselves, leaving her Asian crew and passengers to die and conjuring significant political outrage in Japan.

1902 eruption of Santa María

Year: 1902

Guatemala's Santa María volcano begins to erupt, becoming the third-largest eruption of the 20th century.

Wright brothers

Year: 1911

Orville Wright remains in the air for nine minutes and 45 seconds in a glider at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

BIRTHS ON OCTOBER 24

Discover famous people and historical figures born on October 24, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.

Kray twins

Year of birth: 1933

Reginald Kray, English gangster (died 2000)

Sammy Petrillo

Year of birth: 1934

Sammy Petrillo, American actor (died 2009)

Margie Masters

Year of birth: 1934

Margie Masters, Australian golfer (died 2022)

Kray twins

Year of birth: 1933

Ronald Kray, English gangster (died 1995)

Norman Rush

Year of birth: 1933

Norman Rush, American author and educator

Pierre-Gilles de Gennes

Year of birth: 1932

Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, French physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2007)

Stephen Covey

Year of birth: 1932

Stephen Covey, American author and educator (died 2012)

John G. Cramer

Year of birth: 1934

John G. Cramer, American physicist and author

DEATHS ON OCTOBER 24

Look back at notable individuals who passed away on October 24, and learn about their lasting influences on history.

Jo Siffert

Year of death: 1971

Jo Siffert, Swiss race car driver and motorcycle racer (born 1936)

Chuck Hughes

Year of death: 1971

Chuck Hughes, NFL player died during a game (born 1943)

Carl Ruggles

Year of death: 1971

Carl Ruggles, American composer (born 1876)

Claire Windsor

Year of death: 1972

Claire Windsor, American actress (born 1892)

Jackie Robinson

Year of death: 1972

Jackie Robinson, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1919)

Richard Hofstadter

Year of death: 1970

Richard Hofstadter, American historian and author (born 1916)

Behçet Kemal Çağlar

Year of death: 1969

Behçet Kemal Çağlar, Turkish poet and politician (born 1908)

G. E. Moore

Year of death: 1958

G. E. Moore, English philosopher and academic (born 1873)

HOLIDAYS ON OCTOBER 24

See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on October 24 around the world.

October 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Christian feast day: October 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Anthony Mary Claret

Christian feast day: Anthony Mary Claret

United Nations Day

United Nations Day, the anniversary of the 1945 Charter of the United Nations (International)

World Development Information Day

World Polio Day

Proclus of Constantinople

Christian feast day: Proclus of Constantinople

Rafael Guízar y Valencia

Christian feast day: Rafael Guízar y Valencia

Martin of Vertou

Christian feast day: Martin of Vertou

October