✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 114th day of the year

April 24

A look at April 24 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Barbra Streisand and Philippe Pétain, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1993

    Provisional Irish Republican Army

    An IRA bomb devastates the Bishopsgate area of London.

    Paramilitary force active from
  2. 1990

    Gruinard Island

    Gruinard Island, Scotland, is officially declared free of the anthrax disease after 48 years of quarantine.

    Island off the coast
  3. 1944

    World War II

    World War II: The SBS launches a raid against the garrison of Santorini in Greece.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1933

    Nazi Germany

    Nazi Germany begins its persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses by shutting down the Watch Tower Society office in Magdeburg.

    German state from 1933
  5. 1922

    Imperial Wireless Chain

    The first segment of the Imperial Wireless Chain providing wireless telegraphy between Leafield in Oxfordshire, England, and Cairo, Egypt, comes into operation.

    Radiotelegraphic communications network within
  6. 1918

    World War I

    World War I: First tank-to-tank combat, during the second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. Three British Mark IVs meet three German A7Vs.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  7. 1914

    Franck–Hertz experiment

    The Franck–Hertz experiment, a pillar of quantum mechanics, is presented to the German Physical Society.

    1914 confirmation of the
  8. 1913

    Woolworth Building

    The Woolworth Building, a skyscraper in New York City, is opened.

    Skyscraper in Manhattan, New
  9. 1837

    1837 Surat fire

    The great fire in Surat, India causes more than 500 deaths and destruction of more than 9,000 houses.

    Fire in British India
  10. 1800

    Library of Congress

    The United States Library of Congress is established when President John Adams signs legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress".

    US Congress research library
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Famous birthday twins

Born on April 24

Barbra Streisand

b. 1942

American singer, actress, activist, and producer

Philippe Pétain

b. 1856

French general and politician, 119th Prime Minister of France

David Oliver (hurdler)

b. 1982

American hurdler

Sachin Tendulkar

b. 1973

Indian cricketer

Gabby Logan

b. 1973

English gymnast, television and radio host

Ryan Whitney (actress)

b. 1998

American actress

Józef Gosławski (sculptor)

b. 1908

Polish sculptor

Taylor Dent

b. 1981

American tennis player

Deaths

  • 1983Rolf Stommelen, German racing driver
  • 1974Bud Abbott, American comedian and producer
  • 1964Gerhard Domagk, German pathologist and bacteriologist
  • 1960Max von Laue, German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1891Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, German field marshal
  • 1731Daniel Defoe, English journalist, novelist, and spy

Holidays & observances

  • —Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (Armenia, California, France)
  • —Christian feast day: Benedict Menni
  • —Christian feast day: Dermot of Armagh
  • —Christian feast day: Dyfnan of Anglesey
  • —Christian feast day: Ecgberht of Ripon
  • —Christian feast day: Elizabeth Hesselblad
  • —Christian feast day: Fidelis of Sigmaringen
  • —Christian feast day: Gregory of Elvira

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