What Happened on January 24 in History?
January 24 has been a significant date for major discoveries, historical deaths, and technological milestones.
Major Historical Events
1848: California Gold Rush Begins. James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill near Coloma, California, sparking a massive migration of "Forty-niners".
1908: Boy Scouts Founded. Robert Baden-Powell published "Scouting for Boys," which led to the creation of the international scouting movement.
1924: Saint Petersburg Renamed. The Russian city of Petrograd was renamed Leningrad following the death of Vladimir Lenin (it returned to Saint Petersburg in 1991).
1935: First Canned Beer Sold. The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company began selling the first beer in cans in Richmond, Virginia.
1964: 24th Amendment Ratified. The U.S. Constitution was amended to prohibit poll taxes in federal elections.
1972: Japanese Holdout Discovered. Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi was found on Guam after hiding in the jungle for 28 years, unaware that World War II had ended.
1984: Apple Macintosh Debuts. The first Apple Macintosh personal computer went on sale for $2,495, two days after its famous "1984" commercial.
1986: Voyager 2 Uranus Flyby. The NASA probe made its closest approach to Uranus, discovering new moons and rings.
2003: DHS Begins Operations. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security officially opened its doors.
Notable Births
76 AD: Hadrian, Roman Emperor known for building Hadrian's Wall.
1862: Edith Wharton, Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist of The Age of Innocence.
1925: Maria Tallchief, the first major American prima ballerina.
1941: Neil Diamond, legendary American singer-songwriter of "Sweet Caroline".
1947: Michio Kaku, world-renowned theoretical physicist and science communicator.
1949: John Belushi, American comedian and original Saturday Night Live star.
1968: Mary Lou Retton, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.
Notable Deaths
41 AD: Caligula, Roman Emperor, was assassinated by his own Praetorian Guard.
1965: Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister who led the UK during WWII.
1989: Ted Bundy, notorious serial killer, was executed in Florida's electric chair.
1993: Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
Holidays & Observances
National Peanut Butter Day
Beer Can Appreciation Day
