May 24

Thursday 24, 2001:

Wedding hall collapse in Jerusalem, Israel, kills 23 and injures over 200 in Israel's worst-ever civil disaster.

Wednesday 24, 2000:

Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon after 22 years of occupation.

Monday 24, 1993:

Microsoft unveils Windows NT.

Sunday 24, 1992:

The last Thai dictator, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, resigns following pro-democracy protests.

Friday 24, 1991:

Israel conducts Operation Solomon, evacuating Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

Thursday 24, 1990:

A car carrying American Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney explodes in Oakland, California, critically injuring both.

Wednesday 24, 1989:

Sonia Sutcliffe, wife of the Yorkshire Ripper, is awarded a six-figure sum in damages after winning a libel action against Private Eye.

Tuesday 24, 1988:

Section 28 is passed as law by Parliament in the United Kingdom.

Sunday 24, 1981:

First International Women's Day for Disarmament

Saturday 24, 1980:

The International Court of Justice calls for the release of United States embassy hostages in Tehran.

Monday 24, 1976:

London to Washington, DC Concorde service begins.

Friday 24, 1974:

After a nine-year run, the Dean Martin Show airs for the last time.

Friday 24, 1968:

FLQ separatists bomb the U.S. consulate in Quebec City.

Thursday 24, 1962:

American astronaut Scott Carpenter orbits the Earth three times in the Aurora 7 space capsule.

Wednesday 24, 1961:

American civil rights movement: Freedom Riders are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi for "disturbing the peace" after disembarking from their bus.

Saturday 24, 1958:

United Press International is formed through a merger of the United Press and the International News Service.

Thursday 24, 1956:

In Lugano, Switzerland, Lys Assia wins the first Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland singing "Refrain".

Tuesday 24, 1949:

The Soviet Union ends the 11-month Berlin Blockade.

Monday 24, 1943:

Holocaust: Josef Mengele becomes chief medical officer in Auschwitz concentration camp.

Saturday 24, 1941:

World War II: In the North Atlantic, the German Battleship Bismarck sinks the HMS Hood killing all but three crewmen on what was the pride of the Royal Navy.

Friday 24, 1940:

Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight.

Saturday 24, 1930:

Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly from England to Australia (she left on May 5 for the 11,000 mile flight).

Friday 24, 1929:

The Cocoanuts, the first film to star the Marx Brothers, opens.

Tuesday 24, 1921:

The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti opens.

Monday 24, 1915:

World War I: Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary.

Wednesday 24, 1911:

The New York Public Library opened.

Thursday 24, 1900:

Boer War: The United Kingdom annexes the Orange Free State.

Wednesday 24, 1899:

The first public parking garage in the United States is opened in Boston, Massachusetts.

Friday 24, 1895:

Henry Irving becomes the first personage from the theatre to be knighted.

Thursday 24, 1883:

The Brooklyn Bridge in New York is opened to traffic after 14 years of construction.

Friday 24, 1861:

American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia.

Saturday 24, 1856:

John Brown and his men murder five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas

Sunday 24, 1846:

Mexican-American War: General Zachary Taylor captures Monterrey.

Friday 24, 1844:

The first electric telegram is sent by Samuel F. B. Morse, from Baltimore, Maryland, to Washington, D.C., saying "What hath God wrought?".

Monday 24, 1830:

Mary had a little lamb by Sarah Hale is published.

Friday 24, 1822:

Battle of Pichincha: Antonio José de Sucre secures the independence of Quito.

Thursday 24, 1798:

Irish nationalists rebel against British forces, believing that French troops were going to invade Ireland.

Thursday 24, 1787:

The United States Constitutional Convention is convened after a quorum of delegates arrives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Saturday 24, 1738:

John Wesley is converted, essentially launching the Methodist movement; the day is celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day

Tuesday 24, 1689:

The Act of Toleration passes the English Parliament protecting Protestants (Roman Catholics are intentionally excluded).

Thursday 24, 1668:

Glen Cove, New York is founded.

Sunday 24, 1626:

Peter Minuit buys Manhattan.

Monday 24, 1621:

Protestant Union formally dissolved.

Wednesday 24, 1595:

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library.

Tuesday 24, 1487:

Imposter Lambert Simnel is crowned as "King Edward VI" at Dublin.

Monday 24, 1430:

Joan of Arc is captured by the forces of the Duke of Burgundy.

Sunday 24, 1276:

Magnus Ladulås crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala Cathedral.

Thursday 24, 1218:

The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt.

Sunday 24, 1153:

Malcolm IV becomes King of Scotland.

More on May, 24

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