June 24 stands as a significant date in history, marked by a range of pivotal events across centuries. From the founding of cities to catastrophic military campaigns and cultural milestones, this day encapsulates the breadth of human experience. What specific moments shaped the world on this date? Uncover the stories of triumph, tragedy, and transformation that define June 24’s enduring legacy.
History
Major Historical Events
1535 – Founding of Lima, Peru: On this day, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro officially founded the city of Lima, which would later become the capital of Peru.
Initially named “Ciudad de los Reyes” (City of the Kings), it served as the center of Spanish colonial power in South America.
1812 – Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia Begins: Napoleon Bonaparte launched his disastrous invasion of Russia, marking the start of a campaign that would ultimately lead to the downfall of his empire.
Leading the Grande Armée across the Niemen River, he faced harsh weather and fierce resistance, resulting in catastrophic losses.
1948 – Start of the Berlin Blockade: The Soviet Union initiated the Berlin Blockade, cutting off all supplies to West Berlin in an attempt to force the Western Allies out of the city.
This event triggered the Berlin Airlift, a massive operation by the United States and its allies to airlift food and supplies to the isolated population.
1982 – British Airways Flight 009 Incident: A British Airways Boeing 747, flying from London to Auckland, lost power in all four engines after flying through volcanic ash over Indonesia.
Miraculously, the pilots managed to restart the engines and safely land the aircraft in Jakarta, saving all 263 people on board.
2010 – Julia Gillard Becomes Australia’s First Female Prime Minister: On June 24, Julia Gillard was sworn in as Australia’s first female prime minister after a leadership challenge within the Labor Party.
Her tenure marked a historic milestone in Australian politics, though it was fraught with political challenges.
Famous Birthdays
1859 – Henry Ossawa Tanner: This American artist, known for his realistic paintings depicting African American life, was born on this day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Tanner became the first African American painter to gain international acclaim, with works like “The Banjo Lesson” earning widespread recognition.
1944 – Jeff Beck: The legendary English rock guitarist, often regarded as one of the greatest of all time, was born in Wallington, Surrey.
Beck rose to fame with The Yardbirds and later pursued a successful solo career, known for his innovative style and genre-defying music.
1961 – Curt Smith: Born in Bath, England, Curt Smith is a musician and co-founder of the pop band Tears for Fears.
With hits like “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Smith helped shape the sound of 1980s pop music.
1987 – Lionel Messi: The Argentine football superstar, widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, was born in Rosario, Argentina.
Messi’s extraordinary career includes numerous records, multiple Ballon d’Or awards, and leading Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022.
Notable Deaths
1519 – Lucrezia Borgia: The infamous Italian noblewoman, often depicted as a femme fatale due to her family’s notorious reputation, died on this day in Ferrara, Italy.
Daughter of Pope Alexander VI, her life was marked by political marriages and rumors of intrigue.
1908 – Grover Cleveland: The 22nd and 24th President of the United States, the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, passed away in Princeton, New Jersey.
Cleveland was known for his commitment to fiscal conservatism and reform during his presidency.
2007 – Chris Benoit: The Canadian professional wrestler tragically died on this day in a murder-suicide incident that shocked the wrestling world.
His death, along with those of his wife and son, led to widespread discussions about mental health and steroid use in professional sports.
Today in Music History
1965 – The Beatles Perform in Italy: The Beatles played their first-ever concerts in Italy, performing in Milan as part of their European tour.
The shows drew massive crowds of enthusiastic fans, cementing their status as global music icons.
1984 – Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald Release “On My Own”: The duet “On My Own” by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day.
The emotional ballad became one of the biggest hits of the 1980s, showcasing the power of their combined vocal talents.
1997 – Brian Wilson Releases “Gettin’ in Over My Head” Album: Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson released his solo album “Gettin’ in Over My Head” on this day, marking a significant moment in his solo career.
The album featured collaborations with artists like Elton John and Eric Clapton.
Today in Sports History
1911 – John McDermott Wins U.S. Open: American golfer John McDermott became the first U.S.-born player to win the U.S. Open on this day, triumphing at the Chicago Golf Club.
His victory marked a turning point for American golf on the international stage.
1937 – Joe Louis Becomes Heavyweight Champion: Joe Louis, known as the “Brown Bomber,” defeated James J. Braddock to become the world heavyweight boxing champion in Chicago.
Louis held the title for over a decade, becoming an American sports icon.
2016 – Cleveland Cavaliers Parade: Following their historic NBA Championship win, the Cleveland Cavaliers held a massive victory parade on this day, celebrating the city’s first major sports title in over 50 years.
LeBron James led the team to an epic comeback against the Golden State Warriors.
2021 – NHL Stanley Cup Semifinals Drama: The Montreal Canadiens clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime on this day.
The victory, on St. Jean Baptiste Day in Quebec, sparked massive celebrations across the province.
Today in Military and Naval History
1497 – John Cabot Lands in North America: Explorer John Cabot, sailing under the English flag, likely made landfall in North America on this day, possibly in Newfoundland.
His voyage marked one of the earliest European explorations of the continent since the Vikings.
1812 – Napoleon Crosses the Niemen River: As part of his invasion of Russia, Napoleon led his Grande Armée across the Niemen River on this day, initiating a campaign that would become a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars due to its catastrophic failure.
1948 – Berlin Blockade Begins: The Soviet Union’s blockade of West Berlin started on this day, severing all road, rail, and water access to the city in a Cold War power play.
The Western Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift to sustain the city’s population.
Today in Tech and Science History
1880 – First Performance of the Telephone in Brazil: On this day, the first public demonstration of the telephone took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the supervision of Emperor Dom Pedro II.
This event marked the introduction of this revolutionary technology to South America.
1947 – First Widely Reported UFO Sighting: Pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing nine high-speed objects flying near Mount Rainier in Washington State on this day, describing them as moving “like saucers skipping on water.”
His sighting popularized the term “flying saucer” and sparked widespread interest in UFOs.
2012 – Lonesome George Dies: Lonesome George, the last known Pinta Island tortoise, died on this day in the Galápagos Islands, marking the extinction of his subspecies.
His death highlighted the urgent need for conservation efforts worldwide.
Today in Art, Literature, and Culture
1717 – Founding of the Premier Grand Lodge of England: The first organized Freemason Grand Lodge was established in London on this day, marking a significant moment in the history of Freemasonry.
This event shaped the cultural and social influence of the organization for centuries.
1894 – Decision to Revive the Olympics: The International Olympic Committee was founded on this day in Paris, with the goal of reviving the ancient Olympic Games.
Led by Pierre de Coubertin, this decision paved the way for the first modern Olympics in 1896.
1939 – Release of “Gone with the Wind” Novel: While the iconic film adaptation premiered later, the novel “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell had already become a cultural phenomenon by this date, with significant buzz around its upcoming screen adaptation.
June 24 saw continued discussions and promotions tied to its legacy.
1983 – Sally Ride Returns to Earth: Astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, returned to Earth on this day after a historic mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
Her achievement inspired generations of women in STEM fields.
Funny & Weird Historical Facts
1947 – Flying Saucer Craze Begins: Kenneth Arnold’s sighting of mysterious flying objects on this day near Mount Rainier sparked the modern UFO craze.
His description of the objects as “saucers” led to a wave of similar reports and endless conspiracy theories.
1982 – Volcanic Ash Grounds a Jumbo Jet: British Airways Flight 009 lost power in all engines on this day after flying through volcanic ash from Mount Galunggung in Indonesia.
The crew’s quick thinking and a bit of luck allowed them to glide the plane to safety, creating one of aviation’s strangest survival stories.
2013 – Nik Wallenda’s Grand Canyon Tightrope Walk: Daredevil Nik Wallenda completed a death-defying tightrope walk across a section of the Grand Canyon on this day, without a safety net.
Broadcast live, the stunt left millions of viewers on the edge of their seats.
Today in History for Kids
1497 – John Cabot Discovers New Land: A long time ago, an explorer named John Cabot sailed across the ocean and found land in North America on this day.
He was one of the first Europeans to see this part of the world, and it helped people learn more about new places.
1880 – Telephone Comes to Brazil: Imagine a time when there were no phones!
On this day, people in Brazil saw a telephone work for the first time.
It was shown by their emperor, and everyone was amazed at how voices could travel through wires.
1948 – Berlin Airlift Begins: After a big war, a city called Berlin was split, and on this day, one side was blocked from getting food or help.
Brave pilots flew planes full of supplies to save the people, dropping everything they needed from the sky.
2012 – Last Pinta Tortoise Says Goodbye: A very old tortoise named Lonesome George, who lived in the Galápagos Islands, passed away on this day.
He was the last of his kind, and his story teaches us to take care of animals so they don’t disappear.
Today in History Trivia & Interesting Facts
1314 – Battle of Bannockburn Concludes: The decisive Scottish victory over England in the Battle of Bannockburn, led by Robert the Bruce, concluded on this day.
This battle became a symbol of Scottish independence and inspired legends for centuries.
1509 – Henry VIII Crowned King of England: On this day, Henry VIII was crowned king alongside his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
His reign would dramatically reshape England through religious reforms and multiple marriages.
1901 – First Exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s Work: A young Pablo Picasso had his first major art exhibition open on this day in Paris at the age of 19.
Hosted by Ambroise Vollard, this event marked the beginning of his rise to becoming one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
1995 – Rugby World Cup Unites South Africa: South Africa’s Springboks won the Rugby World Cup on this day, defeating New Zealand in a historic match.
Nelson Mandela’s presentation of the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar became an iconic moment of post-apartheid unity.
2016 – Brexit Vote Results Announced: On this day, the results of the United Kingdom’s referendum to leave the European Union were announced, with 51.9% voting for Brexit.
This decision sent shockwaves through global politics and economics, reshaping the UK’s future.