This day in history: 24 april

1916 – Easter Rising in Ireland
Irish republicans launched the Easter Rising in Dublin, a major rebellion against British rule. This event marked a pivotal moment in Irish history and the struggle for independence from the United Kingdom.
1792 – Composition of La Marseillaise
Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle composed “La Marseillaise,” which would become the French national anthem, a symbol of the French Revolution and national identity.
1877 – Outbreak of Russo-Turkish War
War broke out between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, leading to the eventual independence of Serbia and Montenegro.
1924 – Thorvald Stauning Becomes Prime Minister of Denmark
Thorvald Stauning, leader of the Social Democrats, became the new Prime Minister of Denmark after his party won a plurality in the Folketing elections.
2005 – Installation of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) was formally installed as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church during a mass in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.
1942 – Birth of Willem de Kooning
Noted painter Willem de Kooning, a leading figure in Abstract Expressionism, was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

1704 – First Regular Newspaper Published
The Boston News-Letter, the first regular newspaper in British Colonial America, was published on this day, marking a significant moment in American media history.
1898 – Start of the Spanish-American War
Spain declared war on the United States, officially beginning the Spanish-American War. This conflict marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and its emergence as a global power.
1980 – Failed Iran Hostage Rescue Mission (Operation Eagle Claw)
U.S. forces attempted a mission to rescue American hostages held in Iran. The operation failed due to equipment malfunctions and a subsequent crash, resulting in the deaths of eight U.S. service members.
1968 – Columbia University Student Protests
Leftist students took over Columbia University in New York City to protest the Vietnam War, reflecting the era’s widespread student activism and antiwar sentiment.

1915 – Start of the Armenian Genocide
On April 24, 1915, during World War I, the Ottoman authorities began the arrest and deportation of Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople (now Istanbul). This event marked the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, recognized as the first modern-era genocide, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in Asia Minor.
1949 – Communist Forces Capture Nanjing, China
On this day in 1949, Communist forces occupied the Chinese capital, Nanjing, during the Chinese Civil War. This was a major milestone in the Communist victory over the Nationalist government and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China later that year.
1970 – China Launches Its First Satellite
China successfully launched its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1, into orbit using a Long March-1 rocket. This achievement made China the fifth country in the world to independently launch a satellite, marking a significant milestone in Asian and global space exploration.

1960 – Togo Gains Independence from France
On April 24, 1960, Togo became the first African nation to gain independence from France that year, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s decolonization movement.
1993 – Death of Oliver Tambo
Oliver Tambo, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and former president of the African National Congress (ANC), passed away in Johannesburg. Tambo, alongside Nelson Mandela, was instrumental in the struggle against apartheid and co-founded South Africa’s first Black law firm.
1967 – Publication of “Axioms of Kwame Nkrumah”
Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a leading figure in African independence movements, published his book “Axioms of Kwame Nkrumah” on this day.
1968 – Mauritius Admitted to the United Nations
Mauritius, having recently gained independence, was admitted as a member state to the United Nations on April 24, 1968.