Europa
- The Battle of Solway Moss (1542)
On November 24, 1542, the English army decisively defeated a much larger Scottish force at the Battle of Solway Moss, near the River Esk in Dumfries and Galloway. This conflict was rooted in dynastic and religious tensions between England and Scotland, particularly after Henry VIII broke from the Roman Catholic Church and sought to influence Scottish policy. The defeat significantly weakened the Scottish monarchy, leading to the capture of many nobles and the subsequent death of King James V, which paved the way for increased English influence and was a precursor to the eventual union of the crowns in 1603. - Abel Tasman’s Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land (1642)
Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) on this day in 1642. While this event occurred south of mainland Australia, it was a significant milestone in European exploration, led by the Dutch East India Company, and expanded European knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere. - Spanish War of Succession Begins (1700)
November 24, 1700, marks the beginning of the War of Spanish Succession, a major European conflict triggered by the death of Charles II of Spain without an heir. The war involved several European powers vying for control over the Spanish throne and led to significant territorial and political changes across the continent, including the signing of the Peace of Utrecht and the division of the Spanish and French monarchies. - Charles Darwin Publishes “On the Origin of Species” (1859)
On November 24, 1859, English scientist Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking work, On the Origin of Species. This publication introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection and had a profound impact on science, philosophy, and society worldwide. - 1248: A massive landslide on Mont Granier in France destroyed five villages, marking one of the largest historical rock slope failures in Europe.
- 1831: Michael Faraday presented his first series of papers on electricity to the Royal Society in London, contributing to the foundation of modern electromagnetism.
America
- Jack Ruby Shoots Lee Harvey Oswald (1963)
On November 24, 1963, Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner, shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy. This dramatic event was broadcast live on television and shocked the nation, occurring just two days after Kennedy’s assassination. - The D.B. Cooper Hijacking (1971)
On this day in 1971, a man known as D.B. Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 between Portland and Seattle. After receiving $200,000 in ransom and parachutes in Seattle, he released the passengers and then parachuted from the plane over the Pacific Northwest. His identity and fate remain one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in U.S. criminal history. - Establishment of the Texas Rangers (1835)
The Texas Provincial Government authorized the creation of the Texas Rangers, a horse-mounted police force, on November 24, 1835. The Rangers became an iconic law enforcement agency in Texas and the American West. - Publication of “On the Origin of Species” (1859)
Although a British event, the publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species on November 24, 1859, had a profound and lasting impact on American science and society, shaping debates on evolution and education. - Mississippi Enacts the First “Black Codes” (1865)
On November 24, 1865, Mississippi became the first Southern state to enact laws known as “Black Codes,” aimed at restricting the rights of newly freed African Americans. These laws were soon adopted by other former Confederate states, influencing the course of Reconstruction and civil rights in the United States. - Opening of the FBI Crime Lab (1932)
The FBI Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, commonly known as the FBI Crime Lab, officially opened in Washington, D.C., on November 24, 1932. It became one of the most advanced forensic laboratories in the world. - Milwaukee Police Bombing (1917)
A bomb exploded at a Milwaukee police station, killing nine officers and two civilians. This was the deadliest single event for U.S. law enforcement until the September 11 attacks.
Asia
- Death of Guru Tegh Bahadur (1675, India)
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru and a prominent religious leader, was executed on November 24, 1675, in Delhi by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. His martyrdom is a pivotal event in Sikh history, symbolizing the defense of religious freedom and human rights. - Establishment of the Kuomintang (1895, China)
On November 24, 1895, Dr. Sun Yat-sen founded the Revive China Society, which later became the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party). This organization played a crucial role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. - China Southern Airlines Flight 3943 Crash (1992, China)
On this day in 1992, China Southern Airlines Flight 3943 crashed during its approach to Guilin Qifengling Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 141 people on board. It remains one of the deadliest air disasters in Chinese aviation history. - Lachit Diwas (Assam, India)
November 24 is observed as Lachit Diwas in Assam, India, commemorating the legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, who led the Assamese forces to victory against the Mughals in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671. The day celebrates Assamese valor and resistance. - Lopburi Monkey Banquet (Thailand)
The Lopburi Monkey Banquet is an annual festival held on November 24 in Lopburi, Thailand. Locals prepare a lavish banquet for the city’s sacred long-tailed macaques, celebrating the bond between people and monkeys and attracting tourists from around the world. - Dhaka Tazreen Factory Fire (2012, Bangladesh)
On November 24, 2012, a devastating fire broke out at the Tazreen Fashion factory near Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing over 110 people and injuring about 200. The tragedy highlighted unsafe working conditions in the garment industry and led to significant labor reforms. - Temporary Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza Conflict (2023, Middle East)
On November 24, 2023, a temporary ceasefire began between Israel and Hamas, resulting in the release of over 100 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This event marked a significant, albeit brief, pause in ongoing hostilities.
Africa
- Mobutu Sese Seko Seizes Power in Congo (1965)
On November 24, 1965, Joseph-Désiré Mobutu (later Mobutu Sese Seko) took control of the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Republic of the Congo) in a military coup, ousting President Joseph Kasavubu. This marked the beginning of Mobutu’s long and autocratic rule, characterized by kleptocracy, human rights abuses, and Cold War alliances with Western powers. - Birth of Duse Mohamed Ali (1866)
Duse Mohamed Ali, a prominent Egyptian scholar, playwright, journalist, and African nationalist, was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on November 24, 1866. He played a significant role in Pan-Africanism and the intellectual movement for African and diaspora empowerment. - Egypt Sinai Mosque Attack (2017)
On November 24, 2017, a terrorist attack on a mosque in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula resulted in the deaths of over 300 people, making it one of the deadliest attacks in Egypt’s modern history. - In 2005, South African President Thabo Mbeki publicly praised Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for becoming Africa’s first elected female president following Liberia’s post-war elections, a milestone for women’s leadership on the continent.
- The Senegalese Socialist Party held its second congress on November 24, 1935, marking a significant moment in West African political history.
This day in history: 24 november