April 24
Events
Pre-1600
- 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut.
- 1183 BC - Traditional reckoning of the Fall of Troy marking the end of the legendary Trojan War, given by chief librarian of the Library of Alexandria Eratosthenes, among others.
- 1547 - Battle of Mühlberg. Duke of Alba, commanding Spanish-Imperial forces of Charles I of Spain, defeats the troops of Schmalkaldic League.
- 1558 - Mary, Queen of Scots, marries the Dauphin of France, François, at Notre-Dame de Paris.
1601–1900
- 1704 - The first regular newspaper in British Colonial America, The Boston News-Letter, is published.
- 1793 - French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat is acquitted by the Revolutionary Tribunal of charges brought by the Girondin in Paris.
- 1800 - The United States Library of Congress is established when President John Adams signs legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress".
- 1837 - The great fire in Surat city of India caused more than 500 deaths and destruction of more than 9,000 houses.
- 1877 - Russo-Turkish War: The Russian Empire declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
- 1885 - American sharpshooter Annie Oakley is hired by Nate Salsbury to be a part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West.
- 1895 - Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard the sloop Spray.
1901–present
- 1913 - The Woolworth Building, a skyscraper in New York City, is opened.
- 1914 - The Franck–Hertz experiment, a pillar of quantum mechanics, is presented to the German Physical Society.
- 1915 - The arrest of 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Istanbul marks the beginning of the Armenian genocide.
- 1916 - Easter Rising: Irish rebels, led by Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, launch an uprising in Dublin against British rule and proclaim an Irish Republic.
- 1916 - Ernest Shackleton and five men of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition launch a lifeboat from uninhabited Elephant Island in the Southern Ocean to organise a rescue for the crew of the sunken.
- 1918 - World War I: First tank-to-tank combat, during the second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. Three British Mark IVs meet three German A7Vs.
- 1922 - The first segment of the Imperial Wireless Chain providing wireless telegraphy between Leafield in Oxfordshire, England, and Cairo, Egypt, comes into operation.
- 1924 - Thorvald Stauning becomes premier of Denmark.
- 1926 - The Treaty of Berlin is signed. Germany and the Soviet Union each pledge neutrality in the event of an attack on the other by a third party for the next five years.
- 1932 - Benny Rothman leads the mass trespass of Kinder Scout, leading to substantial legal reforms in the United Kingdom.
- 1933 - Nazi Germany begins its persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses by shutting down the Watch Tower Society office in Magdeburg.
- 1944 - World War II: The SBS launches a raid against the garrison of Santorini in Greece.
- 1953 - Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
- 1955 - The Bandung Conference ends: Twenty-nine non-aligned nations of Asia and Africa finish a meeting that condemns colonialism, racism, and the Cold War.
- 1957 - Suez Crisis: The Suez Canal is reopened following the introduction of UNEF peacekeepers to the region.
- 1963 - Marriage of Princess Alexandra of Kent to Angus Ogilvy at Westminster Abbey in London.
- 1965 - Civil war breaks out in the Dominican Republic when Colonel Francisco Caamaño overthrows the triumvirate that had been in power since the coup d'état against Juan Bosch.
- 1967 - Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies in Soyuz 1 when its parachute fails to open. He is the first human to die during a space mission.
- 1967 - Vietnam War: American General William Westmoreland says in a news conference that the enemy had "gained support in the United States that gives him hope that he can win politically that which he cannot win militarily".
- 1970 - China launches Dong Fang Hong I, becoming the fifth nation to put an object into orbit using its own booster.
- 1970 - The Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, with Dawda Jawara as its first President.
- 1979 - Blair Peach, a New Zealand teacher, dies after being knocked unconscious during an Anti-Nazi League demonstration against a National Front election meeting in Southall, London.
- 1980 - Eight U.S. servicemen die in Operation Eagle Claw as they attempt to end the Iran hostage crisis.
- 1990 - STS-31: The Hubble Space Telescope is launched from the Space Shuttle Discovery.
- 1990 - Gruinard Island, Scotland, is officially declared free of the anthrax disease after 48 years of quarantine.
- 1993 - An IRA bomb devastates the Bishopsgate area of London.
- 1994 - A Douglas DC-3 ditches in Botany Bay after takeoff from Sydney Airport. All 25 people on board survive.
- 1996 - In the United States, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 is passed into law.
- 2004 - The United States lifts economic sanctions imposed on Libya 18 years previously, as a reward for its cooperation in eliminating weapons of mass destruction.
- 2005 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.
- 2006 - Bombings in the Egyptian resort city of Dahab kill 23 people and injure about 80.
- 2011 - WikiLeaks starts publishing the Guantanamo Bay files leak.
- 2013 - A building collapses near Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing 1,134 people and injuring about 2,500 others.
- 2013 - Violence in Bachu County, Kashgar Prefecture, of China's Xinjiang results in death of 21 people.
- 2025 – A mass stabbing at a school in Nantes, France, leaves 1 person dead and 3 others wounded.
Births
Pre-1600
- 1086 - Ramiro II of Aragon
- 1492 - Sabina of Bavaria, Bavarian duchess and noblewoman
- 1532 - Thomas Lucy, English politician
- 1533 - William I of Orange, founding father of the Netherlands
- 1538 - Guglielmo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
- 1545 - Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton, English Earl
- 1562 - Xu Guangqi, Ming Dynasty Chinese politician, scholar and lay Catholic leader
- 1581 - Vincent de Paul, French priest and saint
1601–1900
- 1608 - Gaston, Duke of Orléans, third son of King Henry IV of France
- 1620 - John Graunt, English demographer and statistician
- 1706 - Giovanni Battista Martini, Italian pianist and composer
- 1718 - Nathaniel Hone the Elder, Irish-English painter and educator
- 1743 - Edmund Cartwright, English clergyman and engineer, invented the power loom
- 1784 - Peter Vivian Daniel, American lawyer and jurist
- 1815 - Anthony Trollope, English novelist, essayist, and short story writer
- 1823 - Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, Mexican politician, President of Mexico
- 1829 - Luisa Cappiani, Austrian soprano, educator and essayist
- 1845 - Carl Spitteler, Swiss poet and author, Nobel Prize laureate
- 1856 - Philippe Pétain, French general and politician, 119th Prime Minister of France
- 1860 - Queen Marau, last Queen of Tahiti
- 1862 - Tomitaro Makino, Japanese botanist
- 1868 - Sandy Herd, Scottish golfer
- 1876 - Erich Raeder, German admiral
- 1878 - Jean Crotti, Swiss-French painter
- 1879 - Susanna Bokoyni, Hungarian-American circus performer
- 1880 - Gideon Sundback, Swedish-American engineer and businessman, developed the zipper
- 1880 - Josef Müller, Croatian entomologist
- 1882 - Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding, Scottish-English air marshal
- 1885 - Thomas Cronan, American triple jumper
- 1885 - Con Walsh, Irish-Canadian hammer thrower and footballer
- 1887 - Denys Finch Hatton, English hunter
- 1888 - Pe Maung Tin, Burma-based scholar and educator
- 1889 - Stafford Cripps, English academic and politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer
- 1889 - Lyubov Popova, Russian painter and academic
- 1897 - Manuel Ávila Camacho, Mexican colonel and politician, 45th President of Mexico
- 1897 - Benjamin Lee Whorf, American linguist, anthropologist, and engineer
- 1899 - Oscar Zariski, Russian-American mathematician and academic
- 1900 - Elizabeth Goudge, English author and educator
1901–present
- 1903 - José Antonio Primo de Rivera, Spanish lawyer and politician, founded the Falange
- 1904 - Willem de Kooning, Dutch-American painter and educator
- 1905 - Al Bates, American long jumper
- 1905 - Robert Penn Warren, American novelist, poet, and literary critic
- 1906 - William Joyce, American-born Irish-British Nazi propaganda broadcaster
- 1906 - Mimi Smith, English nurse
- 1907 - Gabriel Figueroa, Mexican cinematographer
- 1908 - Marceline Day, American actress
- 1908 - Inga Gentzel, Swedish runner
- 1908 - Józef Gosławski, Polish sculptor
- 1912 - Ruth Osburn, American discus thrower
- 1913 - Dieter Grau, German-American scientist and engineer
- 1914 - William Castle, American director, producer, and screenwriter
- 1914 - Phil Watson, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
- 1914 - Justin Wilson, American chef and author
- 1916 - Lou Thesz, American wrestler and trainer
- 1919 - David Blackwell, American mathematician and academic
- 1919 - Glafcos Clerides, Cypriot lawyer and politician, 4th President of Cyprus
- 1920 - Gino Valenzano, Italian race car driver
- 1922 - Marc-Adélard Tremblay, Canadian anthropologist and academic
- 1923 - Gus Bodnar, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
- 1923 - Doris Burn, American author and illustrator
- 1924 - Clement Freud, German-English radio host, academic, and politician
- 1924 - Ruth Kobart, American actress and singer
- 1925 - Franco Leccese, Italian sprinter
- 1926 - Marilyn Erskine, American actress
- 1926 - Thorbjörn Fälldin, Swedish farmer and politician, 27th Prime Minister of Sweden
- 1927 - Josy Barthel, Luxembourgish runner and politician, Luxembourgish Minister for Energy
- 1928 - Tommy Docherty, Scottish footballer and manager
- 1928 - Johnny Griffin, American saxophonist
- 1928 - Anahit Perikhanian, Russian-born Armenian Iranologist
- 1929 - Dr. Rajkumar, Indian actor and singer
- 1930 - Jerome Callet, American instrument designer, educator, and author
- 1930 - Richard Donner, American actor, director, and producer
- 1930 - José Sarney, Brazilian lawyer and politician, 31st President of Brazil
- 1931 - Abdelhamid Kermali, Algerian footballer and manager
- 1931 - Bridget Riley, English painter and illustrator
- 1934 - Jayakanthan, Indian journalist and author
- 1934 - Shirley MacLaine, American actress, singer, and dancer
- 1936 - David Crombie, Canadian educator and politician, 56th Mayor of Toronto
- 1936 - Jill Ireland, English actress
- 1937 - Joe Henderson, American saxophonist and composer
- 1940 - Sue Grafton, American author
- 1941 - Richard Holbrooke, American journalist, banker, and diplomat, 22nd United States Ambassador to the United Nations
- 1941 - John Williams, Australian-English guitarist and composer
- 1942 - Richard M. Daley, American lawyer and politician, 54th Mayor of Chicago
- 1942 - Barbra Streisand, American singer, actress, activist, and producer
- 1943 - Richard Sterban, American country and gospel bass singer
- 1943 - Gordon West, English footballer
- 1944 - Peter Cresswell, English judge
- 1944 - Maarja Nummert, Estonian architect
- 1944 - Tony Visconti, American record producer, musician and singer
- 1945 - Doug Clifford, American drummer and songwriter
- 1946 - Doug Christie, Canadian lawyer and activist
- 1946 - Phil Robertson, American hunter and television personality
- 1947 - Josep Borrell, Spanish engineer and politician, 22nd President of the European Parliament
- 1947 - João Braz de Aviz, Brazilian cardinal
- 1947 - Claude Dubois, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1947 - Denise Kingsmill, Baroness Kingsmill, New Zealand-English lawyer and politician
- 1947 - Roger D. Kornberg, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
- 1948 - Paul Cellucci, American soldier and politician, 69th Governor of Massachusetts
- 1948 - Eliana Gil, Ecuadorian-American psychiatrist, therapist, and author
- 1949 - Eddie Hart, American sprinter
- 1949 - Véronique Sanson, French singer-songwriter and producer
- 1950 - Rob Hyman, American singer-songwriter and musician
- 1951 - Ron Arad, Israeli architect and academic
- 1951 - Christian Bobin, French author and poet
- 1951 - Nigel Harrison, English bass player and songwriter
- 1951 - Enda Kenny, Irish educator and politician, 13th Taoiseach of Ireland
- 1952 - Jean Paul Gaultier, French fashion designer
- 1952 - Ralph Winter, American film producer
- 1953 - Eric Bogosian, American actor and writer
- 1954 - Mumia Abu-Jamal, American journalist, activist, and convicted murderer
- 1954 - Jack Blades, American singer-songwriter and bass player
- 1955 - Marion Caspers-Merk, German politician
- 1955 - John de Mol Jr., Dutch businessman, co-founded Endemol
- 1955 - Eamon Gilmore, Irish trade union leader and politician, 25th Tánaiste of Ireland
- 1955 - Margaret Moran, British politician and criminal
- 1955 - Guy Nève, Belgian race car driver
- 1955 - Michael O'Keefe, American actor
- 1955 - Bill Osborne, New Zealand rugby player
- 1956 - James A. Winnefeld, Jr., American admiral
- 1957 - Nazir Ahmed, Baron Ahmed, Pakistani-English businessman and politician
- 1958 - Brian Paddick, English police officer and politician
- 1959 - Paula Yates, British-Australian television host and author
- 1961 - Andrew Murrison, English physician and politician, Minister for International Security Strategy
- 1962 - Clemens Binninger, German politician
- 1962 - Stuart Pearce, English footballer, coach, and manager
- 1962 - Steve Roach, Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster
- 1963 - Paula Frazer, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1963 - Billy Gould, American bass player, songwriter, and producer
- 1963 - Mano Solo, French singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
- 1964 - Helga Arendt, German sprinter
- 1964 - Cedric the Entertainer, American comedian, actor, and producer
- 1964 - Djimon Hounsou, Beninese-American actor and producer
- 1964 - Witold Smorawiński, Polish guitarist, composer, and educator
- 1965 - Jeff Jackson, Canadian ice hockey player and manager
- 1966 - Pierre Brassard, Canadian comedian and actor
- 1966 - Alessandro Costacurta, Italian footballer, coach, and manager
- 1966 - David Usher, English-Canadian singer-songwriter
- 1967 - Dino Rađa, Croatian basketball player
- 1967 - Omar Vizquel, Venezuelan-American baseball player and coach
- 1968 - Aidan Gillen, Irish actor
- 1968 - Todd Jones, American baseball player
- 1968 - Roxanna Panufnik, English composer
- 1968 - Hashim Thaçi, Kosovan soldier and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Kosovo
- 1969 - Elias Atmatsidis, Greek footballer
- 1969 - Rory McCann, Scottish actor
- 1969 - Eilidh Whiteford, Scottish academic and politician
- 1970 - Damien Fleming, Australian cricketer, coach, and sportscaster
- 1971 - Kumar Dharmasena, Sri Lankan cricketer and umpire
- 1971 - Mauro Pawlowski, Belgian singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1972 - Rab Douglas, Scottish footballer
- 1972 - Chipper Jones, American baseball player
- 1972 - Jure Košir, Slovenian skier and singer
- 1973 - Gabby Logan, English gymnast, television and radio host
- 1973 - Damon Lindelof, American screenwriter and producer
- 1973 - Brian Marshall, American bass player and songwriter
- 1973 - Eric Snow, American basketball player and coach
- 1973 - Sachin Tendulkar, Indian cricketer
- 1973 - Toomas Tohver, Estonian footballer
- 1973 - Lee Westwood, English golfer
- 1974 - Eric Kripke, American director, producer, and screenwriter
- 1974 - Stephen Wiltshire, English illustrator
- 1975 - Marte Mjøs Persen, Norwegian politician
- 1975 - Dejan Savić, Yugoslavian and Serbian water polo player
- 1976 - Hedda Berntsen, Norwegian skier
- 1976 - Steve Finnan, Irish international footballer
- 1976 - Frédéric Niemeyer, Canadian tennis player and coach
- 1977 - Carlos Beltrán, Puerto Rican-American baseball player
- 1977 - Diego Placente, Argentine footballer
- 1978 - Diego Quintana, Argentine footballer
- 1980 - Fernando Arce, Mexican footballer
- 1980 - Karen Asrian, Armenian chess player
- 1981 - Taylor Dent, American tennis player
- 1981 - Yuko Nakanishi, Japanese swimmer
- 1982 - Kelly Clarkson, American singer-songwriter, talk show host
- 1982 - David Oliver, American hurdler
- 1982 - Simon Tischer, German volleyball player
- 1983 - Hanna Melnychenko, Ukrainian heptathlete
- 1985 - Mike Rodgers, American sprinter
- 1986 - Aaron Cunningham, American baseball player
- 1987 - Ben Howard, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1987 - Kris Letang, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1987 - Rein Taaramäe, Estonian cyclist
- 1987 - Jan Vertonghen, Belgian international footballer
- 1987 - Varun Dhawan, Indian actor
- 1989 - Elīna Babkina, Latvian basketball player
- 1989 - David Boudia, American diver
- 1989 - Taja Mohorčič, Slovenian tennis player
- 1990 - Kim Tae-ri, South Korean actress
- 1990 - Jan Veselý, Czech basketball player
- 1991 - Sigrid Agren, French-Swedish model
- 1991 - Morgan Ciprès, French figure skater
- 1991 - Batuhan Karadeniz, Turkish footballer
- 1992 - Joe Keery, American actor
- 1992 - Laura Kenny, English cyclist
- 1992 - Jack Quaid, American actor
- 1993 - Ben Davies, Welsh international footballer
- 1994 - Jordan Fisher, American singer, dancer, and actor
- 1994 - Caspar Lee, British-South African YouTuber
- 1995 - Kehlani, American singer-songwriter
- 1996 - Ashleigh Barty, Australian tennis player
- 1997 - Lydia Ko, New Zealand golfer
- 1997 - Veronika Kudermetova, Russian tennis player
- 1998 - Ryan Newman, American actress
- 1999 - Ziyu He, Chinese violinist
- 1999 - Jerry Jeudy, American football player
- 2002 - Olivia Gadecki, Australian tennis player