Today in History for 24th March 2026

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Historical Events

1379 - First War of the Guelderian Succession ends when Matilda and the Heeckerens are defeated by the Duchy of Jülich, forcing her to resign her rights to the Duchy of Guelders to her half-sister Maria's son, William
1853 - Anti-slavery newspaper "The Provincial Freeman" first published in Windsor, Ontario, edited by Samuel Ringgold Ward and Mary Ann Shadd Cary, first black woman publisher in North America
1876 - 38th Grand National: Joe Cannon aboard 25/1 chance Regal wins by a neck from Congress
1933 - Peter I Island incorporated as a Norwegian dependency
1944 - 76 Allied officers escape Stalag Luft 3 (Great Escape)

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Famous Birthdays

1848 - Honoré Beaugrand, French Canadian journalist, newspaper publisher (La Patrie), and politician (Mayor of Montreal, 1885-87), born in Saint-Joseph-de-Lanoraie, Quebec, Canada East (d. 1906)
1850 - Silas K. Hocking, British novelist and Methodist preacher (Her Benny), born in Cornwall, England (d. 1935)
1866 - Jack McAuliffe, Irish-American boxer and undefeated World Lightweight champion (1886-93), born in Cork, Ireland, United Kingdom (d. 1937)
1909 - Clyde Barrow, American bank robber and outlaw (Bonnie and Clyde), born in Ellis County, Texas (d. 1934)
1923 - Murray Hamilton, American character actor (Rich Man Poor Man, Anatomy of a Murder), born in Washington, North Carolina (d. 1986)

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Famous Deaths

1455 - Nicholas V [Tommaso Parentucelli], Italian Pope (1447-55), dies at 57
1955 - John W. Davis, American politician and United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, dies at 81
1993 - Erik Andriesse, Dutch painter (skulls, skeletons, flowers), dies at 35
2007 - Henson Cargill, American country music singer ("Skip a Rope", "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I Ever Heard"), dies while undergoing surgery at 66
2021 - Richard Stoker, British pianist and composer (Antic Hay; Ecco homo), dies at 82

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