Today in History – September 24th

Published September 24, 2012 |

622, Prophet Muhammad completes his hijra from Mecca to Medina.
1180, Manuel I Komnenos, last Emperor of the Komnenian restoration dies. The Byzantine Empire slips into terminal decline.
1645, Battle of Rowton Heath, Parliamentarian victory over a Royalist army commanded in person by King Charles
1664, The Dutch Republic surrenders New Amsterdam to England.
1725, Sir Arthur Guinness, Irish brewer (d. 1803) was born.
1780, Benedict Arnold flees to British Army when arrest of British Major John Andre exposes Arnold’s plot to surrender West Point.
1789, US Congress passes the Judiciary Act which creates the office of the US Attorney General and the federal judiciary system.
1841, The Sultan of Brunei cedes Sarawak to the UK.
1852, 1st airship powered by (a steam) engine, created by Henri Giffard, travels 17 miles (27 km) from Paris to Trappes.
1853, Admiral Despointes formally takes possession of New Caledonia in the name of France.
1869, Gold prices plummet after Ulysses S. Grant orders Treasury to sell large quantities of gold after plot to control market.
1877, Battle of Shiroyama, decisive victory of the Imperial Japanese Army over the Satsuma Rebellion
1883, Franklin Clarence Mars, Founder of Mars, Incorporated (d. 1934) was born.
1890, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially renounces polygamy.
1893, Blind Lemon Jefferson, blues singer and guitarist from Texas (d. 1929) was born.
1896, F. Scott Fitzgerald, American novelist (d. 1940) was born.
1906, US President Theodore Roosevelt proclaims Devils Tower in Wyoming as the nation’s 1st National Monument.
1932, Gandhi and Ambedkar agree to Poona Pact, which reserved seats in Indian provincial legislatures for “Depressed Classes”.
1935, Earl Bascom and Weldon Bascom produce 1st rodeo ever held outdoors under electric lights at Columbia, Mississippi
1936, Jim Henson, American puppeteer (d. 1990) was born.
1941, Linda McCartney, American singer and photographer (d. 1998) was born.
1946, Cathay Pacific Airways is founded in Hong Kong.
1946, military advisers to US Pres Harry S. Truman, present him with report on Soviet Union that 1st recommends containment policy
1948, Phil Hartman, Canadian actor (d. 1998) was born.
1948, The Honda Motor Company is founded.
1950, Forest fires black out the sun over portions of Canada and New England. A blue moon is seen as far away as Europe.
1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends 101st Airborne Division troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce desegregation.
1960, USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the world’s 1st nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is launched.
1962, US court of appeals orders the University of Mississippi to admit James Meredith.
1968, 60 Minutes debuts on CBS.
1973, Guinea-Bissau declares its independence from Portugal.
1979, Compu-Serve launches 1st consumer internet service, which features 1st public electronic mail service.
1990, Periodic Great White Spot is observed on Saturn.
1991, Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), American children’s writer (b. 1904) died.
1996, Representatives of 71 nations sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at the United Nations.
2005, Hurricane Rita makes landfall in the US, devastating Beaumont, Texas and portions of southwestern Louisiana.

Follow us on Twitter to get the latest history news and find out what happened on this day in history — http://www.twitter.com/Yesteeyear

Chris Rivait

Chris loves history and hopes that Yesteeyear becomes a place where everyone can share their history knowledge. Chris owns an Internet Marketing company, Arrivait Marketing. He has a wonderful wife and four great children.