What Happened On
North Atlantic Treaty
August 24, 1949
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signs the North Atlantic Treaty, making it effective. The treaty forms the legal basis of, and is implemented by, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Waffle Iron
August 24, 1869
Cornelius Swartwout patents the first U.S. waffle iron.
Waffle irons originated in the Netherlands in the 1300s and were typically two hinged iron plates designed to be held over a hearth fire for baking. Many would also imprint elaborate patterns on the waffles, such as coat of arms, landscapes, and religious symbols.
Swartwout's patent was for an "Improvement in Waffle-Irons", which consisted of a novel handle for opening, closing and turning a stovetop waffle iron.
August 24th is celebrated in the U.S. as National Waffle Day.
White House after being burned by British
White House after being burned by British
British Attack Washington D.C.
August 24, 1814
The Capitol and White House are burned during the War of 1812. While senior officials fled to Virginia, First Lady Dolley Madison stayed behind to save valuables from the White House (then known as the "President's House").
The Library of Congress was housed in the North Wing of the Capitol building at the time and most of its 3,000 books were destroyed.
Catherine de Medici gazing at massacred Protestants
Catherine de Medici gazing at massacred Protestants
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
August 24, 1572
Thousands of Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) are killed throughout France as ordered by King Charles IX. Pope Gregory XIII congratulated the king and ordered a medal struck to commemorate the event.
King Charles' mother Catherine de Medici had convinced Charles that the Huguenots were about to rebel, so he authorized the murder of their leaders in Paris by Catholic authorities. Many of the most wealthy and prominent Huguenots had gathered in Paris to attend the wedding of the king's sister Margaret to the Protestant Henry III of Navarre (the future Henry IV of France). After the initial wave of killings in Paris, Charles ordered the killings to stop, but his orders were ignored and the massacre spread across France.
Mt. Vesuvius Buries Pompeii
August 24, A.D. 79
The Italian volcano Mt. Vesuvius erupts burying Pompeii and Herculaneum. Still active, it is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to the 3 million people living nearby.
Home destroyed by Andrew
Home destroyed by Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
August 24, 1992
Hurricane Andrew hits Miami. Andrew was a category 5 Atlantic hurricane that struck The Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. It was the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida in terms of structures damaged or destroyed, and remained the costliest in financial terms until Hurricane Irma surpassed it 25 years later. With winds up to 175 mph (280 km/h), it caused 65 fatalities, destroyed 63,500 houses, and did $27.3 billion in damage.
Pete Rose Banned from Baseball
August 24, 1989
The baseball legend Pete Rose is banned for life from baseball.
Titan II Missile Explosion
August 24, 1978
Two people are killed and 29 are injured in the accident near Rock, Kansas.
First Turbojet Airplane Flight
August 24, 1939
A German plane with an engine designed by Dr. Hans von Ohain.
Kinetoscope parlor ca. 1894–95
Kinetoscope parlor ca. 1894–95
Motion Pictures
August 24, 1891
Thomas Edison applies for a patent for his motion picture camera the Kinetoscope. The viewer allowed one person at a time to view the film through a peephole window. The concept was first described by Edison in 1888, though it was largely developed by his employee William Kennedy Laurie Dickson.
First Person to Swim the English Channel Without a Life Preserver
August 24, 1875
Navy Captain Matthew Webb begins his swim. He finished the following day after a 21-hour and 45-minute swim.
Birthdays
Photo Credit: TV-40 news
Photo Credit: TV-40 news
Suicide on Live TV
Chris Chubbuck
Born August 24, 1944 d. 1974
Florida talk-show host. During her live TV broadcast she announced "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in blood… and guts in living color. We bring you another first: an attempt at suicide." She then fatally shot herself in the head. The notes she was reading from at the time of the shooting included a description of the suicide and a news bulletin to be read afterwards about the shooting.
Family and friends said she had been depressed about her lack of personal relationships.
The first televised suicide happened in 1938.
Marlee Matlin
Born August 24, 1965
American Oscar-winning deaf actress. Film: Children of a Lesser God (1986, Oscar). TV: Reasonable Doubts.
Steve Guttenberg
Born August 24, 1958
American actor. Film: Police Academy (1984), Cocoon (1985), Short Circuit (1986), and Three Men and a Baby (1986).
Gerry Cooney
Born August 24, 1956
American boxer.
Anne Archer
Born August 24, 1947
American actress. Film: Fatal Attraction (1987). TV: Falcon Crest (Cassandra Wilder).
Gregory B. Jarvis
Born August 24, 1944 d. 1986
American astronaut. He died in the Challenger space shuttle explosion.
Mason Williams
Born August 24, 1938
American Emmy-Grammy-winning composer.
Yasser Arafat
Born August 24, 1929 d. 2004
Palestinian political leader. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (1969-2004), President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) (1993-2004), and a co-recipient of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.
Founder of Modern Cell Biology
Albert Claude
Born August 24, 1898 d. 1983
Belgian Nobel-winning biologist, founder of modern cell biology. He was the first to use the electron microscope to study cells (1945).
Father of American Mapmaking
Henry Gannett
Born August 24, 1846 d. 1914
American geographer. Known as the "Father of American Mapmaking", he was the chief geographer for the United States Geological Survey essentially from its founding until 1902.
He also co-founded and was president of the National Geographic Society (1883).
Deaths
Photo Credit: Life
Photo Credit: Life
Alfred Eisenstaedt
Died August 24, 1995 b. 1898
German-born American photographer. He took the famous picture of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on V-J Day that appeared on the cover of Life magazine.
left to right: Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Watts, and Mick Jagger.
left to right: Bill Wyman, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Watts, and Mick Jagger.
Charlie Watts
Died August 24, 2021 b. 1941
English Hall of Fame rock drummer for the Rolling Stones. Also an accomplished graphic artist, Watts contributed graphic art and comic strips to early Rolling Stones records.
Robin Leach
Died August 24, 2018 b. 1941
English reporter. TV: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (1984-95, host, "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams").
Jay Thomas (Jon Thomas Terrell)
Died August 24, 2017 b. 1948
American actor, radio talk show host. TV: Cheers (1987-89, Eddie LeBec) and Love & War (1992-95, Jack Stein).
Sir Richard Attenborough
Died August 24, 2014 b. 1923
English Oscar-winning director. Film: Gandhi (1982).
Julie Harris
Died August 24, 2013 b. 1925
American Tony-Emmy-Grammy-winning actress. TV: Knots Landing (Lilimae Clements).
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Died August 24, 2004 b. 1926
Swiss-born American physician, author of On Death and Dying (1969). She identified the stages of dying as: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Jerry Clower
Died August 24, 1998 b. 1926
American comedian, with many jokes about the Ledbetter family.
E.G. Marshall (Everett G. Marshall)
Died August 24, 1998 b. 1914
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: The Defenders (Emmy, as Lawrence Preston). Film: 12 Angry Men (1957, conscientious juror #4).
Kate Douglas Wiggin
Died August 24, 1923 b. 1856
American author. Writings: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1903).
Discoverer of Spinal Anesthesia
James Leonard Corning
Died August 24, 1923 b. 1855
American neurologist. Discoverer of spinal anesthesia (1885). He did so with subcutaneous injections of cocaine near the spinal cord.
The word anesthesia is from the Greek for "without sensation".
Stole the Crown Jewels
Thomas Blood
Died August 24, 1680 b. circa 1618
Irish adventurer. In 1671, disguised as a priest, he stole the crown jewels from the Tower of London. Although he was captured while fleeing, King Charles II, who supposedly admired his daring, gave him a full pardon, land in Ireland, and a pension. Some speculate that he might have been working for the King, who was short of cash at the time.
Blood and a female companion, disguised as a parson and wife, went to view the jewels. At the time, you could view the jewels for a fee. While viewing, Blood's "wife" pretended to be ill. The jewel keeper's wife invited her up to her apartment to recover. Later, Blood sent the jewel keeper's wife four pairs of white gloves as a gesture of thanks. The couples became friends with Blood offering his fictitious nephew's hand in marriage to the jewel keeper's daughter. Blood then got the jewel keeper to show the jewels to his "nephew" and friends, at which time Blood and his crew clubbed, stabbed, and gagged the jewel keeper. They flattened St. Edward's Crown so that Blood could hide it under his clerical coat. They also cut the Sceptre with the Cross in two so that it would fit in their bag. The jewel keeper managed to get his gag loose and cried out for help. The gang was apprehended as they fled.