April 24th in History: Significant Events and Birthdays

April 24th in History: Significant Events and Birthdays

Today marks the 114th day of the year 2026, with 251 days remaining. On this day in history, significant events took place. In 1800, President John Adams initiated the Library of Congress by allocating funds for books for Congress. This library has grown to become one of the largest public collections globally, housing millions of cataloged items. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire began the Armenian genocide by rounding up Armenian leaders in Constantinople. The Easter Rising rebellion against British rule in Ireland started in 1916, leading to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov tragically died in 1967 during reentry, marking the first human spaceflight fatality. The failed Operation Eagle Claw to free American hostages in Iran occurred in 1980, resulting in the deaths of eight U.S. service members. The launch of the Hubble Space Telescope from the Space Shuttle Discovery took place in 1990. The Unabomber's final bomb exploded in 1995, killing chief lobbyist Gilbert B. Murray. In 2013, a building collapse in Bangladesh claimed over 1,100 lives. Former police officer Joseph DeAngelo was arrested in 2018 for crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer. The U.S. officially recognized the Armenian genocide in 2021.

Celebrating birthdays today are actor Shirley MacLaine (92), Barbra Streisand (84), Jean Paul Gaultier (74), Eric Bogosian (73), Michael O’Keefe (71), Cedric the Entertainer (62), Djimon Hounsou (62), Aidan Gillen (58), Rory McCann (57), Alejandro Fernandez (55), Chipper Jones (54), Derek Luke (52), Kelly Clarkson (44), Carly Pearce (36), Joe Keery (34), Jack Quaid (34), Jordan Fisher (32), Lydia Ko (29), and Skylar Simone (24). Today's historical events and birthdays reflect a diverse range of achievements and milestones.