What Happened on May 24

Historical Events

  • 1595 Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library
  • 1738 John Wesley is converted, launching the Methodist movement; celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day
  • 1844 Samuel Morse taps out "What hath God wrought" in the world's first telegraph message
  • 1941 German battleship Bismarck sinks the British battle cruiser HMS Hood; 1,416 die, 3 survive
  • 1988 Section 28 passed as law by Parliament in the United Kingdom prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality. Repealed 2001/2004
  • More Historical Events

May 24 in Film & TV

  • 1895 Henry Irving becomes the first actor to receive a knighthood

May 24 in Music

  • 1956 1st Eurovision Song Contest: Lys Assia for Switzerland wins singing "Refrain" in Lugano

May 24 in Sport

  • 1935 1st major league night baseball game, in Cincinnati (Reds 2, Philadelphia 1)

Did You Know?

American management consultant Marilyn Loden first coins the term "glass ceiling" to describe invisible career barriers for women

On May 24, 1978

Would You Believe?

In the Judgment of Paris, wine testers rate wines from California higher than their French counterparts, challenging the notion of France being the foremost producer of the world's best wines

On May 24, 1976

Famous Weddings

  • 1917 Writer Walter Lippmann (27) weds Faye Albertson
  • 1935 Swedish princess Ingrid marries Danish crown prince Frederik (IX)
  • 1986 American country singer Garth Brooks (24) weds songwriter Sandy Mahl; divorce in 2001

More Weddings