On This Day in History

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.

Lithograph depicting fireworks on the opening night of the Brooklyn Bridge

1883 Brooklyn Bridge opened by President Chester A. Arthur and NY Governor Grover Cleveland.

1941 German battleship Bismarck sinks the British battle cruiser HMS Hood; 1,416 die, 3 survive.

More Historical Events

Famous Birthdays

Jean-Paul Marat 1743 - 1793 Queen Victoria 1819 - 1901

Bob Dylan 83rd Birthday Rosanne Cash 69th Birthday

Also Jan Smuts and John C. Reilly (59).

More Famous Birthdays

Famous Deaths

Nicolaus Copernicus 1473 - 1543 Tina Turner 1939 - 2023

Also William Lloyd Garrison, John Foster Dulles and Duke Ellington.

More Famous Deaths

Westminster Bridge Defies a King and the Church

London's present Westminster Bridge was opened on this day, bringing to an end years of conflict which even involved the payment of a big bribe to the King.

The Saga of Westminster Bridge