What Happened Today in History on August 24

Vesuvius, an active volcano in southern Italy, erupts and destroys the cities of Pompeii, Stabiae, Oplontis and Herculaneum and several other settlements. Although exact toll is unknown, more than 1,000 people are thought to have died in the eruption. The eruption ejected a cloud of stones, ashes and volcanic gases to a height of 21 miles (33 km).  Expand +

The Visigoths, a Germanic people, led by King Alaric, sack the city of Rome, marking the first time in almost 800 years that the city falls to an enemy force. and the sack was a major shock to contemporaries, friends and foes of the Empire alike.

The influential Chinese poet Su Shi, dies on August 24, 1101, leaving behind him a prolific collection of poems, lyrics, prose, and essays. His poetry had enduring popularity and influence in China and other areas in the near vicinity such as Japan. He is well known in some English-speaking countries through translations by Arthur Waley and Stephen Owen, among others.  Expand +

Magnus III Barefoot, King of Norway, is killed on August 24, 1103, in an ambush while in an expedition to establish Norwegian influence in the Irish Sea area His death marked the end of a significant period of Norwegian overseas expansion.

King John of England marries Isabella of Angoulême, she was age 12 or 14. The marriage took place in Angoulêmein, France  a year after he annulled his first marriage to Isabel, Countess of Gloucester.  Expand +

Thousands of Protestant Huguenots (French Protestants) are massacred in France by Catholics, in what became known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre after the royal wedding of a Catholic princess and a Huguenot leader failed to bring peace and instead sparked widespread religious conflict. More

The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre occurs in France, resulting in the killing of thousands of Huguenots (Protestants). following the assassination attempt on Admiral Coligny. Catholic mobs targeted thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants), leading to widespread killings in Paris and other parts of France. Estimates for the total number of deaths vary widely, from about 2,000 to as many as 70,000.

During the War of 1812, British forces capture Washington, D.C. and burn down the White House, the Capitol, and other public buildings along with a number of private homes. The burning was in retaliation for the earlier American burning of York (Toronto).  Expand +

Spain recognizes Mexico independence with the signing of the Treaty of Córdoba. Mexico, officially the United Mexican States is located in North America. It borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast;  the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Mexico has a population exceeding 130 million. Its capital and largest city is Mexico City which ranks among the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. More

Mount of the Holy Cross was first photographed by William Henry Jackson. Stories had circulated for years of a mountain with a large cross etched in its side. Jackson climbed the western slope of the Rocky Mountains with more than 100 pounds of photography equipment and captured his most famous photograph. He later painted the iconic image in watercolor. More

Matthew Webb, an English Merchant Marine Captain swimmer and stuntman, becomes the first recorded person to swim the English Channel for sport without the use of artificial aids. Webb swam from Dover to Calais in less than 22 hours., becoming a celebrity. He went on to perform many stunts in public. He died in 1883 trying to swim the Niagara Gorge below Niagara as part of a publicity stunt.

Congress passed the Communist Control Act of 1954 (CCA) as an amendment to the McCarran Internal Security Act of 1950 “to outlaw the Communist Party, to prohibit members of Communist organizations from serving in certain representative capacities, and for other purposes.” Many of the CCA provisions impinged upon a number of constitutional rights and were removed over time. More

Ukraine declares its independence from the Soviet Union, leading to its dissolution later that year. It Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia. Ukraine borders Belarus to the north; Poland and Slovakia to the west; Hungary, Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south and southeast and Russia to the east and northeast. Kyiv is the nation's capital and largest city, Ukraine's official language is Ukrainian and its 2025 estimated population is  32.9 Million.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefines the definition of a planet, resulting in the demotion of Pluto to the status of a "dwarf planet."