The Scots, under John Comyn and Simon Fraser defeat an English reconnaissance party under Lord John Segrave, on February 24, 1303, during the First War of Scottish Independence.
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On This Day in History: February 24
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on February 24th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Habsburg forces win a decisive victory over France at the Battle of Pavia on February 24, 1525, during the Italian War of 1521–1526. The French army was virtually destroyed, and King Francis I, was captured by the Habsburgs, leading to a shift in power in Italy and forcing France to accept humiliating terms in the subsequent Treaty of Madrid.
Pope Gregory XIII issues the papal bull "Inter gravissimas," on February 24, 1582, introducing the Gregorian calendar. The reform corrected a 10-day drift by skipping days in October 1582, effective on Thursday, October 4, 1582, making the following date, Friday, October 15, 1582. It was quickly adopted by much of Catholic, but not Protestant, Europe which adopted it much later.
The new Julian Calendar also aligned the vernal equinox with March 21 and introduced more precise leap year calculations to ensure long-term accuracy and fixed the date of Easter, which had drifted away from the spring equinox due to the Julian calendar's 11-minute-per-year error.
The Gregorian calendar is now widely used around the world. With the exception of Ethiopia, Nepal, Iran and Afghanistan, the Gregorian calendar is now the world's universal civil calendar, old style calendars remaining in use in religious or traditional contexts. More
The Battle of Karnal is fought on February 24, 1739, between Nader Shah of Persia and the Mughal Emperor of India, Muhammad Shah; resulting in a decisive victory for Persia's smaller but better- rained forces. The victory weakened the Mughal Empire, lead to the sack of Delhi and eventually to British control.
The U.S. States Supreme Court establishes its power of judicial review in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison, decided on February 24, 1803; declaring it has the authority to review and strike down acts of Congress and Executive actions that violate the Constitution.
This decision affirmed the system of checks and balances, establishing the Supreme Court's power to check the legislative and executive branches as the final interpreter of the Constitution and a co-equal branch of government.
The Treaty of Yandabo is signed on on February 24, 1826,, ending the First Anglo-Burmese War and ceding Assam, Manipur, and Arakan to Britain.
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Former U.S. President, John Quincy Adams begins his oral arguments for the defense, at the Supreme Court on February 24, 1841 in the case of the 53 Africans captured in the Spanish ship Amistad. ("La Amistad") speaking for four hours and a half.
Adams came back on March 1 and spoke for another four hours. Read Notes from Adams Diary.The court’s opinion was delivered on March 9, ruling that the Africans were free and could return home. Read about The Amistad
The U.S. House of Representatives impeaches President Andrew Johnson, on February 24, 1868, by a vote of 126-47, marking the first time a U.S. president was impeached, highlighting the intense power struggle between the executive and legislative branches regarding the reunification of the country after the Civil War.
During the years immediately following the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson clashed repeatedly with Congress over reconstruction of the defeated South. Johnson had been consistently vetoing legislation that Congress passed to protect the rights of those who had been freed from slavery. After almost two months of trial in the Senate, Johnson was acquitted on May 16, 1868, by a single vote (35-19), falling short of the two-thirds majority required for removal. More
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, initiating the largest land war in Europe since World War II. First announced by Vladimir Putin as a "special military operation", Russian forces attacked from multiple directions, including Belarus.
The conflict in its fourth year as of February 2026, has become a long, grinding war of attrition, with significant casualties and humanitarian crises, Independent estimates of casualties indicate more than 200,000 Russian troops have died, with total Russian casualties potentially reaching over 1 million. Civilian casualties remain high, with 2025 being a particularly deadly year. Russia still roughly 20% of Ukraine. The conflict has shifted to a war of attrition with heavy, slow, and costly Russian advances, notably in the Donbas region. The war has caused massive displacement, with millions of refugees fleeing Ukraine. Western nations, led by the US and EU, have provided hundreds of billions in aid to Ukraine although US support has been characterized by some, as sporadic since 2025. As of early 2026, the war continues with no immediate resolution in sight.