This Day In History : February 24

2011 United States

Final Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery

On February 24, 2011, Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) embarks on its final mission, concluding a distinguished career in spaceflight. The launch, part of the STS-133 mission, marks the end of Discovery's contributions to NASA's space program and its pivotal role in building the International Space Station.

Also on This Day in History February 24

Discover what happened on February 24 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, February 24
  • 1955 Steve Jobs

    Steven Paul Jobs was an American inventor and entrepreneur who, in 1976, co-founded Apple Inc. with Steve Wozniak to manufacture personal computers.

  • 1697 Bernhard Siegfried Albinus

    German anatomist who was the first to show the connection of the vascular systems of the mother and the fetus.

  • 1709 Jacques de Vaucanson

    French inventor of automata - robot devices of later significance for modern industry.

  • 1849 John Henry Comstock

    American entomologist who did pioneering work in the systematic classification of scale insects, moths and butterflies.

  • 1946 Grigory Aleksandrovich Margulis

    Russian mathematician who was awarded the Fields Medal in 1978 for his contributions to the theory of Lie groups.

Deaths on This Day, February 24
  • 1953 Douglas Houghton Campbell

    American botanist who was an expert on the anatomical structure and life cycles of mosses, ferns and liverworts.

  • 1856 Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky

    Russian mathematician who, with János Bolyai of Hungary, is considered the founder of non-Euclidean geometry.

  • 1815 Robert Fulton

    American inventor, engineer and artist who brought steamboating from the experimental stage to commercial success.

  • 1875 Marc Séguin the Elder

    French engineer and inventor of the wire-cable suspension bridge and the tubular steam-engine boiler.

  • 2006 Andrew Sherratt

    English archaeologist who was expert on the prehistory of Europe and the origins of agriculture.

1920

Thr German Nazi Party Founded

On February 24, 1920, the German Workers' Party is renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), marking the formal establishment of the Nazi Party. Led by Adolf Hitler, the party promotes a platform of extreme nationalism and anti-Semitism, setting the stage for significant political and social upheaval in Germany.
1918

Estonia Declares Independence from Russia

On February 24, 1918, Estonia declares its independence from Russia. This pivotal moment marks the establishment of the Republic of Estonia, asserting its sovereignty following the turmoil of World War I and the Russian Revolution. The declaration initiates the country's journey towards self-determination and nationhood.
1863

Arizona Organized as U.S. Territory

On February 24, 1863, Arizona is formally organized as a U.S. territory. This step establishes a new administrative region within the Union, setting the stage for its eventual statehood. The organization of Arizona provides a framework for governance and development in the southwestern United States.
2010

Sachin Tendulkar Scores First Double-Century in ODI

On February 24, 2010, Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first cricket player to score a double-century in a One Day International (ODI) match. His historic achievement comes during a match against South Africa, setting a new benchmark in the ODI format and solidifying his status as a cricketing legend.
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