The Peace of Westphalia Is Signed
The Peace of Westphalia was signed on October 24, 1648, ending the Thirty Years' War. It established the modern system of sovereign states.
The Third Partition of Poland
On October 24, 1795, Russia, Prussia and Austria signed the third partition of Poland and divided the remaining Polish lands between them.
The Convention of Beijing Ends the Second Opium War
On October 24, 1860, the Qing court signed the Convention of Beijing with Britain, ending the Second Opium War on terms imposed on China.
Peng Dehuai Is Born in Hunan
On October 24, 1898, Peng Dehuai, one of the ten marshals of the People's Liberation Army and commander in the Korean War, was born in Hunan.
Annie Taylor Goes Over Niagara Falls
Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive Niagara Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901. She was 63 years old.
The Battle of Caporetto
On October 24, 1917, Austro-German forces broke the Italian line at Caporetto, forcing a retreat of more than 100 kilometres to the Piave river.
Wall Street Crashes on Black Thursday
Wall Street crashed on October 24, 1929, known as Black Thursday. The crash began the Great Depression.
Vidkun Quisling Is Executed
On October 24, 1945, Vidkun Quisling, the Norwegian leader who collaborated with the German occupation, was executed in Oslo for treason.
The United Nations Comes into Being
The United Nations was founded on October 24, 1945, when its Charter took effect. Fifty-one nations were the original members.
The First Photograph of Earth from Space
A V-2 rocket carried a camera to 105 kilometres on 24 October 1946 and took the first photograph of the Earth from space.
Salvador Allende Is Elected in Chile
Salvador Allende was confirmed as president of Chile on October 24, 1970, the first Marxist elected democratically. His government fell in a 1973 coup.
Solidarity Is Recognized in Poland
Poland recognized the independent union Solidarity on October 24, 1980. It was the first free union in the Soviet bloc.