Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
March 24 Tuesday, March 24, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 24 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
4
Holidays
1998
Crime 28 years ago
Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, aged 11 and 13 respectively, open fire upon teachers and students at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas; five people are killed and ten are wounded.
Two middle school students open fire at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, killing four students and a teacher and wounding ten others.
History
What happened on March 24
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1199UK history
King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting in France, leading to his death on April 6.
King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt during battle, an injury that later leads to his death.
- 1387War
English victory over a Franco-Castilian-Flemish fleet in the Battle of Margate off the coast of Margate.
An English fleet defeats a Franco-Castilian-Flemish alliance in the Battle of Margate, securing naval dominance.
- 1401War
Turco-Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus.
Timur conquers Damascus, marking a significant victory in his expansionist campaign across the Middle East.
- 1603World history
Tokugawa Ieyasu is granted the title of shōgun from Emperor Go-Yōzei, and establishes the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo, Japan.
Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shōgun, establishing the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo.
- 1603Royalty
James VI of Scotland is proclaimed King James I of England and Ireland, upon the death of Elizabeth I.
James VI of Scotland becomes King James I of England and Ireland, uniting the two thrones.
- 1720European history
Count Frederick of Hesse-Kassel is elected King of Sweden by the Riksdag of the Estates, after his consort Ulrika Eleonora abdicated the throne on 29 February.
Count Frederick of Hesse-Kassel is elected King of Sweden by the Riksdag of the Estates following his wife Ulrika Eleonora's abdication.
- 1721Pop culture
Johann Sebastian Bach dedicates six concertos to Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt, now commonly called the Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051.
Johann Sebastian Bach dedicates six concertos to Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt, now known as the Brandenburg Concertos.
- 1829UK history
The Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, allowing Catholics to serve in Parliament.
The Roman Catholic Relief Act becomes law, ending centuries of restrictions and allowing Catholics to sit in the British Parliament.
- 1870World history
A Chilean prospecting party led by José Díaz Gana discovers the silver ores of Caracoles in the Bolivian portion of Atacama Desert, leading to the last of the Chilean silver rushes and a diplomatic dispute over its taxation between Chile and Bolivia.
José Díaz Gana leads a prospecting party that discovers silver ores in Caracoles, sparking a Chilean silver rush and a diplomatic conflict with Bolivia.
- 1976Politics
In Argentina, the armed forces overthrow the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón and start a seven-year dictatorial period self-styled the National Reorganization Process.
The Argentine military overthrows President Isabel Perón, beginning a seven-year dictatorship known as the National Reorganization Process.
- 1998Crime
Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, aged 11 and 13 respectively, open fire upon teachers and students at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas; five people are killed and ten are wounded.
Two middle school students open fire at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, killing four students and a teacher and wounding ten others.
- 2023Disaster
An EF4 tornado strikes the towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi, causing mass destruction.
A powerful EF4 tornado devastates the towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City in Mississippi, killing 26 people and destroying hundreds of structures.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 24
7 this date All birthdays
Music
The number one songs on March 24
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"American Girls"— Harry Styles
- 2025"Pink Pony Club"— Chappell Roan
- 2024"Texas Hold 'Em"— Beyoncé
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"Starlight"— Dave
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport March 24, 1921
The 1921 Women's Olympiad begins in Monte Carlo, becoming the first international women's sports event.
The Women's Olympiad begins in Monte Carlo, marking the first international multi-sport event for women.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 24, 1882
Robert Koch announces the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis.
Robert Koch identifies Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the cause of tuberculosis.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice (Argentina)
International
The Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice is a public holiday in Argentina, commemorating the victims of the Civic-military dictatorship of Argentina
International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
International
Right to truth is the right, in the case of grave violations of human rights, for the victims and their families or societies to have access to the truth of what happened
National Tree Planting Day (Uganda)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
World Tuberculosis Day (International)
International
World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year, is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease
❝
Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.
— Johann Sebastian Bach · born March 24, 1685