History Events on January 24

World War II: The Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom.

#World_War_II

Soviet satellite Kosmos 954, with a nuclear reactor on board, burns up in Earth's atmosphere, scattering radioactive debris over Canada's Northwest Territories. Only 1% is recovered.

#Soviet_Union

Vietnam War: The 1st Australian Task Force launches Operation Coburg against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during wider fighting around Long Bình and Biên Hòa

#Vietnam_War

Crossing of the Andes: Many soldiers of Juan Gregorio de las Heras are captured during the Action of Picheuta.

#Crossing_of_the_Andes

Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi is found hiding in a Guam jungle, where he had been since the end of World War II.

#Shoichi_Yokoi

The Rashidun Caliphate ends with the assassination of Ali, and the Imamah of the Shia going to the second Imam, Hassan ibn Ali.

#Rashidun_Caliphate

The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, changing the beginning and end of terms for all elected federal offices.

#Twentieth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Algerian War: Some units of European volunteers in Algiers stage an insurrection known as the "barricades week", during which they seize government buildings and clash with local police.

#Algerian_War

World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.

#Franklin_D._Roosevelt

Second Boer War: Boers stop a British attempt to break the Siege of Ladysmith in the Battle of Spion Kop.

#Second_Boer_War

Japan launches Hiten, the country's first lunar probe, the first robotic lunar probe since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976, and the first lunar probe launched by a country other than Soviet Union or the United States.

#Hiten

King Charles II of England dissolves the Cavalier Parliament.

#Charles_II_of_England

Goldsboro B-52 crash: A bomber carrying two H-bombs breaks up in mid-air over North Carolina. The uranium core of one weapon remains lost.

#1961_Goldsboro_B-52_crash

The United Nations General Assembly passes its first resolution to establish the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.

#United_Nations_General_Assembly

Claudius is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the Praetorian Guard after they assassinate the previous emperor, his nephew Caligula.

#Claudius

Bucharest is proclaimed the capital of Romania.

#Bucharest

The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.

#United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security

World War I: British Grand Fleet battle cruisers under Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty engage Rear-Admiral Franz von Hipper's battle cruisers in the Battle of Dogger Bank.

#World_War_I

During the Seven Years' War the leading burghers of Königsberg submit to Elizabeth of Russia, thus forming Russian Prussia (until 1763)

#Seven_Years'_War

Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, with over 30 known victims, is executed by the electric chair at the Florida State Prison.

#Ted_Bundy

The first Boy Scout troop is organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell.

#Scouting

Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

#Charles_VII,_Holy_Roman_Emperor

Cyclone Klaus makes landfall near Bordeaux, France, causing 26 deaths as well as extensive disruptions to public transport and power supplies.

#Cyclone_Klaus

Matthias Corvinus becomes King of Hungary.

#Matthias_Corvinus

California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.

#California_Gold_Rush

The deadliest earthquake in Chilean history strikes Chillán, killing approximately 28,000 people.

#1939_Chillán_earthquake

At least 35 die and 180 are injured in a bombing at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport.

#Domodedovo_International_Airport_bombing

Apple Computer places the Macintosh personal computer on sale in the United States.

Atocha massacre occurs in Madrid during the Spanish transition to democracy.

The Gregorian calendar is introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars effective February 14(NS).

In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., the Supreme Court of the United States declares the federal income tax constitutional.

The United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (later named Romania) is formed as a personal union under the rule of Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza.

The University of Calcutta is formally founded as the first fully fledged university in South Asia.

Slaves in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, stage a revolt, which is instrumental in ending slavery there 50 years later.

Peshva warrior Chimnaji Appa defeats Portuguese forces and captures Tarapur Fort, India.

Afonso Mendes, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa.

The Council of Basel suspends Pope Eugene IV.

Start of the First Fatimid invasion of Egypt.