March 24
March 24 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 282 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Aries.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On March 24 the Sun's declination is approximately +1.2°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a March 24.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
No widely-observed holidays catalogued for this day in our base set. See the external almanacs above for region-specific observances.
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
- 1603 — Queen Elizabeth I of England died; James VI of Scotland ascended as James I, uniting the crowns. ↗(423 years ago)
more
The Union of the Crowns was the accession of James VI of Scotland to the thrones of England and Ireland as James I on 24 March 1603, and the consequent formation of a personal union between the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It followed the death of James's cousin, Elizabeth I of England, the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty.
1882 — Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium causing TB. ↗(144 years ago)more
Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch was a German physician and microbiologist. He won the 1905 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for his investigations and discoveries in relation to tuberculosis".
1958 — Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army. ↗(68 years ago)more
Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 20th century. Presley's energetic and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, br...
1989 — The Exxon Valdez tanker ran aground in Alaska's Prince William Sound, spilling 11 million gallons of oil. ↗(37 years ago)more
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a major environmental disaster that occurred in Alaska's Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989. The spill occurred when Exxon Valdez, an oil supertanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company, bound for Long Beach, California, struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef, 6 mi (9.7 km) west of Tatitlek, Alaska, at 12:04 a.m.
Notable births
1834 — William Morris, English textile designer and writer. ↗(192 years ago)more
William Morris was an English textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement. He was a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production.
1874 — Harry Houdini, Hungarian-American escape artist. ↗(152 years ago)more
Erik Weisz, known professionally as Harry Houdini, was a Hungarian-American escapologist, illusionist, and stunt performer noted for his escape acts.
Notable deaths
1603 — Elizabeth I of England. ↗(423 years ago)more
Elizabeth I was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history and culture, gave name to the Elizabethan era.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (84) | 2^2 × 3 × 7 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (282) | 2 × 3 × 47 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 24032026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +1.21° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 88 days |