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In 1882 Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis hence today is World TB day. But March 24 is a particularly important day in history. For example:
In 1603 James VI of Scotland became king of England as well succeeding Elizabeth I. In 1832 Mormon leader Joseph Smith was Tared and Feathered by a group of men in Ohio. In 1837 Canada gave the vote to Blacks. 1923 saw Greece become a republic. During World War II, on this day in 1944, 76 prisoners escaped from Stalag Luft III - an act later dramatised in The Great Escape. In 1958 Elvis was drafted into the US mIlitary. In 1972 Direct Rule was imposed upon Northern Ireland by the UK. In 1973 Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon, which would go on to become one of the most influential and commercially successful albums of all time. In 1976 The Argientine Military deposed President Isabel Peron - an act later dramatised by Madonna in Don’t cry for me Argentina. In 1989 The Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William SOund in Alaska spilling 42,000 cubic meters of oil all over the place. Of increadible import, on this day in 1991 The World Wrestling Federation renacted the first Gulf War in the ring during Wrestlemania VII in LA Calif. Mac OS X was released this day in 2001 and finally the Sony Playstation Portable was released in the US this day in 2005.
Births
1693 - John Harrison, British clockmaker (d. 1776)
1874 - Harry Houdini, Hungarian-born magician and escape artist
1911 - Joseph Barbera, American cartoonist, co-creator of The Flinstones and The Jetsons
1930 - Steve McQueen, American actor, director, poducer and all-round bad boy
1944 - R. Lee Ermey, American actor best known as Drill Instructor Hartman in Full Metal Jacket
1951 - Tommy Hilfiger, American fashion designer
1953 - Louie Anderson, American comedian
1965 - The Undertaker, American professional wrestler of WWE fame
1970 - Lara Flynn Boyle, American actress, The Worm chick from Men in Black II
1980 - Stafford Lumsden, Ex-pat New Zealand Teacher, Blogger and all-round bad boy
1990 - Keisha Castle-Hughes, New Zealand-born actress of Whale Rider Fame
Deaths
1603 - Queen Elizabeth I of England (b. 1533)
1776 - John Harrison, English clockmaker (b. 1693) - poor guy, died on his birthday
1976 - Bernard Montgomery, British field marshal (b. 1887)
