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
July 24 Friday, July 24, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 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
5
Holidays
1304
UK history 722 years ago
Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle: King Edward I of England takes the stronghold using the War Wolf.
King Edward I of England captures Stirling Castle using the massive War Wolf trebuchet during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
History
What happened on July 24
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 538War
The Ostrogoths abandoned the Siege of Ariminum upon the arrival of the larger than expected Byzantine fleet.
The Ostrogoths lifted their siege of Ariminum after a larger-than-expected Byzantine fleet arrived.
- 1132European history
Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily.
Ranulf II of Alife faces off against Roger II of Sicily in the Battle of Nocera.
- 1148European history
Louis VII of France lays siege to Damascus during the Second Crusade.
Louis VII of France begins a siege against Damascus as part of the Second Crusade.
- 1304UK history
Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle: King Edward I of England takes the stronghold using the War Wolf.
King Edward I of England captures Stirling Castle using the massive War Wolf trebuchet during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
- 1411UK history
Battle of Harlaw, one of the bloodiest battles in Scotland, takes place.
The Battle of Harlaw erupts, marking one of the bloodiest conflicts in Scottish history.
- 1487Politics
Citizens of Leeuwarden, Netherlands, strike against a ban on foreign beer.
Citizens in Leeuwarden protest a ban on foreign beer with demonstrations and strikes.
- 1534US history
French explorer Jacques Cartier plants a cross on the Gaspé Peninsula and takes possession of the territory in the name of Francis I of France.
Jacques Cartier plants a cross on the Gaspé Peninsula, claiming the land for King Francis I of France.
- 1567Royalty
Mary, Queen of Scots, is forced to abdicate and be replaced by her one-year-old son James VI.
Mary, Queen of Scots abdicates in favor of her one-year-old son James VI.
- 1701US history
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founds the trading post at Fort Pontchartrain, which later becomes the city of Detroit.
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac establishes Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit as a French trading post, laying the foundation for what becomes Detroit.
- 1712War
War of the Spanish Succession: The French under Marshal Villars win a decisive victory over Eugene of Savoy at Denain.
Marshal Villars leads French forces to a decisive victory over Prince Eugene of Savoy at Denain, turning the tide in the War of the Spanish Succession.
- 1866US history
Reconstruction: Tennessee becomes the first U.S. state to be readmitted to Congress following the American Civil War.
Tennessee is readmitted to Congress, becoming the first U.S. state to rejoin after the Civil War.
- 1923World history
The Treaty of Lausanne, settling the boundaries of modern Turkey, is signed in Switzerland by Greece, Bulgaria and other countries that fought in World War I.
Greece, Bulgaria, and other former WWI combatants sign the Treaty of Lausanne in Switzerland, establishing modern Turkey's borders.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 24
7 this date All birthdays
Fred Tate
English cricketer and coach
Fred Tate, the English cricketer whose dropped catch in his only Test match in 1902 contributed to England's three-run loss and series defeat to Australia, was born today in 1867.
Born
1867
Died
1943
Zelda Fitzgerald
American author, visual artist and ballet dancer
1900 – 1948
John William Finn
American lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient
1909 – 2010
Alfred Balk
American journalist and author
1930 – 2010
Jerrod Niemann
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1979 · 47
Patrice Bergeron
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1985 · 41
Mikaël Kingsbury
Canadian skier
b. 1992 · 34
Music
The number one songs on July 24
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 24, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport July 24, 1980
The Quietly Confident Quartet of Australia wins the men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay at the Moscow Olympics, the only time the United States has not won the swimming event at Olympic level.
Australia wins the men's 4x100m medley relay, marking the sole instance of the United States not claiming gold in Olympic-level swimming.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 24, 1950
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station begins operations with the launch of a Bumper rocket.
The Cape Canaveral Air Force Station starts operations with the launch of a Bumper rocket.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Carnival of Awussu (Tunisia)
International
The Carnival of Awussu, or in French carnaval d'Aoussou, is an annual festive and cultural event that unfolds each 24th of July in Sousse, Tunisia
Children's Day (Vanuatu)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Vanuatu
Pioneer Day (Utah)
International
Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U
Police Day (Poland)
International
Holidays in Poland are regulated by the Non-working Days Act of 18 January 1951
Simón Bolívar Day (Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia) Navy Day (Venezuela)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm