Today in history for March 24

Today in history for March 24.

Today is Tuesday, March 24, 2026. It is the 83rd day of the year, and there are 282 days remaining in 2026.

Here is a look at the major milestones, births, and deaths that define this date in history:

### Major Historical Events

• 1882: The Discovery of TB – German scientist Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium causing tuberculosis. This breakthrough later earned him the Nobel Prize.
• 1989: The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill – The oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil and causing one of the most devastating environmental disasters in U.S. history.
• 1999: NATO Intervention in Yugoslavia – NATO launched airstrikes against Yugoslav forces in Kosovo, marking the first time the alliance attacked a sovereign nation in its history.
• 1934: Philippine Independence – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Tydings–McDuffie Act, which set a 10-year transition period toward independence for the Philippines.
• 1958: Elvis Joins the Army – At the height of his fame, “The King” Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army as a private in Memphis, Tennessee.

### Notable Births

• Harry Houdini (1874) – The legendary Austro-Hungarian born American escape artist and magician.
• Peyton Manning (1976) – Two-time Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback and five-time league MVP.
• Steve McQueen (1930) – The “King of Cool” and iconic star of films like The Great Escape and Bullitt.
• Jim Parsons (1973) – Emmy-winning actor best known as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.
• Joseph Barbera (1911) – Co-founder of Hanna-Barbera and co-creator of Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, and Scooby-Doo.

### Notable Deaths

• Queen Elizabeth I (1603) – The “Virgin Queen” of England and Ireland, whose death ended the Tudor dynasty and brought James VI of Scotland to the English throne.
• Jules Verne (1905) – The pioneering French author of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days.
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1882) – Famous American poet known for The Song of Hiawatha and Paul Revere’s Ride.
• Archbishop Óscar Romero (1980) – The El Salvadoran prelate and human rights activist who was assassinated while celebrating Mass.

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