February 24: A Day of Historic Events
February 24th marked a significant historical event:
Mark your calendars for February 24, for it holds a wealth of intriguing stories from the annals of history. Here's a glimpse of what happened on this very day:
24 February 1582
Pope Gregory XIII issued 'Inter Gravissimas,' establishing the Gregorian calendar we use today. However, most Catholic countries adopted it that year, while Britain took an additional 170 years to make the switch.
24 February 1711
The world was treated to the first performance of George Frideric Handel's opera Rinaldo at the Queen's Theatre, Haymarket. It was the first Italian opera specifically composed for the London stage.
24 February 1739
Nader Shah of Persia trounced the Mughal Emperor Mohammud Shah at the battle of Karnal. Two weeks later, Delhi was ransacked by the victorious Persians, who made off with the Koh-i-Noor diamond.
Less Wine, More War (1797)
Portuguese wine played a pivotal role in thwarting the French attack on west Wales in 1797. The Last Invasion of Mainland Britain, led by Irish-American Colonel William Tate, aimed to stir up Welsh nationalist feeling and march on Bristol. However, his plans were dashed as many of his men, largely conscripted criminals, were busy indulging in the Portuguese wine stocked in local farmhouses. The Welsh population, far from joining the uprising, were openly hostile, leading to their ultimate defeat. It's worth noting that the Pembroke Yeomanry, who played a crucial role in this battle, are still the only British regiment with a battle honor for an engagement on home soil.
24 February 1810
Scientist Henry Cavendish passed away at Clapham at the age of 78. His 1784 paper 'Experiments on Air' brought to light the discovery that water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
24 February 1848
Louis-Philippe, the last French king, abdicated amid widespread riots in France. Despite his initially good standing among the people, Louis-Philippe's unpopular prime minister, Francois Guizot, proved to be the undoing of the monarchy. On February 23, Guizot resigned after a violent clash between demonstrators and troops resulted in 52 casualties. Faced with the growing unrest and the danger of suffering the same fate as his predecessor, Louis XIV, the king chose to abdicate on February 24.
24 February 1857
The first Victoria Cross awards were listed in The London Gazette.
24 February 1923
The iconic Flying Scotsman locomotive went into service with the London and North Eastern Railway. Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, it quickly became a symbol of advanced steam locomotive engineering, representing the British Empire at the British Empire Exhibitions in 1924 and 1925.
Remember, these date-marked events are just the tip of the iceberg. Each event is surrounded by a myriad of fascinating stories and details, waiting to be discovered and explored!
Politics took an interesting turn on February 24, 1848, as Louis-Philippe, the last king of France, abdicated amid widespread riots, marking the end of the July Monarchy. In the realm of general-news, the day also saw the announcement of the first Victoria Cross awards on February 24, 1857, a prestigious decoration for acts of valour in the face of the enemy.
