August 24 - The Day in History

August 24 : General Interest 79: Vesuvius erupts After centuries of dormancy, Mount Vesuvius erupts in southern Italy, devastating the prosperous Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and killing thousands... read more American Revolution 1776 : General Lee recognizes Georgia's value http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-24-1776-general-lee-recognizes-georgias-value Automotive 1958 : Maria Teresa de Filippis races in Portuguese Grand Prix http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/maria-teresa-de-filippis-races-in-portuguese-grand-prix Civil War 1828 : Confederate General George Steuart is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-steuart-is-born Cold War 1954 : Congress passes Communist Control Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-passes-communist-control-act Crime 1982 : A Wall Street scheme is hatched http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-wall-street-scheme-is-hatched 2012: Killer in Norway massacre is sentenced http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/killer-in-norway-massacre-is-sentenced Disaster 79 : Eruption of Mount Vesuvius begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eruption-of-mount-vesuvius-begins General Interest 1572 : Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/saint-bartholomews-day-massacre 1814 : British capture and burn Washington http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-capture-and-burn-washington 1821 : Spain accepts Mexican independence http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spain-accepts-mexican-independence Hollywood 1981 : John Lennon's killer sentenced http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-lennons-killer-sentenced Literary 1936 : A.S. Byatt, author of Possession, is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/as-byatt-author-of-possession-is-born Music 1974 : Paul Anka has a #1 hit with "(You're) Having My Baby" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paul-anka-has-a-1-hit-with-quotyoure-having-my-babyquot Old West 1873 : Elusive Mount of the Holy Cross photographed http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elusive-mount-of-the-holy-cross-photographed Presidential 1814 : British troops set fire to the White House http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-troops-set-fire-to-the-white-house Sports 1875 : Captain Webb swims English Channel http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/captain-webb-swims-english-channel Vietnam War 1963 : Washington changes policy on support for President Diem http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/washington-changes-policy-on-support-for-president-diem 1969 : U.S. unit refuses commander's order http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-unit-refuses-commanders-order 1970 : B-52s conduct heavy raids along the DMZ http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/b-52s-conduct-heavy-raids-along-the-dmz World War I 1914 : Poet Alan Seeger volunteers in French army http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/poet-alan-seeger-volunteers-in-french-army World War II 1942 : Brave volunteers save the day in the Battle of the East Solomon Islands http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/brave-volunteers-save-the-day-in-the-battle-of-the-east-solomon-islands

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