June 24th in History

474 - Julius Nepos forces Roman usurper Glycerius to abdicate the throne and proclaims himself Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.

637 - The Battle of Moira is fought between the High King of Ireland and the Kings of Ulster and Dalriada. It is claimed to be largest battle in the history of Ireland.

1314 - First War of Scottish Independence: the Battle of Bannockburn concludes with a decisive victory by Scottish forces led by Robert the Bruce, though England did not recognize Scottish independence until 1328 with the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton.

1340 - Hundred Years' War: Battle of Sluys – The French fleet is almost destroyed by the English Fleet commanded in person by King Edward III.

1398 - Hongwu Emperor of China, founder of the Ming Dynasty dies

1497 - John Cabot lands in North America at Newfoundland leading the first European exploration of the region since the Vikings.

1509 - Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon are crowned King and Queen of England.

1622 - Battle of Macau: The Dutch attempt but fail to capture Macau.

1793 - The first Republican constitution in France is adopted.

1803 - Matthew Thornton, signer of the United States Declaration of Independence dies

1812 - Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon's Grande Armée crosses the Neman River beginning the invasion of Russia.

1880 - First performance of O Canada, the song that would become the national anthem of Canada, at the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français.

1913 - Greece and Serbia annul their alliance with Bulgaria.

1916 - World War I: the Battle of the Somme begins with a week-long artillery bombardment on the German Line.

1939 - Siam is renamed Thailand by Plaek Pibulsonggram, the country's third prime minister.

1963 - The United Kingdom grants Zanzibar internal self-government.

2010 - John Isner of the United States defeats Nicolas Mahut of France at Wimbledon, in the longest match in professional tennis history.

2012 - The last known individual of Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii, a subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise, dies.

Famous Birthdays

1244 - Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse

1314 - Philippa of Hainault, Queen consort of Edward III of England

1343 - Joan of Valois, Queen consort of Navarre

1386 - St. John of Capistrano, saint

1542 - St. John of the Cross, O.C.D. saint

1825 - Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia, youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia

1869 - Prince George of Greece and Denmark

1893 - Roy O. Disney, businessman, co-founded The Walt Disney Company

1931 - Billy Casper, golfer

1947 -Peter Weller, actor

1967 - Scott Oden, writer

1975 - Carla Gallo, actress

1985 - Diego Alves Carreira, footballer

1987 - Simona Dobrá, tennis player

1992 - David Alaba, footballer