This Day in History is DUE’s daily dose of trivia for all the history buffs out there. So sit back and take a ride of all the fascinating things that happened on 24th March!
People are trapped in history and history is trapped in people, and hence, every day has been a significant one in the foibles of history. Now, let’s take a tour of “This Day in History – 24th March”.
1603: Queen Elizabeth I dies
Today marked the end of Queen Elizabeth I and her 44 years of reign. King James VI of Scotland then succeeded her, and united England and Scotland under a single British monarch. The long reign of Elizabeth coincided with the English Renaissance, associated with renowned authors such as William Shakespeare. She was known as the ‘Virgin Queen’ for her reluctance to endanger her authority through marriage. By her death, she had turned England into a major world power in every respect.
1882: World Tuberculosis Day
Each year, WHO commemorates World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB. This opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. The theme of World TB Day 2021 is ‘The Clock is Ticking.’ It shows that the world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. Read more about the day HERE.
1958: Elvis Presley is inducted into the US army
When Elvis Presley turned 18 on January 8, 1953, he fulfilled his patriotic duty and legal obligation. He registered his name with the Selective Service System, thereby making himself eligible for the draft. But it was only in 1958 that the army inducted him. His two years of army life would bring huge changes in his life. And even though the spring of 1960 saw the King of Rock and Roll return to the music scene, army life would separate the Old Elvis from the New.
1965: The Undertaker is born
American professional wrestler Mark Calaway, aka, The Undertaker is the longest-tenured wrestler in the history of WWE at 30 years. He is a multi-time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, a six-time tag team titleholder and a Royal Rumble Match winner in 2007. But his Wrestlemania Streak outlasts all of his achievements. Since Wrestlemania VII in 1991, he went on to maintain a 21-0 streak, defeating big names like Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Randy Orton.
2020: PM Narendra Modi orders a 21-day lockdown to deal with COVID-19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a 21-day lockdown today to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. It was to come into play from April 14. He acknowledged that the challenge would be particularly hard for the poor and said that alongside the government, civil society organizations should also step up to mitigate some of the hardships. “Draw a Laxman Rekha outside your house door and do not step outside of it. Stay where you are. This will be the decisive battle against coronavirus,” he said.
