This Day In European History
24th April
Events1547: Battle of Muhlberg, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the Duke of Alba defeat the Schmalkaldic League.
1558: Mary Queen of Scots marries the future King Francis II of France.
1567: Mary Queen of Scots is captured by Lord Bothwell and taken to Dunbar.
1782: The Marseillaise, France's national anthem, composed.
1880: The world's first national athletics association formed: the English Amateur Athletics Association.
1898: The United States of America declares war on Spain, although the 21st of April is given as the official date.
1953: Winston Churchill is knighted.
1967 Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov becomes the first official space casualty when Soyuz I crashes.
Births
1533: William I 'the Silent', leader of the Dutch revolt against Spain.
1581: St. Vincent de Paul, French saint.
1620: John Gaunt, English demographer.
1743: Edmund Cartwright, English inventor of the power loom.
1815: Anthony Trollope, English novelist.
1856: Henri-Philippe Petain, French WW1 general.
Deaths
709: St. Wilfred.
1345: Richard de Bury, English bishop.
1731: Daniel Defoe, English writer.
1736: Prince Eugene of Savoy, French field marshal.
