What Happened On This Day – August 24
2006 Pluto is Declassified as a Planet
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) declassified Pluto as a planet and classified it as a dwarf planet. According to the IAU definition a dwarf planet is neither ap lanet or a natural satellite. It is ‘a celestial object orbiting a star that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity but has not cleared its orbit of space debris’. Discovered in 1930 by American astronomer, Clyde Tombaugh, Pluto is the largest but second most massive dwarf planet in the solar system. The most massive dwarf planet orbiting our sun is Eris.
1991 Ukrainian Independence
The Eastern European country gained independence from the Soviet Union after a failed coup to remove Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. The country’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine and put the decision for referendum. August 24 is celebrated each year as Independence Day in Ukraine.
1949 NATO is Established
The North Atlantic Treaty, which established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an intergovernmental military alliance, came into effect on this day. The Treaty, which was signed on April 4, 1949 in Washington DC, created a collective defense system, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all the other signatories. Initially, the treaty was signed by 12 countries - Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, and United States. Today, membership has increased from the original 12 to 28.
1869 The Waffle Iron is Patented in the United States
Cornelius Swartwout, a Troy, New York resident invented and received the patent for the waffle iron, a device used to cook waffles. His design for the waffle iron included two plates of iron connected together with hinges. Users could pour waffle battle on one plate and place the other plate on top and cook it over a fire or a wood oven. This day is often celebrated as National Waffle Day in the United States.
1814 The British Burn Down Washington
On this day, British troops under the leadership of Major General Robert Ross occupied Washington D.C. and burnt down the city, including the Presidential Mansion and the Capitol building. President Madison and members of his government fled the city and took refuge in Brookeville, Maryland. The British had occupied the city for only 24 hours when a massive storm forced the troops to retreat, following which the American regained control of the capital.
Births On This Day – August 24
1957 Stephen Fry
English comedian, actor, journalist, author
1945 Vince McMahon
American wrestler, promoter, producer, actor
1929 Yasser Arafat
Palestinian engineer, politician
1899 Jorge Luis Borges
Argentine writer
1759 William Wilberforce
English politician, philanthropist
Deaths On This Day – August 24
2015 Justin Wilson
English race car driver
2014 Richard Attenborough
English director
1983 Scott Nearing
American writer, educator
1946 James Clark McReynolds
American lawyer, judge
1943 Simone Weil
French mystic, philosopher
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