January 24 in history — What Happened Today in History

Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi is found hiding in a Guam jungle, where he had been since the end of World War II.

Vietnam War: The 1st Australian Task Force launches Operation Coburg against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during wider fighting around Long Bình and Biên Hòa.

Air India Flight 101 crashes into Mont Blanc.

Goldsboro B-52 crash: A bomber carrying two H-bombs breaks up in mid-air over North Carolina. The uranium core of one weapon remains lost.

Algerian War: Some units of European volunteers in Algiers stage an insurrection known as the "barricades week", during which they seize government buildings and clash with local police.

The United Nations General Assembly passes its first resolution to establish the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.

World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.

World War II: The Allies bombard Bangkok, leading Thailand, then under Japanese control, to declare war against the United States and United Kingdom.

The deadliest earthquake in Chilean history strikes Chillán, killing approximately 28,000 people.

Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company starts selling the first canned beer.

The 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, changing the beginning and end of terms for all elected federal offices.

The Gregorian calendar is introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars effective February 14 (New Style).

In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., the Supreme Court of the United States declares the federal income tax constitutional.

World War I: British Grand Fleet battle cruisers under Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty engage Rear-Admiral Franz von Hipper's battle cruisers in the Battle of Dogger Bank.

The first Boy Scout troop is organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell.

Second Boer War: Boers stop a British attempt to break the Siege of Ladysmith in the Battle of Spion Kop.

The United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (later named Romania) is formed as a personal union under the rule of Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza.

The University of Calcutta is formally founded as the first fully fledged university in South Asia.

California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.

Slaves in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, stage a revolt, which is instrumental in ending slavery there 50 years later.

Crossing of the Andes: Many soldiers of Juan Gregorio de las Heras are captured during the action of Picheuta.

During the Seven Years' War the leading burghers of Königsberg submit to Elizabeth of Russia, thus forming Russian Prussia (until 1763).

Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

King Charles II of England dissolves the Cavalier Parliament.

Arauco War: Spanish and Mapuche authorities meet in the Parliament of Boroa renewing the fragile peace established at the parliaments of Quillín in 1641 and 1647.

King Henry VIII of England suffers an accident while jousting, leading to a brain injury that historians say may have influenced his later erratic behaviour and possible impotence.

Ki Sung-yueng, South Korean footballer

Selina Jörg, German snowboarder

DaJuan Summers, American basketball player

Brian Cushing, American football player

Luis Suárez, Uruguayan footballer

Kia Vaughn, American-Czech basketball player

Guan Xin, Chinese basketball player

Cristiano Araújo, Brazilian singer-songwriter (died 2015)

Mischa Barton, English-American actress

Tyler Flowers, American baseball player

Vladislav Ivanov, Russian footballer

Sean McVay, American football coach

Justin Baldoni, American actor, director, and producer

Pernell Roberts, American actor (born 1928)

Usha Narayanan, Burmese-born First Lady of India (born 1922)

Krystyna Feldman, Polish actress (born 1916)

İsmail Cem İpekçi, Turkish journalist and politician, 45th Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1940)

Guadalupe Larriva, Ecuadorian academic and politician (born 1956)

Emiliano Mercado del Toro, Puerto Rican-American soldier (born 1891)

Schafik Handal, Salvadoran politician (born 1930)

Leônidas, Brazilian footballer and manager (born 1913)

Gianni Agnelli, Italian businessman (born 1921)

Elie Hobeika, Lebanese commander and politician (born 1956)

Gaffar Okkan, Turkish police chief (born 1952)

Gustav Ernesaks, Estonian composer and conductor (born 1908)

Thurgood Marshall, American lawyer and jurist, 32nd United States Solicitor General (born 1908)