On This Day: Major World Events of October 24
October 24 has left its mark on history in different eras and different countries. GSM's 'On This Day' column verifies each entry against authoritative sources and labels the country concerned, stating facts only: from the 1648 peace that ended the Thirty Years' War, to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, to the launch of China's first lunar probe in 2007, all happened on October 24.
In 1648, Europe (including what is now Germany): the Peace of Westphalia was signed on October 24, ending the Thirty Years' War that had begun in 1618. Negotiated at Münster and Osnabrück, the settlement is regarded as a milestone in establishing the modern principle of state sovereignty.
In 1861, the United States: the first transcontinental telegraph message was sent successfully on October 24, linking the East and West coasts. President Abraham Lincoln received the message, and the rider-based Pony Express ceased operations days later.
In 1929, the United States: a massive sell-off hit the New York Stock Exchange on October 24, a day known as 'Black Thursday,' with more than 12 million shares traded. It marked the start of the Wall Street Crash of 1929; losses deepened in the following days and the U.S. economy slid into the Great Depression.
In 1931, the United States: the George Washington Bridge, connecting New York City with Fort Lee, New Jersey, opened to traffic on October 24. Spanning the Hudson River, it was the world's longest suspension bridge at the time of its opening.
In 1945, international (the Charter was signed in San Francisco, United States): the Charter of the United Nations entered into force on October 24 and the United Nations was officially established. Signed in San Francisco in June 1945, the Charter took effect after ratification by the five permanent members of the Security Council and a majority of the other signatories; October 24 is now observed as United Nations Day.
In 2003, the United Kingdom and France: Concorde made its final commercial passenger flight on October 24. Jointly developed by Britain and France, the supersonic airliner had entered commercial service in 1976, and the final flight ended 27 years of supersonic passenger travel.
In 2007, China: Chang'e 1, China's first lunar probe, was launched on October 24 aboard a Long March 3A rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province. The probe entered lunar orbit on November 5 that year and relayed its first images of the Moon on November 26; its mission was extended until a controlled impact on the Moon on March 1, 2009.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于美国纽约的联合国总部大会大楼与会员国旗帜。1945年10月24日《联合国宪章》生效、联合国正式成立。照片 Yerpo 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经维基共享资源。Photo: The United Nations General Assembly building and member-state flags in New York, United States. The UN Charter entered into force on October 24, 1945. Photo by Yerpo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
