On May 24, 1775, John Hancock became President of the Continental Congress.

During his first term, which lasted over two and a half years, Hancock oversaw the adoption of the Declaration of Independence – becoming the first to sign it with his famously bold and oversized signature. He also led the escape of Congress to Baltimore in late 1776, avoiding British capture as the war intensified.

Additionally, he supported the development of the Articles of Confederation and helped manage Revolutionary War efforts, ensuring supplies and strategy for the Continental Army.

Over ten years later, in 1785, Hancock became the President of the Confederation Congress, marking his second Congressional leadership term.

He also named his only son, John George Washington Hancock, (born in 1778, and who only lived until the age of 9) in honor of George Washington.

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Helen Brooke Taussig, who founded the field of pediatric cardiology which is the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions in children, was born on May 24, 1898 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

She was appointed chief of the pediatric unit at Johns Hopkins in 1930 and worked there until 1963.

Helen was the first female president of the American Heart Association.

In the 1960s, Helen started a campaign and testified before Congress to ban the use of thalidomide.

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THE FIRST TELEGRAM
(Chamber of the Supreme Court, Washington, May 24, 1844.)

Professor Morse sending the Dispatch as Dictated by Miss Annie Ellsworth:

“WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT”

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On May 24, 1624, King James I of England revoked a charter that he granted to Virginia Company 18 years prior and Virginia became a royal colony.

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On May 24, 1626, Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island for trinkets valued at 60 Dutch guilders or a little less than $25 at that time.

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Union Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth was killed in Alexandria, Va., on May 24, 1861 for removing the Confederate flag from the roof of The Marshall House Inn.

Image: Engraving via Library of Congress, no known restrictions

On May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was opened.

Image: A drawing of President Chester A. Arthur and others crossing the newly opened Brooklyn Bridge in 1883
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On May 24, 1936, Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees became the first major league player to hit two grand slams in one game. His eleven RBIs that game is still the A.L. record.

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Image of the Statue of Abraham Lincoln by American sculptor George Gray Barnard c. 1921

George Gray Barnard was born on May 24, 1863 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, a little more than a month before the Battle of Gettysburg.

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H.B. Reese who developed the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup was born on May 24, 1879 in York County, Pennsylvania.

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Women munition workers urge President to support suffrage bill. Six women war workers, representing thousands of others, were delegated to see President Wilson and urge him to support the motion for an immediate passage of the federal suffrage amendment. These women were employed at Bethlehem Steel Company’s plant at Newcastle, Pennslyvania. They supplemented their argument with the statement that the women are serving the government in war industries and feel the urgent need of federal enfranchisement.

May 24, 1918

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Bob Dylan was born on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota.

Image: Bob Dylan in 1963 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Astronaut Scott Carpenter in Aurora 7 on May 24, 1962 just before he became the second American to orbit the Earth.

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Gary Burghoff known for playing the role of Radar on M*A*S*H was born on May 24, 1943 in Bristol, Connecticut.

Image: Gary Burghoff in 1974 by CBS Television, public domain via Wikimedia Commons

On May 24, 1984, the U.S. Post Office issued a 20 cent stamp featuring this image of Jim Thorpe.

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On May 24, 1973, meteorologists, researchers and storm chasers were able to capture the entire life cycle of a tornado when this F4 tornado touched down near Union City, Oklahoma.

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Jericho Mills, Virginia. Looking up North Anna river from south bank, canvas pontoon bridge and pontoon train on opposite bank, May 24, 1864

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