On This Day for January 24 - Opportunity's Mars landing, Winston Churchill is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. January 24 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Winston Churchill READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 2004 Opportunity's Mars landing READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2003: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security came into being as Tom Ridge was sworn in as the agency's first secretary. [ Where is the secretary of Homeland Security in the order of presidential succession?] 1993: American lawyer and civil rights activist Thurgood Marshall, who was the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court (1967–91), died at age 84. [ Why are there nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court?] 1989: American serial killer Ted Bundy—who confessed to murdering 30 women, though many believe the number to be much higher—was executed at age 42. [ Learn about seven notorious serial killers, including Ted Bundy.] 1984: Steve Jobs introduced Apple's revolutionary computer Macintosh, two days after the groundbreaking commercial "1984" aired before a national TV audience and heralded the product's impending release. [ Test your knowledge of tech companies.] 1941: American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, who wrote pop songs for other musicians before launching a successful solo recording career, was born. [Sort fact from fiction in our music quiz.] 1940: The Grapes of Wrath , the acclaimed adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel, had its world premiere; the character Tom Joad's soliloquy on the poor, reflecting his empathy for their plight, remains one of the most famous scenes in film history. [ How much do you know about movies?] SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1712 Frederick II king of Prussia 1941 Neil Diamond American singer-songwriter 76 Hadrian Roman emperor 1862 Edith Wharton American writer 1776 E.T.A. Hoffmann German writer, composer, and painter 1891 Walther Model German military officer SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2021 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help