79CE
Other
Mount Vesuvius Erupts
Mount Vesuvius violently erupts, burying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under tons of volcanic ash. The disaster killed thousands, but the ash perfectly preserved the cities for centuries.
Daily Chronicle
August 24
4 Historical Records
1814CE
War
British Burn Washington D.C.
British troops under General Robert Ross capture Washington D.C. and set fire to the White House and the Capitol. The burning was in retaliation for the American destruction of Port Dover in Upper Canada.
1899CE
Birth
Jorge Luis Borges Born
An Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet, and translator, widely considered a key figure in magic realism. His famous works, including 'Ficciones,' explore themes of infinity, labyrinths, and philosophy.
1968CE
Science
France Detonates First Hydrogen Bomb
France successfully detonates its first hydrogen bomb at the Fangataufa atoll in French Polynesia. This made France the fifth country in the world to possess thermonuclear weapons.