On this day

24 November in history.

5 moments from 1642 to 1974: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Charles Darwin seated in a chair.

1859

Darwin's On the Origin of Species is published. Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species came out, and every copy of the first printing sold on the very first day.

Wikipedia: Charles Darwin

Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Maull & Fox… / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 24 November

  1. Portrait of the navigator Abel Tasman.

    1642

    Abel Tasman reaches Tasmania

    Abel Tasman became the first European to find the island then known as Van Diemen's Land, now Tasmania.

    Wikipedia: Abel TasmanWikipedia: Van Diemen's LandWikipedia: Tasmania

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. Portrait of Anna Sewell.

    1877

    Black Beauty is published

    Anna Sewell's novel Black Beauty, written to encourage kindness to animals, was published.

    Wikipedia: Anna SewellWikipedia: Animal welfareWikipedia: Black Beauty

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. 1969

    Apollo 12 returns safely

    The Apollo 12 crew splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, ending the second mission to land people on the Moon.

    Wikipedia: Apollo programWikipedia: Apollo 12

  4. Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson.

    1974

    Lucy the early human ancestor is found

    In Ethiopia's Afar region, Donald Johanson and Tom Gray found a 40% complete skeleton of an early human relative. They named her Lucy, after a Beatles song.

    Wikipedia: Donald JohansonWikipedia: Australopithecus afarensisWikipedia: Lucy (hominid)

    Photo: by courtesy of Don Johanson personally / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.