This Date in History, July 24, 2017

''Knowing the past, we can make wise 

choices for a brighter, and more positive future.''

1505		On their way to India, a group of Portuguese explorers sack the city-state of Kilwa.
1567		Mary, Queen of Scots, is imprisoned and forced to abdicate her throne to her 1-year-old son James VI.
1701		Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac establishes Fort Pontchartrain for France at present-day Detroit, Michigan.
1704		Admiral George Rooke takes Gibraltar from the Spanish.
1766		At Fort Ontario, Canada, Ottawa chief Pontiac and William Johnson sign a peace agreement.
1791		Robespierre expels all Jacobins opposed to the principles of the French Revolution.
1847		The first members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) arrive in Utah, settling in present-day Salt Lake City.
1862		The eighth president of the United States, Martin Van Buren, dies at the age of 79.
1897		African-American soldiers of the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps arrive in St. Louis, Mo., after completing a 40-day bike ride from Missoula, Montana.
1941		The U.S. government denounces Japanese actions in Indochina.
1942		The Soviet city of Rostov is captured by German troops.
1950		The U.S. Fifth Air Force relocates from Japan to Korea.
1974		The Supreme Court rules that President Richard Nixon must surrender the Watergate tapes.
Born on July 24
1783		Simon Bolivar, South American soldier and statesman.
1786		Jean-Louis Nicollet, French explorer.
1802		Alexandre Dumas, French author (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers).
1895		Robert Graves, poet and novelist (Goodbye to All That).
1897		Amelia Earhart, aviation pioneer.
1900		Zelda Sayre, writer (Save Me the Waltz).
1916		John D. MacDonald, author.
1920		Bella Abzug, the first Jewish woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

MUCH MORE HISTORY