Famous people born on March 24th
March 24 stands out for its wide-ranging roster of innovators, reformers, and culture-shapers across science, literature, design, politics, and entertainment. The date brings together pioneers who changed how we see the natural world, how we tell stories, and how we organize public life. From Victorian-era arts and social debate to modern sport and media, the birthday list reflects an unusually broad spectrum of influence.
Notable highlights
- William Morris (1834) - Led the Arts and Crafts movement, arguing for beauty and craftsmanship as a social ideal as well as a design philosophy.
- Harry Houdini (1874) - Redefined live spectacle with escape artistry and later devoted major effort to debunking fraudulent spiritualist claims.
- Andrew Mellon (1855) - A dominant U.S. financier and Treasury Secretary whose policies and philanthropy helped shape institutions like the National Gallery of Art.
- Dorothy Height (1912) - A key strategist of the U.S. civil rights and women's rights movements, often called the "godmother" of the civil rights movement.
- Joseph Barbera (1911) - Co-created Hanna-Barbera and helped define TV animation through enduring characters and an efficient studio model.
- Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919) - A Beat-era catalyst as both poet and publisher, co-founding City Lights and championing literary free expression.
- David Suzuki (1936) - Brought genetics and environmental science into public conversation, becoming a leading science communicator in Canada.
- Peyton Manning (1976) - One of the NFL's most influential quarterbacks, celebrated for pre-snap mastery and record-setting passing production.
On this day
- 1603 - Queen Elizabeth I dies, ending the Tudor dynasty and bringing James VI of Scotland to the English throne as James I.
- 1882 - Robert Koch announces the discovery of the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis, a turning point in modern microbiology.
- 1989 - The Exxon Valdez oil tanker runs aground in Alaska's Prince William Sound, causing one of the most notorious environmental disasters in U.S. history.