On this day - 24th May

1543  Nicolaus Copernicus published proof of a sun-centered solar system

1798   Believing that a French invasion of Ireland was imminent, Irish nationalists rose up against the British occupation

1822  At the Battle of Pichincha, Simon Bolivar secured independence of the Quito

1844  Samuel F.B. Morse formally opened America's first telegraph line. The first message was sent from Washington, DC, to Baltimore, MD. The message was "What hath God wrought?"

1930  Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly from England to Australia

1976  Britain and France opened trans-Atlantic Concorde service to Washington

1993  The Ethiopian province of Eritrea declared itself an independent nation

2001  Temba Tsheri, 15, became the youngest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest