January 24
Updated November 6, 2026 · Edited by the JanuaryCalendar.com team
January 24 is the UN's International Day of Education and Union Day in Romania. On this date in 1848, gold was found at Sutter's Mill in California, and in 1984 Apple's first Macintosh went on sale. Winston Churchill died on January 24, 1965.
January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. 341 days remain in the year (342 in leap years). In 2027, January 24 falls on a Sunday.
- Day of year
- 24
- Days left
- 341 (342 in leap years)
- Zodiac sign
- Aquarius ♒︎
- Birthstone
- Garnet
- ISO week (2027)
- Week 3
- Weekday (2027)
- Sunday
Holidays and observances on January 24
- UN / international International Day of Education (Worldwide) — Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2018.
- Public holiday Union Day (Romania) — Marks the 1859 union of Moldavia and Wallachia.
- Official National Girl Child Day (India) — Observed since 2008 to promote girls' rights.
- Unofficial National Compliment Day (US) — An informal day for giving sincere compliments.
- Cultural Lunar New Year falls on January 24 in 2039 (Goat)
Events on January 24 in history
- 1848 – James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, sparking the California Gold Rush.
- 1857 – The University of Calcutta was founded, one of the first modern universities in India.
- 1935 – The Krueger Brewing Company sold the first canned beer, in Richmond, Virginia.
- 1943 – At the Casablanca Conference, Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that the Allies would demand unconditional surrender from the Axis.
- 1950 – India's Constituent Assembly adopted Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem and elected Rajendra Prasad as first president.
- 1965 – Winston Churchill died in London at the age of 90.
- 1972 – Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese soldier who had hidden in Guam's jungle since 1944, was found by two local men.
- 1984 – Apple's first Macintosh personal computer went on sale.
- 1986 – Voyager 2 made the first and only spacecraft flyby of Uranus.
Famous birthdays on January 24
- 1712 – Frederick the Great, King of Prussia
- 1732 – Pierre Beaumarchais, French playwright of The Barber of Seville
- 1776 – E. T. A. Hoffmann, German Romantic writer and composer
- 1862 – Edith Wharton, American novelist of The Age of Innocence
- 1917 – Ernest Borgnine, American Oscar-winning actor
- 1941 – Neil Diamond, American singer-songwriter
- 1947 – Michio Kaku, American theoretical physicist and author
- 1949 – John Belushi, American comedian and actor
- 1961 – Nastassja Kinski, German actress
- 1968 – Mary Lou Retton, American Olympic gymnastics champion
What day is January 24?
Frequently asked questions
What is the International Day of Education?
The UN General Assembly proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education in December 2018, and it was first observed in 2019. UNESCO leads the observance, which highlights the role of education in peace and development.
What happened at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848?
James W. Marshall found gold while building a sawmill for John Sutter at Coloma, California. The discovery set off the California Gold Rush.
What did India adopt on January 24, 1950?
Two days before the Constitution took effect on Republic Day, the Constituent Assembly adopted Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem and elected Rajendra Prasad as India's first president.
What day of the week is January 24, 2027?
January 24, 2027 is a Sunday. In 2028 it falls on a Monday.
What zodiac sign is January 24?
People born on January 24 are Aquarians (January 20 – February 18) in Western astrology.