Today in History - History - January 24th

2009Pope Benedict XVI rescinds the excommunications of four bishops consecrated without papal consent in 1988 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.

1969Spanish General Franco announces state of emergency

1986NY Islander Mike Bossy scores his 1,000th point

1927Director Alfred Hitchcock releases his first film, The Pleasure Garden, in England.

1950Jackie Robinson signs highest contract ($35,000) in Dodger history

1076Synod of Worms: German King Henry IV fires Pope Gregory VII

41Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Roman Emperor after his assassination by Praetorian Guards.

1948Australia all out 674 v India (Bradman 201, Hassett 198*)

1913Franz Kafka stops working on "Amerika"; it will never be finished

1983Hulk Hogan pins Iron Sheik for World Wrestling Federation title

1862Edith Wharton [-Jones], New York NY, Pulitzer prize-winning novelist (Ethan Frome, House of Mirth), (d. 1937)

76Hadrian, Italica, Roman Emperor (117-138, builder of Hadrian's Wall)

1941Neil Diamond, Brooklyn NY, singer/actor (Jazz Singer)

1925Maria Tallchief, Fairfax Ok, ballerina, (d. 2013)

1884Abolutionist Frederick Douglass marries 2nd wife suffragist Helen Pitts

1981Singer Davy Jones (35) weds Anita Pollinger

2004Actress Selma Blair (31) weds producer Ahmet Zappa (29) at Carrie Fisher's mansion in Beverly Hills, California

1328King Edward III of England marries Philippa of Henegouwen (Hainault)

1993Thurgood Marshall, 1st black supreme court justice (1967-91), dies 84

41Caligula, [G C Germanicus], Roman emperor (37-41), assassinated at 28 by Praetorian Guards. Known for his eccentricity and cruel despotism.

1965Winston Churchill, PM of Britain (C) (1940-45, 51-55), dies at 90

1989Ted Bundy, serial killer of up to 100 women, executed in Florida at 42