What happened on this day in history: Henry VIII is crowned king, Butch Cassidy robs his first bank, and more events that happened on June 24th.
1509: Henry VIII Is Crowned King Of England
Public DomainKing Henry VIII circa 1509, when he ascended to the throne.
Henry VIII is crowned king at Westminster Abbey. The 17-year-old monarch went on to have a controversial reign, marrying six times and replacing the Pope as the head of the Church in England. He reigned for almost 38 years before his death in 1547 at the age of 55.
1675: King Philip’s War Begins
King Philip’s War begins in colonial New England. So named for Wampanoag chief Metacomet, also called King Philip, the conflict endured for months and pitted various Native American tribes against English settlers (and some Indigenous allies). King Philip, and many other Native Americans, wanted to stop the English settlers’ expansion on their lands, but the conflict ended in August 1676 with King Philip’s death.
1717: Modern Freemasonry Is Founded
The first Masonic Grand Lodge in the world is established in London, England. Then, four lodges gathered at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern to create the first “grand” lodge. This is considered the beginning of modern Freemasonry, though Freemason societies have long existed.
1889: Butch Cassidy Robs His First Bank
Public DomainButch Cassidy’s 1894 mugshot.
Butch Cassidy, then still known as Robert Leroy Parker, robs his first bank. Looking for an easy way to make money, Cassidy orchestrated the robbery of San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado, with three others and stole over $20,000. He later changed his name to avoid embarrassing his mother and became one of the most infamous outlaws in the Wild West.
2007: Chris Benoit Dies By Suicide After Murdering His Family
Chris Benoit shocks the professional wrestling world after he kills his family and commits suicide. A 22-time WWE champion, Benoit was a fan favorite known for his skill and charisma. Shortly after the murders, Benoit was scheduled to appear at a wrestling match. When he failed to show up, a concerned friend alerted authorities and sent them out to Benoit’s house.
There, police found the bodies of three people: Benoit, his wife, and their son. After medical examiners inspected Benoit’s body, they found a severely damaged brain and 10 times the normal amount of testosterone in his system. His story still haunts the wrestling world today.
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