February 24: Independence Day in Estonia (1918)Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse1711 George Frideric Handel's Rinaldo, the first Italian-language opera written specifically for the London stage, premiered.1809 Napoleonic Wars: French admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse (pictured) unconditionally surrendered to British forces, ending their invasion of Martinique and beginning a five-year occupation of the island.1979 UgandaTanzania War: Ugandan government forces fled Masaka as the Tanzania People's Defence Force bombarded and captured the town.1989 United Airlines Flight811 experienced uncontrolled decompression after leaving Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii, blowing seats out of the aircraft and killing nine passengers.thelberht of Kent (d.616)Judah Folkman (b.1933)Nina Simonovich-Efimova (d.1948)Leo Ornstein (d.2002)More anniversaries: February 23February 24February 25ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout