1895day.year
Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard the sloop Spray.
Joshua Slocum departs Boston on his sloop Spray, embarking on the first solo circumnavigation of the globe.
On April 24, 1895, Joshua Slocum set sail from Boston aboard the sloop Spray.
He aimed to become the first person to single-handedly sail around the world.
Slocum spent years rebuilding the vessel to withstand long ocean passages.
His route took him across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, calling at remote ports.
Facing storms, calm seas, and isolation, he navigated using celestial observations and ingenuity.
The voyage lasted over three years, covering approximately 46,000 miles.
Slocum’s achievement inspired generations of sailors and is celebrated as a maritime milestone.
1895
Joshua Slocum
1916day.year
Ernest Shackleton and five men of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition launch a lifeboat from uninhabited Elephant Island in the Southern Ocean to organise a rescue for the crew of the sunken Endurance.
Ernest Shackleton and five companions set sail from Elephant Island in a small lifeboat to seek rescue for their stranded Endurance crew.
On April 24, 1916, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and five companions launched the lifeboat James Caird from Elephant Island.
Their goal was to navigate over 800 nautical miles across the stormy Southern Ocean to South Georgia for rescue.
The small boat faced treacherous seas, freezing temperatures, and limited supplies throughout the voyage.
Using expert navigation and sheer determination, Shackleton and his men reached South Georgia after 16 grueling days.
Their journey remains one of history’s greatest small-boat expeditions and a testament to survival leadership.
Shackleton’s efforts ultimately led to the rescue of all crew members stranded on Elephant Island.
Ernest Shackleton
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
Elephant Island
Southern Ocean
Endurance
2025day.year
A mass stabbing at a school in Nantes, France, leaves 1 person dead and 3 others wounded.
A mass stabbing at a school in Nantes, France resulted in one death and three injuries.
On April 24, 2025, a lone assailant attacked students and staff at a secondary school in Nantes, western France, using a knife. The attacker managed to enter the premises before being subdued by school security and local police. Emergency services rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals, while investigators launched a manhunt and search for a motive. The incident shocked the French education community, reigniting discussions on school safety and mental health support for youth. French President and education officials offered condolences to victims’ families and vowed to strengthen protective measures in schools nationwide. The event highlighted ongoing concerns about lone-actor violence in public spaces and prompted calls for enhanced crisis response training in educational institutions.
2025
mass stabbing
Nantes