THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011

Today is Thursday, March 24, the 83rd day of 2011. There are 282 days left in the year.

1721 ― Johann Sebastian Bach opens his Brandenburgse Concerts

1898 ― First automobile sold

1924 ― Greece becomes a republic

1934 ― U.S. declares the Philippines to become independent in 1945

1949 ― Walter & John Huston become first father-and-son team to win Oscars (actor and director of ``Treasure of Sierra Madre")

1952 ― Great demonstrations against apartheid in South Africa

1955 ― Tennessee Williams, ``Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" opens on Broadway for 694 performances

1972 ― Great Britain imposes direct rule over Northern Ireland

1989 ― Worst U.S. oil spill, Exxon's Valdez spills 11.3 million gallons off Alaska

1997 ― Australian parliament overturns world's first and only euthanasia law