Happy Birthday June 24

Congregationalist clergyman and social reformer Henry Ward Beecher was born in Litchfield, Connecticut on June 24, 1813. His siblings included Uncle Tom's Cabin writer Harriet Beecher Stowe and educator Catharine Beecher. Henry had a childhood stammer and was considered slow-witted; his less than stellar performance at Biston Latin school earned him punishments such as being forced to sit for hours in the girls' corner wearing a dunce cap.

Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina the third of four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory manager, and his wife Celia Cuccittini, who worked in a magnet manufacturing workshop. Lionel's parents were huge Lionel Richie fans and they named their son after the singer. Messi began football at a young age and his potential was quickly seen by Barcelona FC. He left Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Spain.

For more June 24 anniversaries, including the first European since the Vikings to set foot on the North America mainland, the founding of Manila and Butch Cassidy's first major crime, check out OnThatDay.