This Day in History: 0000-06-24

24 Jun – The English fleet under Edward III defeated the French fleet in the Battle of Sluys, securing the English Channel for Britain and marking the beginning of the Hundred Years War (1340).
24 Jun – 7 Feb – French and Spanish forces besieged British troops holding the fortress at Gibraltar but, unable to block British resupply and reinforcement, failed and withdrew, securing British control of shipping between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic (1779-1783).