On This Day — April 21

Famous events, births, and deaths from April 21 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

Pick a month

Pick a day in April

42 events · 196 births · 100 deaths recorded for April 21.

🕰️ Notable Events on April 21

2014 — The American city of Flint, Michigan switches its water source to the Flint River, beginning the ongoing Flint water crisis which has caused lead poisoning in up to 12,000 people, and 15 deaths from Legionnaires disease, ultimately leading to criminal indictments against 15 people, five of whom have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Wikipedia ↗
2012 — Two trains are involved in a head-on collision near Sloterdijk, Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, injuring 116 people. Wikipedia ↗
2010 — The controversial Kharkiv Pact (Russian Ukrainian Naval Base for Gas Treaty) is signed in Kharkiv, Ukraine, by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev; it was unilaterally terminated by Russia on March 31, 2014. Wikipedia ↗
2004 — Five suicide car bombers target police stations in and around Basra, killing 74 people and wounding 160. Wikipedia ↗
1993 — The Supreme Court in La Paz, Bolivia, sentences former dictator Luis García Meza to 30 years in jail without parole for murder, theft, fraud and violating the constitution. Wikipedia ↗
1992 — The first discoveries of extrasolar planets are announced by astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail. They discovered two planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12. Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Tiananmen Square protests of 1989: In Beijing, around 100,000 students gather in Tiananmen Square to commemorate Chinese reform leader Hu Yaobang. Wikipedia ↗
1987 — The Tamil Tigers are blamed for a car bomb that detonates in the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo, killing 106 people. Wikipedia ↗
1985 — The compound of the militant group The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord surrenders to federal authorities in Arkansas after a two-day government siege. Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Baseball: Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers becomes the first pitcher to record 300 saves. Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Vietnam War: President of South Vietnam Nguyễn Văn Thiệu flees Saigon, as Xuân Lộc, the last South Vietnamese outpost blocking a direct North Vietnamese assault on Saigon, falls. Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Greek military junta of 1967-74: A few days before the general election in Greece, Colonel George Papadopoulos leads a coup d'état, establishing a military regime that lasts for seven years. Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Rastafari movement: Haile Selassie of Ethiopia visits Jamaica, an event now celebrated as Grounation Day. Wikipedia ↗
1965 — The 1964-1965 New York World's Fair opens for its second and final season. Wikipedia ↗
1964 — A Transit-5bn satellite fails to reach orbit after launch; as it re-enters the atmosphere, 2.1 pounds (0.95 kg) of radioactive plutonium in its SNAP RTG power source is widely dispersed. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — The first election of the Universal House of Justice is held, marking its establishment as the supreme governing institution of the Bahá'í Faith. Wikipedia ↗
1962 — The Seattle World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition) opens. It is the first World's Fair in the United States since World War II. Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Brasília, Brazil's capital, is officially inaugurated. At 09:30, the Three Powers of the Republic are simultaneously transferred from the old capital, Rio de Janeiro. Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Secretary's Day (now Administrative Professionals' Day) is first celebrated. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: Soviet forces south of Berlin at Zossen attack the German High Command headquarters. Wikipedia ↗
1934 — The "Surgeon's Photograph", the most famous photo allegedly showing the Loch Ness Monster, is published in the Daily Mail (in 1999, it is revealed to be a hoax). Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Al-Baqi cemetery, former site of the mausoleum of four Shi'a Imams, is leveled to the ground by Wahhabis. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — World War I: German fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, better known as "The Red Baron", is shot down and killed over Vaux-sur-Somme in France. Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Ypiranga incident: A German arms shipment to Mexico is intercepted by the U.S. Navy near Veracruz. Wikipedia ↗
1898 — Spanish-American War: The United States Navy begins a blockade of Cuban ports. When the U.S. Congress issued a declaration of war on April 25, it declared that a state of war had existed from this date. Wikipedia ↗
1894 — Norway formally adopts the Krag-Jørgensen bolt-action rifle as the main arm of its armed forces, a weapon that would remain in service for almost 50 years. Wikipedia ↗
1856 — Australian labour movement: Stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne march from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight-hour day. Wikipedia ↗
1836 — Texas Revolution: The Battle of San Jacinto: Republic of Texas forces under Sam Houston defeat troops under Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Wikipedia ↗
1821 — Benderli Ali Pasha arrives in Constantinople as the new Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire; he remains in power for only nine days before being sent into exile. Wikipedia ↗
1809 — Two Austrian army corps are driven from Landshut by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon as two French corps to the north hold off the main Austrian army on the first day of the Battle of Eckmühl. Wikipedia ↗
1806 — Action of 21 April 1806: A French frigate escapes British forces off the coast of South Africa. Wikipedia ↗
1802 — Twelve thousand Wahhabis under Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad, invaded city of Karbala, killed over three thousand inhabitants, and sacked the city. Wikipedia ↗
1792 — Tiradentes, a revolutionary leading a movement for Brazil's independence, is hanged, drawn and quartered. Wikipedia ↗
1782 — The city of Rattanakosin, now known internationally as Bangkok, is founded on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. Wikipedia ↗
1615 — The Wignacourt Aqueduct is inaugurated in Malta. Wikipedia ↗
1526 — The last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, Ibrahim Lodi is defeated and killed by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat. Wikipedia ↗
1509 — Henry VIII ascends the throne of England on the death of his father, Henry VII. Wikipedia ↗
1506 — The three-day Lisbon Massacre comes to an end with the slaughter of over 1,900 suspected Jews by Portuguese Catholics. Wikipedia ↗
1092 — The Diocese of Pisa is elevated to the rank of metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Urban II Wikipedia ↗
900 — The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (the earliest known written document found in what is now the Philippines): the Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom of Tondo, as represented by the Honourable Jayadewa, Lord Minister of Pailah, pardons from all debt the Honourable Namwaran and his relations. Wikipedia ↗
Romulus founds Rome (traditional date). Wikipedia ↗
Battle of Mutina: Mark Antony is again defeated in battle by Aulus Hirtius, who is killed. Antony fails to capture Mutina and Decimus Brutus is murdered shortly after. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on April 21

1994 — Mitchell Weiser, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Isco, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Rene Santos, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Aleksandar Prijović, Swiss footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Tatyana McFadden, Russian-American sprinter and skier Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Carlos Muñoz, Chilean footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Jencarlos Canela, American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Pedro Mosquera, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Adam Rooney, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Nadif Chowdhury, Bangladeshi cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Eric Devendorf, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Leroy George, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Anastasia Prikhodko, Ukrainian singer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Audra Cohen, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Alexander Edler, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Rodney Stuckey, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Mirko Valdifiori, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Shayna Fox, American voice actress Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Paweł Brożek, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Marco Donadel, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Khalif Barnes, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Micheal Luck, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Carnell Williams, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Mads Junker, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Jeff Keppinger, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Vincent Lecavalier, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Tony Romo, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Tobias Linderoth, French-Swedish footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1979 — James McAvoy, Scottish actor Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Jacob Burns, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Jukka Nevalainen, Finnish drummer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Yuliya Pechonkina, Russian hurdler Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Gyula Koi, Hungarian scholar and educator Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Jamie Salé, Canadian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Rommel Adducul, Filipino basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Petero Civoniceva, Fijian-Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Danyon Loader, New Zealand swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Maksim Gruznov, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Orlando Jordan, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1974 — David Peachey, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Jonathan Nsenga, Belgian hurdler and coach Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Richard Chelimo, Kenyan runner (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Gwendal Peizerat, French ice dancer Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Axl Rotten, American wrestler (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Michael Turner, American author and illustrator (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Jeff Anderson, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Glen Hansard, Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Rob Riggle, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Nicole Sullivan, American actress, comedian, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1969 — John Kibowen, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Toby Stephens, English actor Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Peter van Vossen, Dutch footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Emilio Valle, Cuban hurdler Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Ed Belfour, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Karen Foster, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Gary Grant, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Thomas Helmer, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Fiona Kelleghan, American academic, critic and librarian Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Alex Baumann, Czech-Canadian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Ludmila Engquist, Russian-Swedish hurdler Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Ken Caminiti, American baseball player (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Roy Dupuis, Canadian actor Wikipedia ↗
1963 — John Cameron Mitchell, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Les Lancaster, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Craig Robinson, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Aavo Sarap, Estonian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Carey Hayes, American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Chad Hayes, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Neale Marmon, English-German footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
1961 — David Servan-Schreiber, French physician, neuroscientist, and author (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Michel Goulet, Canadian ice hockey player and scout Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Julius Korir, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Tim Jacobus, American illustrator and painter Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Olga Kuragina, Russian pentathlete Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Arno Pijpers, Dutch footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Robert Smith, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Andie MacDowell, American model, actress, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Yoshito Usui, Japanese illustrator (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Michael Zarnock, American author Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Hervé Le Tellier, French linguist and author Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Jesse Orosco, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Herbert Wetterauer, German painter, sculptor, and author Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Peter Kosminsky, English director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Phillip Longman, German-American demographer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Murathan Mungan, Turkish author, poet, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Doug Soetaert, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Ebiet G. Ade, Indonesian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1954 — James Morrison, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1953 — John Brumby, Australian politician, 45th Premier of Victoria Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Gerald Early, American author and academic Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Cheryl Gillan, British businesswoman and politician, Secretary of State for Wales Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Tony Danza, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Michael Freedman, American mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Steve Vickers, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Shivaji Satam, Indian actor Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Patti LuPone, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Gary Condit, American businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Josef Flammer, Swiss ophthalmologist Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Dieter Fromm, German runner Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Al Bumbry, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Iggy Pop, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1947 — John Weider, English bass player Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, Indian cricketer and umpire Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Mark Wainberg, Canadian researcher and HIV/AIDS activist (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Geoffrey Palmer, New Zealand politician, 33rd Prime Minister of New Zealand Wikipedia ↗
1941 — David L. Boren, American lawyer and politician, 21st Governor of Oklahoma Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Jacques Caron, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Souleymane Cissé, Malian director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1939 — John McCabe, English pianist and composer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Sister Helen Prejean, American nun, activist, and author Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Reni Santoni, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Gary Peters (baseball), American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Ben Zinn, Israeli-born American academic and former international soccer player Wikipedia ↗
1936 — James Dobson, American evangelist, psychologist, and author, founded Focus on the Family Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Reg Fleming, Canadian-American ice hockey player (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Charles Grodin, American actor and talk show host Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Thomas Kean, American academic and politician, 48th Governor of New Jersey Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Edelmiro Amante, Filipino lawyer and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Easley Blackwood, Jr., American pianist, composer, and educator Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Iraqi patriarch (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Slide Hampton, African-American trombonist and composer Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Elaine May, American actress, comedian, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Angela Mortimer, English tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Hilda Hilst, Brazilian author, poet, and playwright (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Silvana Mangano, Italian actress (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Dieter Roth, German-Swiss illustrator and sculptor (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Jack Taylor, English footballer and referee (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Jack Evans, Welsh-Canadian ice hockey player and coach (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Ahmed Arif, Turkish poet and author (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Arthur Rowley, English footballer, cricketer, and manager (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Anthony Mason, Australian soldier and judge, 9th Chief Justice of Australia Wikipedia ↗
1925 — John Swinton of Kimmerghame, English general and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire Wikipedia ↗
1924 — Ira Louvin, American singer-songwriter and mandolin player (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — John Mortimer, English lawyer and author (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Alistair MacLean, Scottish novelist and screenwriter (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Allan Watkins, Welsh-English cricketer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Edmund Adamkiewicz, German footballer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Don Cornell, American singer and trumpet player (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Roger Doucet, Canadian tenor (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Licio Gelli, Italian financer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Eddy Christiani, Dutch singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1916 — Estella B. Diggs, American businesswoman and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1915 — Garrett Hardin, American ecologist, author, and academic (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1915 — Anthony Quinn, Mexican-American actor (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Angelo Savoldi, Italian-American wrestler and promoter, co-founded International World Class Championship Wrestling (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1913 — Norman Parkinson, English photographer (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Eve Arnold, Russian-American photojournalist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Marcel Camus, French director and screenwriter (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Ivan Combe, American businessman, developed Clearasil (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Kemal Satır, Turkish physician and politician (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1905 — Pat Brown, American lawyer and politician, 32nd Governor of California (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1904 — Jean Hélion, French painter (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
1904 — Odilo Globocnik, Italian-Austrian SS officer (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗
1903 — Luis Saslavsky, Argentinian director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1899 — Randall Thompson, American composer and academic (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
1898 — Maurice Wilson, English soldier, pilot, and mountaineer (d. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
1893 — Romeo Bertini, Italian runner (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗