On This Day — December 21

🕰️ Notable Events on December 21

• 2012 — 2012 phenomenon: this day was regarded as the end-date of a 5,126-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, leading to widespread expectations of cataclysmic events]] (which failed to happen). Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Iraq War: A suicide bomber killed 22 at the forward operating base next to the main U.S. military airfield at Mosul, Iraq, the single deadliest suicide attack on American soldiers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — The Spanish Civil Guard intercepts a van loaded with 950 kg of explosives that ETA intended to use to blow up Torre Picasso in Madrid, Spain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — A Dutch DC-10, flight Martinair MP 495, crashes at Faro Airport, killing 56. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — A bomb explodes on board Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, killing 270. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — The first flight of Antonov An-225 Mriya, the largest aircraft in the world. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Lancaster House Agreement: An independence agreement for Rhodesia is signed in London by Lord Peter Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and S.C. Mundawarara. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — The Geneva Conference on the Arab-Israeli conflict opens. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — First flight of F-14 multi-role combat aircraft. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Apollo program: Apollo 8 is launched from the Kennedy Space Center, placing its crew on a lunar trajectory for the first visit to another celestial body by humans. Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Louis Washkansky, the first man to undergo a heart transplant, dies in Cape Town, South Africa, having lived for 18 days after the transplant. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is adopted. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — "Bloody Christmas" begins in Cyprus, ultimately resulting in the displacement of 25,000-30,000 Turkish Cypriots and destruction of more than 100 villages. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — An 8.1 Mw earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Nankaidō, Japan, kills over 1,300 people and destroys over 38,000 homes. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: A formal treaty of alliance between Thailand and Japan is signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand. Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world's first full-length animated feature, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre. Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — First flight of the Junkers Ju 88 multi-role combat aircraft. Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — United Kingdom and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship, called the Nepal-Britain Treaty of 1923, which superseded the Treaty of Sugauli signed in 1816. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — American anarchist Emma Goldman is deported to Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Arthur Wynne's "word-cross", the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World. Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — An underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, England, kills 344 miners. Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — The Chilean Army commits a massacre of at least 2,000 striking saltpeter miners in Iquique, Chile. Wikipedia ↗
• 1883 — The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army, are formed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — World premiere of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark. Wikipedia ↗
• 1872 — Challenger expedition: HMS Challenger, commanded by Captain George Nares, sails from Portsmouth, England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. Wikipedia ↗
• 1844 — The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers commences business at its cooperative in Rochdale, England, starting the Cooperative movement. Wikipedia ↗
• 1832 — Egyptian-Ottoman War: Egyptian forces decisively defeat Ottoman troops at the Battle of Konya. Wikipedia ↗
• 1826 — American settlers in Nacogdoches, Mexican Texas, declare their independence, starting the Fredonian Rebellion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1620 — Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Wikipedia ↗
• 1598 — Battle of Curalaba: The revolting Mapuche, led by cacique Pelentaru, inflict a major defeat on Spanish troops in southern Chile. Wikipedia ↗
• 1361 — The Battle of Linuesa is fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the forces of the Emirate of Granada and the combined army of the Kingdom of Castile and of Jaén resulting in a Castilian victory. Wikipedia ↗
• 1237 — The city of Ryazan is sacked by the Mongol army of Batu Khan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1140 — Conrad III of Germany besieged Weinsberg. Wikipedia ↗
• 1124 — Pope Honorius II is elected. Wikipedia ↗
• The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 21

• 1995 — Bobby, South Korean-American rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Riccardo Saponara, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Mark Ingram Jr., American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Perri Shakes-Drayton, English sprinter and hurdler Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Denis Alekseyev, Russian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Tom Sturridge, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Darren Potter, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Philip Humber, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Cristian Zaccardo, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Steve Montador, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Emiliano Brembilla, Italian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Charles Dera, American pornographic actor, dancer, model, and mixed martial arts fighter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Shaun Morgan, South African musician, singer, and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Emmanuel Macron, Current President of France Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Leon MacDonald, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Paloma Herrera, Argentinian ballerina Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Karrie Webb, Australian golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Irakli Alasania, Georgian colonel and politician, Georgian Minister of Defense Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, Indian journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Matthieu Chedid, French singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Julie Delpy, French model, actress, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Mihails Zemļinskis, Latvian footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Terry Mills, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgian lawyer and politician, 3rd President of Georgia Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — William Ruto, Kenyan politician, Deputy President of Kenya Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Kiefer Sutherland, Canadian actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Andy Dick, American comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Anke Engelke, Canadian-German actress, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Joe Kocur, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Kunihiko Ikuhara, Japanese director and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Govinda, Indian actor, singer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Ryuji Sasai, Japanese bass player and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Sherry Rehman, Pakistani journalist, politician, and diplomat, 25th Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Florence Griffith Joyner, American sprinter and actress (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Tamara Bykova, Russian high jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Ray Romano, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Dave Laut, American shot putter (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Jane Kaczmarek, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Kazuyuki Sekiguchi, Japanese singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Chris Evert, American tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — András Schiff, Hungarian-English pianist and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Betty Wright, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Joaquín Andújar, Dominican baseball player (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Steve Furniss, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Steve Perryman, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Jeffrey Katzenberg, American screenwriter and producer, co-founded DreamWorks Animation Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Lillebjørn Nilsen, Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Max Maven, American magician and mentalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Thomas Sankara, Burkinabé captain and politician, 5th President of Burkina Faso (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Nikolaos Sifounakis, Greek lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Barry Gordon, American actor and voice artist; longest-serving president of the Screen Actors Guild (1988-95) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Samuel L. Jackson, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Dave Kingman, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Paco de Lucía, Spanish guitarist, songwriter, and producer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Roy Karch, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Carl Wilson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Doug Walters, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Michael Tilson Thomas, American pianist, composer, and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Zheng Xiaoyu, Chinese diplomat (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Albert Lee, English guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Walter Spanghero, French rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Hu Jintao, Chinese engineer and politician, 6th President of China Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Frank Zappa, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Lloyd Axworthy, Canadian academic and politician, 2nd Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Wafic Saïd, Syrian-Saudi Arabian financier, businessman and philanthropist Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Jane Fonda, American actress, producer, and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — John G. Avildsen, American director, producer, and cinematographer (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Lorenzo Bandini, Italian race car driver (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Phil Donahue, American talk show host and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Edward Schreyer, Canadian academic and politician, 22nd Governor General of Canada Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Giuseppina Leone, Italian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Hanif Mohammad, Pakistani cricketer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Jackie Hendriks, Jamaican cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Robert Worcester, American businessman and academic, founded MORI Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — U. R. Ananthamurthy, Indian author, poet, and critic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Edward Hoagland, American author and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Arnošt Lustig, Czech author and playwright (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Joe Paterno, American football player and coach (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Itubwa Amram, Nauruan pastor and politician (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Paul Winchell, American actor, voice artist, and ventriloquist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Cécile DeWitt-Morette, French mathematician and physicist (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Alicia Alonso, Cuban ballerina and choreographer, founded the Cuban National Ballet Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Adele Goldstine, American computer programmer (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Donald Regan, American colonel and politician, 11th White House Chief of Staff (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Kurt Waldheim, Austrian colonel, war criminal, and politician; 9th President of Austria (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Heinrich Böll, German novelist and short story writer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Werner von Trapp, Austrian-American singer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Frank Fenner, Australian microbiologist and virologist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Arnold Friberg, American illustrator and painter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Josh Gibson, American baseball player (d. 1947) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Seichō Matsumoto, Japanese journalist and author (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Anthony Powell, English author (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Käte Fenchel, German mathematician (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Luis Arturo González López Guatemalan supreme court judge and briefly acting president (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Konstantin Rokossovsky, Marshal of the Soviet Union during World War II (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Walter Hagen, American golfer (d. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Rebecca West, English journalist and author (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — John William McCormack, American lawyer and politician, 53rd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Hermann Joseph Muller, American geneticist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — Sewall Wright, American geneticist and biologist (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Jean Bouin, French runner and rugby player (d. 1914) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Frank Patrick, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (d. 1960) Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — Jan Łukasiewicz, Polish-Irish mathematician and philosopher (d. 1956) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Jaan Sarv, Estonian mathematician and scholar (d. 1954) Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — Jack Lang, Australian lawyer and politician, 23rd Premier of New South Wales (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1872 — Trevor Kincaid, Canadian-American zoologist and academic (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1872 — Lorenzo Perosi, Italian priest and composer (d. 1956) Wikipedia ↗
• 1872 — Albert Payson Terhune, American journalist and author (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
• 1868 — George W. Fuller, American chemist and engineer (d. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 1866 — Maud Gonne, Irish nationalist and political activist (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
• 1859 — Gustave Kahn, French poet and critic (d. 1936) Wikipedia ↗
• 1851 — Thomas Chipman McRae, American lawyer and politician, 26th Governor of Arkansas (d. 1929) Wikipedia ↗
• 1850 — Zdeněk Fibich, Czech composer and poet (d. 1900) Wikipedia ↗
• 1843 — Thomas Bracken, Irish-New Zealand journalist, poet, and politician (d. 1898) Wikipedia ↗
• 1840 — Namık Kemal, Turkish journalist, playwright, and activist (d. 1888) Wikipedia ↗
• 1832 — John H. Ketcham, American general and politician (d. 1906) Wikipedia ↗
• 1830 — Bartolomé Masó, Cuban soldier and politician (d. 1907) Wikipedia ↗
• 1820 — William H. Osborn, American businessman (d. 1894) Wikipedia ↗
• 1815 — Thomas Couture, French painter and educator (d. 1879) Wikipedia ↗
• 1811 — Archibald Tait, Scottish-English archbishop (d. 1882) Wikipedia ↗
• 1805 — Thomas Graham, Scottish chemist and academic (d. 1869) Wikipedia ↗
• 1804 — Benjamin Disraeli, English lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 1881) Wikipedia ↗
• 1803 — Achille Vianelli, Italian painter and academic (d. 1894) Wikipedia ↗
• 1795 — Jack Russell, English priest, hunter, and dog breeder (d. 1883) Wikipedia ↗
• 1795 — Leopold von Ranke, German historian, author, and academic (d. 1886) Wikipedia ↗
• 1778 — Anders Sandøe Ørsted, Danish jurist and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Denmark (d. 1860) Wikipedia ↗
• 1728 — Hermann Raupach, German harpsichord player and composer (d. 1778) Wikipedia ↗
• 1714 — John Bradstreet, Canadian-English general (d. 1774) Wikipedia ↗
• 1672 — Benjamin Schmolck, German pastor and composer (d. 1737) Wikipedia ↗
• 1615 — Benedict Arnold, Rhode Island colonial governor (d. 1678) Wikipedia ↗
• 1603 — Roger Williams, English minister, theologian, and politician, 9th President of the Colony of Rhode Island (d. 1684) Wikipedia ↗
• 1596 — Peter Mogila, Romanian-Ukrainian metropolitan and saint (d. 1646) Wikipedia ↗
• 1550 — Man Singh I, Mughal noble (d. 1614) Wikipedia ↗
• 1542 — Thomas Allen, English mathematician and astrologer (d. 1632) Wikipedia ↗
• 1538 — Luigi d'Este, Catholic cardinal (d. 1586) Wikipedia ↗
• 1505 — Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, English politician (d. 1550) Wikipedia ↗
• 1468 — William Conyers, 1st Baron Conyers, English baron (d. 1524) Wikipedia ↗
• 1401 — Masaccio, Italian painter (d. 1428) Wikipedia ↗
• 968 — Minamoto no Yorinobu, Japanese samurai (d. 1048) Wikipedia ↗

🕯️ Notable Deaths on December 21

• 2014 — Udo Jürgens, Austrian-Swiss singer-songwriter and pianist (b. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 2014 — Sitor Situmorang, Indonesian poet and author (b. 1923) Wikipedia ↗
• 2014 — Billie Whitelaw, English actress (b. 1932) Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — Edgar Bronfman, Sr., Canadian-American businessman and philanthropist (b. 1929) Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — John Eisenhower, American historian, general, and diplomat, 45th United States Ambassador to Belgium (b. 1922) Wikipedia ↗
• 2010 — Enzo Bearzot, Italian footballer and manager (b. 1927) Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — Edwin G. Krebs, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1918) Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — Christos Lambrakis, Greek journalist and businessman (b. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmen engineer and politician, 1st President of Turkmenistan (b. 1940) Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Autar Singh Paintal, Indian physiologist and neurologist (b. 1925) Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Ernst-Günther Schenck, German colonel and physician (b. 1904) Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Stella Adler, American actress and educator (b. 1901) Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Albert King, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (b. 1924) Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Nathan Milstein, Russian-American violinist and composer (b. 1903) Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Nikolaas Tinbergen, Dutch-English ethologist and ornithologist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1907) Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Paul de Man, Belgian-born philosopher, literary critic and theorist (b. 1919) Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Abu Al-Asar Hafeez Jullundhri, Pakistani poet and composer (b. 1900) Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Richard Long, American actor and director (b. 1927) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Vittorio Pozzo, Italian footballer, coach, and manager (b. 1886) Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Claude Champagne, Canadian violinist, pianist, and composer (b. 1891) Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Carl Van Vechten, American author and photographer (b. 1880) Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Jack Hobbs, English cricketer and journalist (b. 1882) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 21 (Calendar.cx)