On This Day — February 21

🕰️ Notable Events on February 21

• 2013 — At least 17 people are killed and 119 injured following several bombings in the Indian city of Hyderabad. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Steve Fossett lands in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada becoming the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Watergate scandal: Former United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are sentenced to prison. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — The last Israeli soldiers leave the west bank of the Suez Canal pursuant to a truce with Egypt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Over the Sinai Desert, Israeli fighter aircraft shoot down Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 jet killing 108 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — United States President Richard Nixon visits the People's Republic of China to normalize Sino-American relations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — The Soviet unmanned spaceship Luna 20 lands on the Moon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — The Convention on Psychotropic Substances is signed at Vienna. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Malcolm X is assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — The CND symbol, aka peace symbol, commissioned by the Direct Action Committee in protest against the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, is designed and completed by Gerald Holtom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — The British government, under Winston Churchill, abolishes identity cards in the UK to "set the people free". Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — The Bengali Language Movement protests occur at the University of Dhaka in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — NASCAR is incorporated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — In New York City, Edwin Land demonstrates the first "instant camera", the Polaroid Land Camera, to a meeting of the Optical Society of America. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: During the Battle of Iwo Jima, Japanese kamikaze planes sink the escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea and damage the USS Saratoga. Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — The League of Nations bans foreign national "volunteers" in the Spanish Civil War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — The New Yorker publishes its first issue. Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Constituent Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Georgia adopts the country's first constitution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Rezā Shāh takes control of Tehran during a successful coup Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — German socialist Kurt Eisner is assassinated. His death results in the establishment of the Bavarian Soviet Republic and parliament and government fleeing Munich, Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — The last Carolina parakeet dies in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo. Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — World War I: In France, the Battle of Verdun begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Ioannina is incorporated into the Greek state after the Balkan Wars. Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — An Englishman raised in Australia, Bob Fitzsimmons, fought an Irishman, Peter Maher, in an American promoted event which technically took place in Mexico, winning the 1896 World Heavyweight Championship in boxing. Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — The newly completed Washington Monument is dedicated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — The first telephone directory is issued in New Haven, Connecticut. Wikipedia ↗
• 1874 — The Oakland Daily Tribune publishes its first edition. Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — American Civil War: Battle of Valverde is fought near Fort Craig in New Mexico Territory. Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish The Communist Manifesto. Wikipedia ↗
• 1842 — John Greenough is granted the first U.S. patent for the sewing machine. Wikipedia ↗
• 1828 — Initial issue of the Cherokee Phoenix is the first periodical to use the Cherokee syllabary invented by Sequoyah. Wikipedia ↗
• 1808 — Without a previous declaration of war, Russian troops cross the border to Sweden at Abborfors in eastern Finland, thus beginning the Finnish War, in which Sweden will lose the eastern half of the country (i.e. Finland) to Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1804 — The first self-propelling steam locomotive makes its outing at the Pen-y-Darren Ironworks in Wales. Wikipedia ↗
• 1797 — A force of 1,400 French soldiers invaded Britain at Fishguard in support of the Society of United Irishmen. They were defeated by 500 British reservists. Wikipedia ↗
• 1613 — Mikhail I is unanimously elected Tsar by a national assembly, beginning the Romanov dynasty of Imperial Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1543 — Battle of Wayna Daga - A combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeats a Muslim army led by Ahmed Gragn. Wikipedia ↗
• 1440 — The Prussian Confederation is formed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1437 — James I of Scotland is assassinated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1245 — Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland, is granted resignation after confessing to torture and forgery. Wikipedia ↗
• 362 — Athanasius returns to Alexandria. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on February 21

• 1996 — Sophie Turner, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Tang Haochen, Chinese tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Charalampos Mavrias, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Steve Leo Beleck, Cameroonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Davy Klaassen, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Riyad Mahrez, Algerian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Ji So-yun, South Korean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Devon Travis, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Mattias Tedenby, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Ellen Page, Canadian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Charlotte Church, Welsh singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Georgios Samaras, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jamaal Westerman, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Andrew Ellis, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — David Odonkor, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Marco Paoloni, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — James Wisniewski, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Braylon Edwards, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Franklin Gutiérrez, Venezuelan baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Mélanie Laurent, French actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Andre Barrett, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Chantal Claret, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Brad Fast, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Tiziano Ferro, Italian singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 5th King of Bhutan Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Justin Roiland, American animator, writer and voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Pascal Chimbonda, Guadeloupean-French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Shane Gibson, American guitarist (stOrk and Jonathan Davis and the SFA) (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Carly Colón, Puerto Rican professional wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jordan Peele, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Kumail Nanjiani, Pakistani-American stand-up comedian, actor, writer and podcast host Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Owen King, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Kevin Rose, American businessman and television host, founded Digg Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Jonathan Safran Foer, American novelist Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Steve Francis, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Ryan Smyth, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Michael McIntyre, English comedian, actor and television presenter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Scott Miller, Australian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Iván Campo, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Roberto Heras, Spanish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Heri Joensen, Faroese singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Brian Rolston, American ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Seo Taiji, South Korean singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Pierre Fulke, Swedish golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Michael Slater, Australian cricketer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Eric Wilson, American bass player and drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — James Dean Bradfield, Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist (Manic Street Preachers) Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Aunjanue Ellis, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Tony Meola, American soccer player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Cathy Richardson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Leroy Burrell, American runner and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Sari Essayah, Finnish athlete and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Mark Ferguson, Australian journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mark Kelly, American captain, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Scott Kelly, American captain, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — William Baldwin, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Ranking Roger, English singer-songwriter and musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Greg Turner, New Zealand golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Chuck Palahniuk, American novelist and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — David Foster Wallace, American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Christopher Atkins, American actor and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Plamen Oresharski, Bulgarian economist and politician, 52nd Prime Minister of Bulgaria Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Steve Wynn, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — José María Cano, Spanish singer-songwriter and painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Jake Burns, Northern Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Mary Chapin Carpenter, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Kim Coates, Canadian actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Alan Trammell, American baseball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Kelsey Grammer, American actor, singer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Christina Rees, British politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Christine Ebersole, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — William Petersen, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Jean-Jacques Burnel, English bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Vitaly Churkin, Russian diplomat, former Ambassador of Russia to the United Nations (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Vince Welnick, American keyboard player (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Frank Brunner, American illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Larry Drake, American actor (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Jerry Harrison, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Ronnie Hellström, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Bill Slayback, American baseball player and singer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Johnny Echols, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Olympia Snowe, American politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Tyne Daly, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Anthony Daniels, English actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Alan Rickman, English actor and director (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Bob Ryan, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Maurice Bembridge, English golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — David Geffen, American businessman, co-founded DreamWorks and Geffen Records Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Tony Martin, Trinidadian-American historian and academic (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Margarethe von Trotta, German actress, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Peter Gethin, English race car driver (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — John Lewis, American activist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Bobby Charles, American singer-songwriter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Kel Tremain, New Zealand rugby player (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Ron Clarke, Australian runner and politician, Mayor of the Gold Coast (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Harald V of Norway Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Barbara Jordan, American lawyer and politician (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Richard A. Lupoff, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Rue McClanahan, American actress (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Nina Simone, American singer-songwriter and pianist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Chespirito, Mexican actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Erma Bombeck, American journalist and author (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Hubert de Givenchy, French fashion designer, founded Givenchy Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Sam Peckinpah, American director and screenwriter (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Jack Ramsay, American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Thelma Estrin, American computer scientist and engineer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean educator and politician, 2nd President of Zimbabwe Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Dorothy Blum, American computer scientist and cryptanalyst (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — John Rawls, American philosopher and academic (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Richard T. Whitcomb, American aeronautical engineer (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Lucille Bremer, American actress and dancer (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Tadd Dameron, American pianist and composer (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Claudia Jones, Trinidad-British journalist and activist (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Ann Sheridan, American actress (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Anton Vratuša, Prime Minister of Slovenia (1978-1980) (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Ilmari Juutilainen, Finnish soldier and pilot (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Zachary Scott, American actor (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Jean Tatlock, American psychiatrist and physician (d. 1944) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Arline Judge, American actress and singer (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Douglas Bader, English captain and pilot (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Hans Erni, Swiss painter, sculptor, and illustrator (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — W. H. Auden, English-American poet, playwright, and composer (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Anaïs Nin, French-American essayist and memoirist (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Raymond Queneau, French poet and author (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Arthur Nock, English theologian and academic (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Jeanne Aubert, French singer and actress (d. 1988) [1] Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Nirala, Indian poet and author (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Henrik Dam, Danish biochemist and physiologist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1894 — Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar, Indian chemist and academic (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Celia Lovsky, Austrian-American actress (d. 1979) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Andrés Segovia, Spanish guitarist (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Harry Stack Sullivan, American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst (d. 1949) Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Clemence Dane, English author and playwright (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — Korechika Anami, Japanese general and politician, 54th Japanese Minister of War (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Sacha Guitry, Russian-French actor, director, and playwright (d. 1957) Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — Mirra Alfassa, French-Indian spiritual leader (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1875 — Jeanne Calment, French super-centenarian (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1867 — Otto Hermann Kahn, German banker and philanthropist (d. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — John Haden Badley, English author and educator, founded the Bedales School (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — Goscombe John, Welsh-English sculptor and academic (d. 1952) Wikipedia ↗
• 1844 — Charles-Marie Widor, French organist and composer (d. 1937) Wikipedia ↗
• 1840 — Murad V, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (d.1904.) Wikipedia ↗
• 1836 — Léo Delibes, French pianist and composer (d. 1891) Wikipedia ↗
• 1821 — Charles Scribner I, American publisher, founded Charles Scribner's Sons (d. 1871) Wikipedia ↗
• 1817 — José Zorrilla, Spanish poet and playwright (d. 1893) Wikipedia ↗
• 1801 — John Henry Newman, English cardinal (d. 1890) Wikipedia ↗
• 1794 — Antonio López de Santa Anna, Mexican general and politician, 8th President of Mexico (d. 1876) Wikipedia ↗
• 1791 — Carl Czerny, Austrian pianist and composer (d. 1857) Wikipedia ↗
• 1788 — Francis Ronalds, British scientist, inventor and engineer (d. 1873) Wikipedia ↗
• 1783 — Catharina of Württemberg (d. 1835) Wikipedia ↗
• 1728 — Peter III of Russia (d. 1762) Wikipedia ↗
• 1705 — Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, English admiral and politician (d. 1781) Wikipedia ↗
• 1621 — Rebecca Nurse, Massachusetts colonist, executed as a witch (d. 1692) Wikipedia ↗
• 1609 — Raimondo Montecuccoli, Italian military commander (d. 1680) Wikipedia ↗
• 1559 — Nurhaci, Chinese emperor (d. 1626) Wikipedia ↗
• 1556 — Sethus Calvisius, German astronomer, composer, and theorist (d. 1615) Wikipedia ↗
• 1541 — Philipp V, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg (d. 1599) Wikipedia ↗
• 1498 — Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland, English Earl (d. 1549) Wikipedia ↗
• 1484 — Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg (d. 1535) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on February 21 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on February 21

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: International Mother Language Day (BD) · শহীদ দিবস ও আন্তর্জাতিক মাতৃভাষা দিবস (BD)