On This Day — July 21

🕰️ Notable Events on July 21

• 2012 — Erden Eruç completes the first solo human-powered circumnavigation of the world. Wikipedia ↗
• 2011 — NASA's Space Shuttle program ends with the landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-135 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Ram Baran Yadav is declared the first president of Nepal. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — July 2005 London bombings occur. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — At the conclusion of a fireworks display on Okura Beach in Akashi, Hyōgo, Japan, 11 people are killed and more than 120 are injured when a pedestrian footbridge connecting the beach to JR Asagiri Station becomes overcrowded and people leaving the event fall down in a domino effect. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: The People's Liberation Army begins firing missiles into the waters north of Taiwan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — The world's lowest temperature in an inhabited location is recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica at −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F). Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — The start of the four-day-long Libyan-Egyptian War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Christopher Ewart-Biggs, the British ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, is assassinated by the Provisional IRA. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — In Lillehammer, Norway, Mossad agents kill a waiter whom they mistakenly thought was involved in the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — The Troubles: Bloody Friday: The Provisional IRA detonate 22 bombs in central Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom in the space of 80 minutes, killing nine and injuring 130. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — After 11 years of construction, the Aswan High Dam in Egypt is completed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — At 02:56 UTC, astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the Moon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Mercury program: Mercury-Redstone 4 Mission: Gus Grissom piloting Liberty Bell 7 becomes the second American to go into space (in a suborbital mission). Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Sirimavo Bandaranaike is elected Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, becoming the world's first female head of government Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered cargo-passenger ship, is launched as a showcase for Dwight D. Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" initiative. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green becomes the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last team to integrate. He came in as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz and stayed in as shortstop in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — First Indochina War: The Geneva Conference partitions Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — The 7.3-Mw Kern County earthquake strikes Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing 12 and injuring hundreds. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — The United States Senate ratifies the North Atlantic Treaty. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Battle of Guam: American troops land on Guam, starting a battle that will end on August 10. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Claus von Stauffenberg and fellow conspirators are tortured and executed in Berlin, Germany, for the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — The dirigible Wingfoot Air Express crashes into the Illinois Trust and Savings Building in Chicago, killing 12 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — The passenger steamer SS Columbia sinks after colliding with the steam schooner San Pedro off Shelter Cove, California, killing 88 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Louis Rigolly, a Frenchman, becomes the first man to break the 100 mph (161 km/h) barrier on land. He drove a 15-liter Gobron-Brillié in Ostend, Belgium. Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — After rioting by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad workers and the deaths of nine rail workers at the hands of the Maryland militia, workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stage a sympathy strike that is met with an assault by the state militia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1873 — At Adair, Iowa, Jesse James and the James-Younger Gang pull off the first successful train robbery in the American Old West. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — In the market square of Springfield, Missouri, Wild Bill Hickok shoots and kills Davis Tutt in what is regarded as the first western showdown. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run: At Manassas Junction, Virginia, the first major battle of the war begins and ends in a victory for the Confederate army. Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — Inauguration of Leopold I of Belgium, first king of the Belgians. Wikipedia ↗
• 1775 — Battle of Brewster Isand : Patriot minutemen in whaleboats, commanded by Major Joseph Vose, raid Nantasket Point, also known as Little Brewster Island, in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts.
• 1774 — Russo-Turkish War (1768-74): Russia and the Ottoman Empire sign the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca ending the war. Wikipedia ↗
• 1718 — The Treaty of Passarowitz between the Ottoman Empire, Austria and the Republic of Venice is signed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1656 — The Raid on Málaga takes place during the Anglo-Spanish War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1645 — Qing dynasty regent Dorgon issues an edict ordering all Han Chinese men to shave their forehead and braid the rest of their hair into a queue identical to those of the Manchus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1568 — Eighty Years' War: Battle of Jemmingen: Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva defeats Louis of Nassau. Wikipedia ↗
• 1545 — The first landing of French troops on the coast of the Isle of Wight during the French invasion of the Isle of Wight. Wikipedia ↗
• 1403 — Battle of Shrewsbury: King Henry IV of England defeats rebels to the north of the county town of Shropshire, England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1242 — Battle of Taillebourg: Louis IX of France puts an end to the revolt of his vassals Henry III of England and Hugh X of Lusignan. Wikipedia ↗
• 905 — King Berengar I of Italy and a hired Hungarian army defeats the Frankish forces at Verona. King Louis III is captured and blinded for breaking his oath (see 902).[1] Wikipedia ↗
• 365 — The 365 Crete earthquake affects the Greek island of Crete with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), causing a destructive tsunami that affects the coasts of Libya and Egypt, especially Alexandria. Many thousands were killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 285 — Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar and co-ruler. Wikipedia ↗
• 230 — Pope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. Wikipedia ↗
• The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is destroyed by arson. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on July 21

• 1993 — Aaron Durley, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Rachael Flatt, American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Chris Martin, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Jason Roy, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Rory Culkin, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Marco Fabián, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Chris Gunter, Welsh footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Kirill Nesterov, Russian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Juno Temple, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — KB, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — DeAndre Jordan, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Chris Mitchell, Scottish footballer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Bilel Mohsni, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Jesús Zavala, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Anthony Annan, Ghanaian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Rebecca Ferguson, American-English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Jason Thompson, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Mati Lember, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Von Wafer, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jurrick Juliana, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Liam Ridgewell, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Jason Cram, Australian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Mao Kobayashi, Japanese newscaster and actress (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Paloma Faith, English singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Anabelle Langlois, Canadian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Joaquín, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Romeo Santos, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Stefan Schumacher, German cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Sandra Laoura, French skier Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — CC Sabathia, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Yvonne Sampson, Australian journalist and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Justin Griffith, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — David Carr, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Tamika Catchings, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Luis Ernesto Michel, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Andriy Voronin, Ukrainian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Justin Bartha, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Anderson da Silva Gibin, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Josh Hartnett, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Julian Huppert, English academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Damian Marley, Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Gary Teale, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Paul Casey, English golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Jaime Murray, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Christopher Barzak, American author and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Cara Dillon, Irish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Ravindra Pushpakumara, Sri Lankan cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Mike Sellers, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Geoff Jenkins, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — René Reinumägi, Estonian actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Korey Cooper, American singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Emmanuel Bangué, French long jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Charlotte Gainsbourg, English-French actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Nitzan Shirazi, Israeli footballer and manager (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Michael Fitzpatrick, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Godfrey, American comedian and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Klaus Graf, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Emerson Hart, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Isabell Werth, German equestrian Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Brandi Chastain, American soccer player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Lyle Odelein, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Arija Bareikis, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Sarah Waters, Welsh author and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Guðni Bergsson, Icelandic footballer and lawyer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Mike Bordick, American baseball player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Steve Collins, Irish boxer and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Ross Kemp, English actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Jens Weißflog, German ski jumper and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Kevin Poole, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Giant Silva, Brazilian basketball player, mixed martial artist, and wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Victor Adebowale, Baron Adebowale, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Morris Iemma, Australian politician, 40th Premier of New South Wales Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Jim Martin, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Amar Singh Chamkila, Indian singer-songwriter (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Veselin Matić, Serbian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Fritz Walter, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Gene Miles, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Reha Muhtar, Turkish journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Paul Vautin, Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Dave Henderson, American baseball player and sportscaster (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Stefan Löfven, Swedish trade union leader and politician, 33rd Prime Minister of Sweden Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Jon Lovitz, American comedian, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Michael Connelly, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Howie Epstein, American bass player, songwriter, and producer (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Dannel Malloy, American lawyer and politician, 88th Governor of Connecticut Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Henry Priestman, English singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Taco, Indonesian-born Dutch singer and entertainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Béla Tarr, Hungarian director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Eric Bazilian, American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer (The Hooters) Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Jeff Fatt, Australian keyboard player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Bernie Fraser, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Brian Talbot, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — John Barrasso, American physician and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Richard Gozney, English politician and diplomat, 30th Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, 139th Governor of Bermuda Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Robin Williams, American actor, singer, and producer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Ubaldo Fillol, Argentinian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Susan Kramer, Baroness Kramer, English politician, Minister of State for Transport Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Christina Hart, American playwright and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Hirini Melbourne, New Zealand singer-songwriter and poet (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Art Hindle, Canadian actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Garry Trudeau, American cartoonist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Chetan Chauhan, Indian cricketer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Ken Starr, American lawyer and judge, 39th Solicitor General of the United States Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Timothy Harris, American author, screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Wendy Cope, English poet, critic, and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Geoff Dymock, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Barry Richards, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — John Atta Mills, Ghanaian lawyer and politician, 3rd President of Ghana (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Buchi Emecheta, Nigerian author and academic (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Paul Wellstone, American academic and politician (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Fritz Glatz, Austrian race car driver (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Edward Herrmann, American actor (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Henry McCullough, Northern Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Jamey Aebersold, American saxophonist and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Kim Fowley, American singer-songwriter, producer, and manager (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — John Negroponte, English-American diplomat, 23rd United States Ambassador to the United Nations Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Les Aspin, American captain and politician, 18th United States Secretary of Defense (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Anton Kuerti, Austrian-Canadian pianist, composer, and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Janet Reno, American lawyer and politician, 79th United States Attorney General (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Norbert Blüm, German businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Moe Drabowsky, Polish-American baseball player and coach (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Chandu Borde, Indian cricketer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Jonathan Miller, English actor, director, and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — John Gardner, American novelist, essayist, and critic (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Kaye Stevens, American singer and actress (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Sonny Clark, American pianist and composer (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Plas Johnson, American saxophonist Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Leon Schidlowsky, Chilean-Israeli painter and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Anand Bakshi, Indian poet and songwriter (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Helen Merrill, American singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Bob Orton, American wrestler (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Sky Low Low, Canadian wrestler (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Paul Burke, American actor (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Norman Jewison, Canadian actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Bill Pertwee, English actor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Karel Reisz, Czech-English director and producer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Johnny Peirson, Canadian Hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Rahimuddin Khan, Pakistani general and politician, 7th Governor of Balochistan Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Don Knotts, American actor and screenwriter (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Rudolph A. Marcus, Canadian-American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Queenie Watts, English actress and singer (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Kay Starr, American singer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Mollie Sugden, English actress (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — James Cooke Brown, American sociologist and author (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — John Horsley, English actor (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Constant Nieuwenhuys, Dutch painter, sculptor, and illustrator (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Isaac Stern, Polish violinist and conductor (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Alan B. Gold, Canadian lawyer and jurist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Aleksander Kreek, Estonian shot putter and discus thrower (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Marshall McLuhan, Canadian author and theorist (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Umashankar Joshi, Indian author, poet, and scholar (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Jug McSpaden, American golfer and architect (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Russell Lee, American photographer and journalist (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Roy Neuberger, American businessman and financier, co-founded Neuberger Berman (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Isadora Bennett, American theatre manager and modern dance publicity agent (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on July 21 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on July 21

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Belgian National Day (BE) · Nationale feestdag (BE)