On This Day — June 21

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

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43 events · 267 births · 105 deaths recorded for June 21.

🕰️ Notable Events on June 21

2012 — A boat carrying more than 200 refugees capsized in the Indian Ocean between the Indonesian island of Java and Christmas Island, killing 17 people and leaving 70 others missing. Wikipedia ↗
2009 — Greenland assumes self-rule. Wikipedia ↗
2006 — Pluto's newly discovered moons are officially named Nix and Hydra. Wikipedia ↗
2005 — Edgar Ray Killen, who had previously been acquitted for the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner, is convicted of manslaughter 41 years afterwards (the case had been reopened in 2004). Wikipedia ↗
2004 — SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight. Wikipedia ↗
2001 — A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicts 13 Saudis and a Lebanese in the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 American servicemen. Wikipedia ↗
2000 — Section 28 (of the Local Government Act 1988), outlawing the 'promotion' of homosexuality in the United Kingdom, is repealed in Scotland with a 99 to 17 vote. Wikipedia ↗
1989 — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson that American flag-burning was a form of political protest protected by the First Amendment. Wikipedia ↗
1982 — John Hinckley is found not guilty by reason of insanity for the attempted assassination of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Wikipedia ↗
1973 — In handing down the decision in Miller v. California 413 US 15, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller test for obscenity in U.S. law. Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Penn Central declares Section 77 bankruptcy, largest ever US corporate bankruptcy up to this date. Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Three civil rights workers, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Mickey Schwerner, are murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States, by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini is elected as Pope Paul VI. Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Ellen Fairclough is sworn in as Canada's first female Cabinet Minister. Wikipedia ↗
1952 — The Philippine School of Commerce, through a republic act, is converted to Philippine College of Commerce, later to be the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: The Battle of Okinawa ends when the organized resistance of Imperial Japanese Army forces collapses in the Mabuni area on the southern tip of the main island. Wikipedia ↗
1942 — World War II: Tobruk falls to Italian and German forces. Wikipedia ↗
1942 — World War II: A Japanese submarine surfaces near the Columbia River in Oregon, firing 17 shells at nearby Fort Stevens in one of only a handful of attacks by Japan against the United States mainland. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — The first successful west-to-east navigation of Northwest Passage begins at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Wikipedia ↗
1930 — One-year conscription comes into force in France. Wikipedia ↗
1929 — An agreement brokered by U.S. Ambassador Dwight Whitney Morrow ends the Cristero War in Mexico. Wikipedia ↗
1919 — The Royal Canadian Mounted Police fire a volley into a crowd of unemployed war veterans, killing two, during the Winnipeg general strike. Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttles the German fleet in Scapa Flow, Orkney. The nine sailors killed are the last casualties of World War I. Wikipedia ↗
1915 — The U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision in Guinn v. United States 238 US 347 1915, striking down Oklahoma grandfather clause legislation which had the effect of denying the right to vote to blacks. Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Boxer Rebellion. China formally declares war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan, as an edict issued from the Empress Dowager Cixi. Wikipedia ↗
1898 — The United States captures Guam from Spain. Wikipedia ↗
1864 — American Civil War: The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road begins. Wikipedia ↗
1854 — The first Victoria Cross is awarded during the bombardment of Bomarsund in the Åland Islands. Wikipedia ↗
1848 — In the Wallachian Revolution, Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issue the Proclamation of Islaz and create a new republican government. Wikipedia ↗
1826 — Maniots defeat Egyptians under Ibrahim Pasha in the Battle of Vergas. Wikipedia ↗
1824 — Greek War of Independence: Egyptian forces capture Psara in the Aegean Sea. Wikipedia ↗
1813 — Peninsular War: Wellington defeats Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria. Wikipedia ↗
1798 — Irish Rebellion of 1798: The British Army defeats Irish rebels at the Battle of Vinegar Hill. Wikipedia ↗
1791 — King Louis XVI of France and his immediate family begin the Flight to Varennes during the French Revolution. Wikipedia ↗
1788 — New Hampshire ratifies the Constitution of the United States and is admitted as the ninth state in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
1768 — James Otis, Jr. offends the King and Parliament in a speech to the Massachusetts General Court. Wikipedia ↗
1749 — Halifax, Nova Scotia, is founded. Wikipedia ↗
1734 — In Montreal in New France, a slave known by the French name of Marie-Joseph Angélique is put to death, having been convicted of setting the fire that destroyed much of the city. Wikipedia ↗
1621 — Execution of 27 Czech noblemen on the Old Town Square in Prague as a consequence of the Battle of White Mountain. Wikipedia ↗
1582 — Sengoku period: Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful of the Japanese daimyōs, was forced to commit suicide by his own general Akechi Mitsuhide. Wikipedia ↗
1529 — French forces are driven out of northern Italy by Spain at the Battle of Landriano during the War of the League of Cognac. Wikipedia ↗
1307 — Külüg Khan is enthroned as Khagan of the Mongols and Wuzong of the Yuan. Wikipedia ↗
533 — A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarius sails from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on June 21

1997 — Rebecca Black, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1997 — Derrius Guice, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Başak Eraydın, Turkish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Gaël Kakuta, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Ričardas Berankis, Lithuanian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Håvard Nordtveit, Norwegian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Abubaker Kaki, Sudanese runner Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Allyssa DeHaan, American basketball and volleyball player Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Paolo Tornaghi, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Thaddeus Young, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Pablo Barrera, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Sebastian Prödl, Austrian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Dale Thomas, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy, Australian wheelchair basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Hideaki Wakui, Japanese baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Kris Allen, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Lana Del Rey, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Sentayehu Ejigu, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Byron Schammer, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Franck Perera, French race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Edward Snowden, American activist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Lee Dae-ho, South Korean baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Yann Danis, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Garrett Jones, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Brandon Flowers, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Brad Walker, American pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Michael Crocker, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Łukasz Cyborowski, Polish chess player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — David Giuntoli, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Richard Jefferson, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Sendy Rleal, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Kostas Katsouranis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Chris Pratt, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Matt Kuchar, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Cristiano Lupatelli, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Dejan Ognjanović, Montenegrin footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Erica Durance, Canadian Actress Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Michael Gomez, Irish boxer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Al Wilson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Shelley Craft, Australian television host Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Mike Einziger, American guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Nigel Lappin, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Brian Simmons, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Rob Kelly, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Craig Lowndes, Australian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Flavio Roma, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Juliette Lewis, American actress and singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1973 — John Mitchell, English guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Nobuharu Asahara, Japanese sprinter and long jumper Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Neil Doak, Northern Irish cricketer and rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Irene van Dyk, South African-New Zealand netball player Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Tyronne Drakeford, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Eric Reed, American pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Sonique, English singer-songwriter and DJ Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Jim Breuer, American comedian, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Derrick Coleman, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Pierre Omidyar, French-American businessman, founded eBay Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Carrie Preston, American actress, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Yingluck Shinawatra, Thai businesswoman and politician, 28th Prime Minister of Thailand Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Gretchen Carlson, American model and television journalist, Miss America 1989 Wikipedia ↗
1965 — David Beerling, English biologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Yang Liwei, Chinese general, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Ewen McKenzie, Australian rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Lana Wachowski, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1964 — David Morrissey, English actor and director Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Dimitris Papaioannou, Greek director and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Dean Saunders, Welsh footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Doug Savant, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Dario Marianelli, Italian pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Mike Sherrard, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Viktor Tsoi, Russian singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Manu Chao, French singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Sascha Konietzko, German keyboard player and producer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Joko Widodo, Indonesian businessman and politician, 7th President of Indonesia Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Kip Winger, American rock singer-songwriter and musician Wikipedia ↗
1959 — John Baron, English captain and politician Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Tom Chambers, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Marcella Detroit, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Kathy Mattea, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Víctor Montoya, Bolivian journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Gennady Padalka, Russian colonel, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Berkeley Breathed, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Luis Antonio Tagle, Filipino cardinal Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Tim Bray, Canadian software developer and businessman Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Michel Platini, French footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Mar Gudmundsson, Icelandic economist Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Mark Kimmitt, American general and politician, 16th Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Robert Menasse, Austrian author and academic Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Benazir Bhutto, Pakistani financier and politician, 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Judith Bingham, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Jeremy Coney, New Zealand cricketer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Patrick Dunleavy, English political scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Kōichi Mashimo, Japanese director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Jim Douglas, American academic and politician, 80th Governor of Vermont Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Terence Etherton, English lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Alan Hudson, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Nils Lofgren, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Lenore Manderson, Australian anthropologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Mona-Lisa Pursiainen, Finnish sprinter (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Anne Carson, Canadian poet and academic Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Joey Kramer, American rock drummer and songwriter (Aerosmith) Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Enn Reitel, Scottish actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Trygve Thue, Norwegian guitarist and record producer Wikipedia ↗
1950 — John Paul Young, Scottish-Australian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1949 — John Agard, Guyanese-English author, poet, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Derek Emslie, Lord Kingarth, Scottish lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Jovan Aćimović, Serbian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Andrzej Sapkowski, Polish author and translator Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Philippe Sarde, French composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Meredith Baxter, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Shirin Ebadi, Iranian lawyer, judge, and activist, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Michael Gross, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Joey Molland, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Wade Phillips, American football coach Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Fernando Savater, Spanish philosopher and author Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Brenda Holloway, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Trond Kirkvaag, Norwegian actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Malcolm Rifkind, Scottish lawyer and politician, Secretary of State for Scotland Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Maurice Saatchi, Baron Saatchi, Iraqi-British businessman, founded M&C Saatchi and Saatchi & Saatchi Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Per Eklund, Swedish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Kate Hoey, Northern Irish-British academic and politician, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Robert Dewar, English-American computer scientist and academic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Adam Zagajewski, Polish author and poet Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Ray Davies, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Tony Scott, English-American director and producer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Eumir Deodato, Brazilian pianist, composer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Diane Marleau, Canadian accountant and politician, Canadian Minister of Health (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Brian Sternberg, American pole vaulter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Clive Brooke, Baron Brooke of Alverthorpe, English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Marjorie Margolies, American journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Henry S. Taylor, American author and poet Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Togo D. West, Jr., American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 3rd United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Indian bishop Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Joe Flaherty, American-Canadian actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Lyman Ward, Canadian actor Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Mariette Hartley, American actress and television personality Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Michael Ruse, Canadian philosopher and academic Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Don Black, English songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1938 — John W. Dower, American historian and author Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Michael M. Richter, German mathematician and computer scientist Wikipedia ↗
1937 — John Edrich, English cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Françoise Sagan, French author and playwright (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Bernie Kopell, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Bernard Ingham, English journalist and civil servant Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Lalo Schifrin, Argentinian pianist, composer, and conductor Wikipedia ↗
1932 — O.C. Smith, American R&B/jazz singer (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Zlatko Grgić, Croatian-Canadian animator, director, and screenwriter (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Margaret Heckler, American journalist, lawyer, and politician, 15th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Gerald Kaufman, English journalist and politician, Shadow Foreign Secretary (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Mike McCormack, American football player and coach (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Alexandre Lagoya, Egyptian-Greek guitarist and composer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Wolfgang Haken, German-American mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Fiorella Mari, Brazilian-Italian actress Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Margit Bara, Hungarian actress (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Carl Stokes, American lawyer, politician, and diplomat, United States Ambassador to Seychelles (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
1926 — Fred Cone, American football player Wikipedia ↗