On This Day — March 21

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

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45 events · 254 births · 106 deaths recorded for March 21.

🕰️ Notable Events on March 21

2009 — Four police officers are shot and killed and a fifth is wounded in two shootings at Oakland, California. Wikipedia ↗
2006 — The social media site Twitter is founded. Wikipedia ↗
2000 — Pope John Paul II makes his first ever pontifical visit to Israel. Wikipedia ↗
1999 — Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. Wikipedia ↗
1994 — The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change enters into force. Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Namibia becomes independent after 75 years of South African rule. Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Debi Thomas became the first African American to win the World Figure Skating Championships Wikipedia ↗
1983 — The first cases of the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic begin; Israelis and Palestinians accuse each other of poison gas, but the cause is later determined mostly to be psychosomatic. Wikipedia ↗
1980 — US President Jimmy Carter announces a United States boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Wikipedia ↗
1970 — The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by Joseph Alioto, Mayor of San Francisco. Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Battle of Karameh in Jordan between the Israel Defense Forces and the combined forces of the Jordanian Armed Forces and PLO. Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Ranger program: NASA launches Ranger 9, the last in a series of unmanned lunar space probes. Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads 3,200 people on the start of the third and finally successful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary (in California) closes. Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Apartheid: Sharpeville massacre, South Africa: Police open fire on a group of unarmed black South African demonstrators, killing 69 and wounding 180. Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Alan Freed presents the Moondog Coronation Ball, the first rock and roll concert, in Cleveland, Ohio. Wikipedia ↗
1946 — The Los Angeles Rams sign Kenny Washington, making him the first African American player in the American football since 1933. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: British troops liberate Mandalay, Burma. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: Operation Carthage: Royal Air Force planes bomb Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. They also accidentally hit a school, killing 125 civilians. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: Bulgaria and the Soviet Union successfully complete their defense of the north bank of the Drava River as the Battle of the Transdanubian Hills concludes. Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Wehrmacht officer Rudolf von Gersdorff plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler by using a suicide bomb, but the plan falls through; von Gersdorff is able to defuse the bomb in time and avoid suspicion. Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Ponce massacre: Nineteen people in Ponce, Puerto Rico are gunned down by police acting on orders of the US-appointed Governor, Blanton C. Winship. Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Shah of Iran Reza Shah Pahlavi formally asks the international community to call Persia by its native name, Iran. Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Charles Lindbergh is presented with the Medal of Honor for the first solo trans-Atlantic flight. Wikipedia ↗
1925 — The Butler Act prohibits the teaching of human evolution in Tennessee. Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Syngman Rhee is removed from office after being impeached as the President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Wikipedia ↗
1921 — The New Economic Policy is implemented by the Bolshevik Party in response to the economic failure as a result of war communism. Wikipedia ↗
1919 — The Hungarian Soviet Republic is established becoming the first Communist government to be formed in Europe after the October Revolution in Russia. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — World War I: The first phase of the German Spring Offensive, Operation Michael, begins. Wikipedia ↗
1913 — Over 360 are killed and 20,000 homes destroyed in the Great Dayton Flood in Dayton, Ohio. Wikipedia ↗
1871 — Otto von Bismarck is appointed Chancellor of the German Empire. Wikipedia ↗
1871 — Journalist Henry Morton Stanley begins his trek to find the missionary and explorer David Livingstone. Wikipedia ↗
1861 — Alexander Stephens gives the Cornerstone Speech. Wikipedia ↗
1844 — The Bahá'í calendar begins. This is the first day of the first year of the Bahá'í calendar. It is annually celebrated by members of the Bahá'í Faith as the Bahá'í New Year or Náw-Rúz. Wikipedia ↗
1814 — Napoleonic Wars: Austrian forces repel French troops in the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube. Wikipedia ↗
1804 — Code Napoléon is adopted as French civil law. Wikipedia ↗
1801 — The Battle of Alexandria is fought between British and French forces near the ruins of Nicopolis in Egypt. Wikipedia ↗
1800 — With the church leadership driven out of Rome during an armed conflict, Pius VII is crowned Pope in Venice with a temporary papal tiara made of papier-mâché. Wikipedia ↗
1788 — A fire in New Orleans leaves most of the town in ruins. Wikipedia ↗
1556 — In Oxford, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer is burned at the stake. Wikipedia ↗
1188 — Emperor Antoku accedes to the throne of Japan. Wikipedia ↗
1152 — Annulment of the marriage of King Louis VII of France and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Wikipedia ↗
717 — Battle of Vincy between Charles Martel and Ragenfrid. Wikipedia ↗
630 — Emperor Heraclius returns the True Cross, one of the holiest Christian relics, to Jerusalem. Wikipedia ↗
537 — Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the Vivarium, by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on March 21

2000 — Jace Norman, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Jake Bidwell, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Jesse Joronen, Finnish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Lehlogonolo Masalesa, South African footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Erena Mizusawa, Japanese model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Karolína Plíšková, Czech tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Luke Chapman, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Antoine Griezmann, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Mandy Capristo, German singer-songwriter and dancer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Ryann Krais, American runner and heptathlete Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Alex Nimo, Liberian-American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Jordi Alba, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Nicolás Lodeiro, Uruguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Lee Cattermole, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Kateřina Čechová, Czech sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Erik Johnson, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Eric Krüger, German sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Carlos Carrasco, Venezuelan baseball pitcher Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Michu, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Romanos Alyfantis, Greek swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou, Greek pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Ryan Callahan, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Adrian Peterson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Tiago dos Santos Roberto, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Guillermo Daniel Rodríguez, Uruguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Lucila Pascua, Spanish basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Jean Ondoa, Cameroonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Maria Elena Camerin, Italian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Ejegayehu Dibaba, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Aaron Hill, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Colin Turkington, Northern Irish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Germano Borovicz Cardoso Schweger, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Sébastien Chavanel, French cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Glenn Hall, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Jason King, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Todd Polglase, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Ronaldinho, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Marit Bjørgen, Norwegian skier Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Lee Jin, South Korean singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Deryck Whibley, Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Sally Barsosio, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Charmaine Dragun, Australian journalist (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Cristian Guzmán, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Bamboo Mañalac, Filipino singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Bruno Cirillo, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Jamie Delgado, English tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Rachael MacFarlane, American voice actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Tekin Sazlog, German-Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Yacoub Al-Mohana, Kuwaiti director and producer Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Corne Krige, South African rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Fabricio Oberto, Argentinian-Italian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Vitaly Potapenko, Ukrainian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Mark Williams, Welsh snooker player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Kevin Leahy, American drummer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Conor Woodman, Irish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Rhys Darby, New Zealand comedian and actor Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Dejima Takeharu, Japanese sumo wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Edsel Dope, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Ted Kravitz, British presenter and Formula One pit-lane reporter Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Ananda Lewis, American television host Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Stuart Nethercott, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Large Professor, American rapper and producer Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Chris Candido, American wrestler (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Balázs Kiss, Hungarian hammer thrower Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Derartu Tulu, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Graeme Welch, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Zsolt Kürtösi, Hungarian decathlete Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Shiho Niiyama, Japanese voice actress (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Cenk Uygur, Turkish-American political activist Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Jonah Goldberg, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Cameron Clyne, Australian businessman Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Andrew Copeland, American singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Greg Ellis, English actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Tolunay Kafkas, Turkish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Shin Seung-hun, South Korean singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Scott Williams, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Carwyn Jones, Welsh lawyer and politician, First Minister of Wales Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Mirela Rupic, American costume and fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Benito Archundia, Mexican footballer, referee, lawyer, and economist Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Hauke Fuhlbrügge, German runner Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Matthew Maynard, English cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Moa Matthis, Swedish author Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Xavier Bertrand, French businessman and politician, French Minister of Social Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Thomas Frank, American author, historian and political analyst Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Ieuan Evans, Welsh rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Jesper Skibby, Danish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Shawon Dunston, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Ronald Koeman, Dutch footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Shawn Lane, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Share Pedersen, American bass player Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Matthew Broderick, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Kathy Greenwood, Canadian actress and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Rosie O'Donnell, American actress, producer, and talk show host Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Mark Waid, American author Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Lothar Matthäus, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Kassie DePaiva, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Kim Turner, American hurdler Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Marwan Farhat, Syrian actor and voice actor Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Benito T. de Leon, Filipino general Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Raivo Puusepp, Estonian architect Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Ayrton Senna, Brazilian race car driver (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Robert Sweet, American drummer and producer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Sarah Jane Morris, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Yuval Rotem, Israeli diplomat Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Nobuo Uematsu, Japanese keyboard player and composer Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Marlies Göhr, German sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Brad Hall, American comedian, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Gary Oldman, English actor, filmmaker, musician and author Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Dick Beardsley, American runner Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Guy Chadwick, German-English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Richard Kirk, English guitarist, keyboard player, composer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Ingrid Kristiansen, Norwegian runner Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Fadi Abboud, Lebanese economist and politician Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Bob Bennett, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Greek politician Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Steve Furber, English computer scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Paul Martin Lester, American photographer, author, and educator Wikipedia ↗
1953 — David Wisniewski, English-American author and illustrator (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Conrad Lozano, American bass player Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Russell Thompkins Jr., American soul singer (The Stylistics) Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Roger Hodgson, English singer-songwriter and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Ron Oden, American minister and politician, 19th Mayor of Palm Springs Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Sergey Lavrov, Russian politician and diplomat, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Alvin Kallicharran, Guyanese cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Andy Love, Scottish-English politician Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Eddie Money, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Slavoj Žižek, Slovenian sociologist, philosopher, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Scott Fahlman, American computer scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Timothy Dalton, Welsh-English actor Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Ray Dorset, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (Mungo Jerry) Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, Japanese cardinal Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Anthony Grabiner, Baron Grabiner, English lawyer Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Charles Greene, American sprinter and coach Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Rose Stone, African-American R&B singer and keyboard player (Sly and the Family Stone) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Marie-Christine Barrault, French actress Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Janet Daley, American-English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Hideki Ishima, Japanese guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Mike Jackson, English general Wikipedia ↗
1944 — David Lindley, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Gaye Adegbalola, African-American singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1943 — István Gyulai, Hungarian sprinter and sportscaster (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Hartmut Haenchen, German conductor Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Vivian Stanshall, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Françoise Dorléac, French actress (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Kostas Politis, Greek basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Amina Claudine Myers, African-American singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Patcha Ramachandra Rao, India metallurgist, educator and administrator (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Solomon Burke, American singer-songwriter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Kathleen Widdoes, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Michael Foreman, English author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Grahame Thomas, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Ann Clwyd, Welsh journalist and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Tom Flores, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Pierre-Jean Rémy, French diplomat and author (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Ed Broadbent, Canadian pilot and politician Wikipedia ↗