21 April

April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 254 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about April 21st, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about April 21st in history!

Table of Contents

  1. Global Celebrations
  2. Historic Events
  3. Famous Birthdays
  4. Heartbreaking Deaths

Global Celebrations

  • British National Tea day
  • Civil service day
  • American Red Cross Giving Day
  • World Fish Migration Day
  • National Tea Day
  • World Creativity and Innovation Day
  • National Chocolate Covered Cashews Day
  • National Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
  • National Kindergarten Day
  • National High Five Day
  • Thank You Thursday

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – April 21

1992: The first exoplanets are discovered

Polish astronomer Aleksander Wolszczan announced that he found two planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12.

1967: Dictator Georgios Papadopoulos assumes power in Greece

During his six-year reign, thousands of political opponents were incarcerated and tortured.

1934: The Surgeon’s photo, allegedly showing the Loch Ness Monster, is published in the Daily Mail

In reality, the famous image depicts a toy submarine with a head and neck made of wood putty.

1918: The Red Baron is killed

Manfred von Richthofen was a legendary German fighter pilot. He earned his renown and nickname by achieving 80 air combat victories in World War I. He was shot down and killed during combat at the age of 25.

1509: Henry VIII is crowned King of England

In popular culture, the monarch is known mainly for his six marriages, two of which ended with the wife’s execution.

1968: U.S. soldiers hold on to a comrade as he plants demolition charges in a discovered Vietcong tunnel (South Vietnam, 1968)

U.S. soldiers hold on to a comrade as he plants demolition charges in a discovered Vietcong tunnel (South Vietnam, 1968)
U.S. soldiers hold on to a comrade as he plants demolition charges in a discovered Vietcong tunnel (South Vietnam, 1968)

1956: Elvis Presley’s 1st hit record, “Heartbreak Hotel”, becomes #1 in 1956

1942: Japanese soldiers celebrate the occupation of Hong Kong Anniversaries in the Hong Kong Cricket Club. (1942)

Japanese soldiers celebrating occupation of Hong Kong Anniversaries in the Hong Kong Cricket Club. (1942)
Japanese soldiers celebrating occupation of Hong Kong Anniversaries in the Hong Kong Cricket Club. (1942)

1939: King George VI riding with his daughters Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) & Princess Margaret , in Windsor Great Park – 21 April 1939.

King George VI riding with his daughters Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) & Princess Margaret , in Windsor Great Park - 21 April 1939.
King George VI riding with his daughters Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) & Princess Margaret , in Windsor Great Park – 21 April 1939.

1794: Brazilian revolutionary Tiradentes is hanged, drawn and quartered in Rio de Janeiro in 1794

1526: First Battle of Panipat: Central Asian conqueror Babur defeats Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, establishing the Mughal Empire in India in 1526

Famous Birthdays

Births On This Day, April 21

1959: Robert Smith, English singer-songwriter, guitarist

1947: Iggy Pop, American singer-songwriter, producer, actor

1926: Elizabeth II, of The United Kingdom

1864: Max Weber, German economist, sociologist

1838: John Muir, Scottish/American environmentalist, author

Elezabeth II was born

Catherine the great was born

Max Weber was born

Heartbreaking Deaths

Deaths On This Day, April 21

2016: Prince, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor

2003: Nina Simone, American singer-songwriter, pianist

1946: John Maynard Keynes, English economist

1910: Mark Twain, American author

1736: Prince Eugene of Savoy

Mark Twain died

Henry VII of England died

Shakuntala Devi died

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