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
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)

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)

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