365 A tsunami devastated the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria on July 21, 365 AD. The tsunami was caused by the Crete earthquake estimated to be 8.0 on the Richter scale. Five thousand people perished in Alexandria, and 45,000 more died outside the city.
1403 The Battle of Shrewsbury fought on July 21, 1403 saw the Lancastrian King, Henry IV and his forces defeat a rebel army led by Henry "Harry Hotspur" Percy from Northumberland. The future Henry V of England took part in the battle aged 15. A brilliant soldier (Shakespeare immortalized him as the “warlike Harry”), Prince Henry was injured at Shrewsbury when an arrowhead lodged in his cheekbone, which left Henry with permanent scars, evidence of his experience in battle.
1515 Italian Roman Catholic priest St Philip Neri was born on July 21, 1515. The history of the oratorio began in the mid-16th century, when St Philip Neri organized a congregation consisting of secular priests and lay brothers, who took no vows but lived communally. He introduced devotional services in his Oratory (or prayer hall) at Rome and it is from this that the term comes. The services included acting, sermons, prayers, hymn singing, and devotional music.
1663 In 1645, Hendrickje Stoffels, who had initially been Rembrandt's maidservant, moved in with him. When the pair had a daughter, Cornelia, nine years later, it brought them an official reproach from the church for "living in sin". Hendrickje admitted that she had "committed the acts of a whore with Rembrandt the painter" and was banned from receiving communion. Hendrickje Stoffel died of bubonic plague on July 21, 1663 and was buried in the Westerkerk, Amsterdam.
1773 The Society of Jesus were suppressed by Pope Clement XIV on July 21, 1773. The suppression was for political rather than theological reason, however ironically the Pope himself received his early education by Jesuits at Rimini. The Jesuits took refuge in non-Catholic nations, such as Prussia and Russia, where the order was ignored. The effect of the suppression was hurtful for the Roman church, as it shut down much mission work and many schools. In 1814 the Society was restored.
1796 Arduous farm work and undernourishment in his youth permanently injured the Scottish poet Robert Burns health. It led to the rheumatic heart disease from which he died in his Dumfries home on July 21, 1796 after the removal of a tooth. His last words were, "Don't let the awkward squad fire over me."
1831 Born into the ruling family of the small German duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Leopold married Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of the future King George IV, thus situating himself as a possible future prince consort of Great Britain. Charlotte died in 1817, although Leopold continued to enjoy considerable status in England. He was inaugurated a Leopold I, the first King of Belgium on July 21, 1831 due to his diplomatic connections with royal houses across Europe.
1853 Central Park was created on July 21, 1853 when more than 700 acres of land in Upper Manhattan were set aside as permanent park land. The actual construction and development of Central Park began later, in the late 1850s. The oldest North American zoo is in Central Park. It was founded in 1865.
1873 In around 1869, Jesse James and his brother Frank joined with Cole Younger and his brothers John, Jim and Bob, as well as other former Confederates to form what came to be known as the James-Younger Gang. The group carried out a string of robberies from Iowa to Texas, and from Kansas to West Virginia. The James-Younger Gang turned to train robbery on July 21, 1873, derailing the Rock Island locomotive in Adair, Iowa, and stealing approximately $3,000.
1897 London's Tate Gallery (now Tate Britain) was founded by Sir Henry Tate, a sugar magnate and philanthropist. It was officially opened in London by the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) on July 21, 1897. The art gallery was established to house Tate's collection of British art, and it aimed to promote the understanding and appreciation of British art both within the United Kingdom and internationally.
1899 The writer Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago to Clarence Edmonds Hemingway, a physician, and Grace Hall-Hemingway, a painter and musician. His mother dressed and raised Ernest as a girl for some of the early part of his life, calling him "Ernestine". His boyhood was spent in the wild country round the Great Lakes which gave him a love for the outdoor life.
1916 Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted by combat, was born on July 21, 1916. He saved his regiment from mustard gas attacks comforted the wounded and notified his troop of oncoming artillery. Back home, his exploits were front page news in major newspapers. After the war, Sergeant Stubby led parades across the country met three presidents and became a university mascot.
1925 The state of Tennessee outlawed evolution from being taught in public schools in January 1925. John T. Scopes, a high school biology teacher from Tennessee was convicted and fined $100 on July 21, 1925 of teaching the theory of evolution to his class, an illegal act under Tennessee law. The trial, nicknamed “The Monkey Trial”, received world-wide publicity. The Scopes Trial decision caused the subject of evolution to become very rare in American secondary biology textbooks for a generation.
1403 The Battle of Shrewsbury fought on July 21, 1403 saw the Lancastrian King, Henry IV and his forces defeat a rebel army led by Henry "Harry Hotspur" Percy from Northumberland. The future Henry V of England took part in the battle aged 15. A brilliant soldier (Shakespeare immortalized him as the “warlike Harry”), Prince Henry was injured at Shrewsbury when an arrowhead lodged in his cheekbone, which left Henry with permanent scars, evidence of his experience in battle.
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| Battle of Shrewsbury, an illustration from Pennant's 'A tour in Wales', 1781 |
1515 Italian Roman Catholic priest St Philip Neri was born on July 21, 1515. The history of the oratorio began in the mid-16th century, when St Philip Neri organized a congregation consisting of secular priests and lay brothers, who took no vows but lived communally. He introduced devotional services in his Oratory (or prayer hall) at Rome and it is from this that the term comes. The services included acting, sermons, prayers, hymn singing, and devotional music.
1663 In 1645, Hendrickje Stoffels, who had initially been Rembrandt's maidservant, moved in with him. When the pair had a daughter, Cornelia, nine years later, it brought them an official reproach from the church for "living in sin". Hendrickje admitted that she had "committed the acts of a whore with Rembrandt the painter" and was banned from receiving communion. Hendrickje Stoffel died of bubonic plague on July 21, 1663 and was buried in the Westerkerk, Amsterdam.
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| Portrait of Hendrikje Stoffels, c.1654-6, |
1773 The Society of Jesus were suppressed by Pope Clement XIV on July 21, 1773. The suppression was for political rather than theological reason, however ironically the Pope himself received his early education by Jesuits at Rimini. The Jesuits took refuge in non-Catholic nations, such as Prussia and Russia, where the order was ignored. The effect of the suppression was hurtful for the Roman church, as it shut down much mission work and many schools. In 1814 the Society was restored.
1796 Arduous farm work and undernourishment in his youth permanently injured the Scottish poet Robert Burns health. It led to the rheumatic heart disease from which he died in his Dumfries home on July 21, 1796 after the removal of a tooth. His last words were, "Don't let the awkward squad fire over me."
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| Robert Burns' death room |
1831 Born into the ruling family of the small German duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Leopold married Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of the future King George IV, thus situating himself as a possible future prince consort of Great Britain. Charlotte died in 1817, although Leopold continued to enjoy considerable status in England. He was inaugurated a Leopold I, the first King of Belgium on July 21, 1831 due to his diplomatic connections with royal houses across Europe.
1853 Central Park was created on July 21, 1853 when more than 700 acres of land in Upper Manhattan were set aside as permanent park land. The actual construction and development of Central Park began later, in the late 1850s. The oldest North American zoo is in Central Park. It was founded in 1865.
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| Gentry in Central Park c. 1870 |
1873 In around 1869, Jesse James and his brother Frank joined with Cole Younger and his brothers John, Jim and Bob, as well as other former Confederates to form what came to be known as the James-Younger Gang. The group carried out a string of robberies from Iowa to Texas, and from Kansas to West Virginia. The James-Younger Gang turned to train robbery on July 21, 1873, derailing the Rock Island locomotive in Adair, Iowa, and stealing approximately $3,000.
1897 London's Tate Gallery (now Tate Britain) was founded by Sir Henry Tate, a sugar magnate and philanthropist. It was officially opened in London by the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) on July 21, 1897. The art gallery was established to house Tate's collection of British art, and it aimed to promote the understanding and appreciation of British art both within the United Kingdom and internationally.
1899 The writer Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago to Clarence Edmonds Hemingway, a physician, and Grace Hall-Hemingway, a painter and musician. His mother dressed and raised Ernest as a girl for some of the early part of his life, calling him "Ernestine". His boyhood was spent in the wild country round the Great Lakes which gave him a love for the outdoor life.
1916 Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted by combat, was born on July 21, 1916. He saved his regiment from mustard gas attacks comforted the wounded and notified his troop of oncoming artillery. Back home, his exploits were front page news in major newspapers. After the war, Sergeant Stubby led parades across the country met three presidents and became a university mascot.
 |
| Sergeant Stubby wearing military uniform and decorations. |
1925 The state of Tennessee outlawed evolution from being taught in public schools in January 1925. John T. Scopes, a high school biology teacher from Tennessee was convicted and fined $100 on July 21, 1925 of teaching the theory of evolution to his class, an illegal act under Tennessee law. The trial, nicknamed “The Monkey Trial”, received world-wide publicity. The Scopes Trial decision caused the subject of evolution to become very rare in American secondary biology textbooks for a generation.
1931 CBS's New York City station, W2XAB, began broadcasting the first regular seven days a week television schedule in the USA on July 21, 1931. W2XAB was an experimental station, and its broadcasts were limited to a small area of New York City.
1948 Born on July 21, 1948 after his pregnant mother was captured and brought to the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company, Snooty the Manatee is believed to be the first manatee born in captivity. He died at age 69, making him the oldest manatee in captivity.
1951 The comedian and actor Robin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 21, 1951. Robin Williams was one of just 20 students accepted into Julliard School in New York City in 1973. While his comedic genius was immediately obvious, he wasn't taken seriously until his portrayal of a wheelchair-bound old man in the Tennessee Williams play The Night of the Iguana during a third-year acting class. Christopher Reeve was Williams' roommate and best friend at Juilliard.
1948 Born on July 21, 1948 after his pregnant mother was captured and brought to the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company, Snooty the Manatee is believed to be the first manatee born in captivity. He died at age 69, making him the oldest manatee in captivity.
1951 The comedian and actor Robin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 21, 1951. Robin Williams was one of just 20 students accepted into Julliard School in New York City in 1973. While his comedic genius was immediately obvious, he wasn't taken seriously until his portrayal of a wheelchair-bound old man in the Tennessee Williams play The Night of the Iguana during a third-year acting class. Christopher Reeve was Williams' roommate and best friend at Juilliard.
1959 The inaugural International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) began on July 21, 1959 in Romania. There were seven participating Countries (all Eastern European countries part of the Soviet Bloc at the time). The first IMO was a much smaller event compared to today's competition. It has since grown significantly, with over 100 countries participating annually and sending teams of up to six students
1959 NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered cargo-passenger ship, was christened on July 21, 1959 as a showcase for Dwight D. Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace initiative. The U.S. President wanted the ship to serve as an ambassador for the peaceful use of atomic power. It took another two and a half years years to complete the reactor installation and initial trials before the completed NS Savannah was launched in August 1962.
1960 Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the first woman to be elected the head of state when she became the prime minister of Sri Lanka on July 21. 1960. She served as Prime Minister for three terms, from 1960 to 1965, 1970 to 1977, and 1994 to 2000. She was also the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from 1960 to 1994
1959 NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered cargo-passenger ship, was christened on July 21, 1959 as a showcase for Dwight D. Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace initiative. The U.S. President wanted the ship to serve as an ambassador for the peaceful use of atomic power. It took another two and a half years years to complete the reactor installation and initial trials before the completed NS Savannah was launched in August 1962.
1960 Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the first woman to be elected the head of state when she became the prime minister of Sri Lanka on July 21. 1960. She served as Prime Minister for three terms, from 1960 to 1965, 1970 to 1977, and 1994 to 2000. She was also the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from 1960 to 1994
1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon on July 21, 1969. The first words spoken on the moon were said by Neil Armstrong: “That's one small step for man, a giant leap for mankind." The speech, as written by his wife, read "That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind." Unfortunately he forgot the a in the between for and man, thus changing the meaning.
1977 Hans Heyer was a German racing driver who failed to qualify for his only attempt at Formula 1 - the 1977 German Grand Prix on July 21, 1977. Though only a reserve driver, he joined the race illegally anyway by slipping out of the pits and joining the pack without the officials realizing. Heyer was only be discovered by racing officials after 10 laps when his gearbox failed, whereupon he was disqualified.
1983 Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth, with a mean annual temperature at the South Pole of -49°C/-56°F. A temperature of -89°C/-128°F was recorded in Antarctica at the Russian base Vostok (see below) on July 21, 1983. It is the lowest ever temperature in an inhabited location.
2007 The final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released on July 21, 2007.The Deathly Hallows sold more than 345,000 copies per hour after its release — earning it the world record for the fastest-selling book. J.K. Rowling told television talk show host Oprah Winfrey in October 2010 that she cried uncontrollably when she finished the last of Harry Potter books.
2011 The Space Shuttle was retired from service upon the conclusion of Atlantis's final flight on July 21, 2011. The U.S. has since relied primarily on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to transport supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station. A total of 135 Space Shuttle missions were flown from 1981 to 2011.
1983 Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth, with a mean annual temperature at the South Pole of -49°C/-56°F. A temperature of -89°C/-128°F was recorded in Antarctica at the Russian base Vostok (see below) on July 21, 1983. It is the lowest ever temperature in an inhabited location.
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| The Russian station Vostok |
1994 Tony Blair was chosen as leader of the Labour Party on July 21, 1994 following the unexpected death of John Smith from a heart attack. Blair, then the MP for Sedgefield and Shadow Home Secretary, was one of the prominent figures in the party at the time. He represented the modernizing wing of Labour, which aimed to reform the party's policies and image to make it more electable after years of Conservative dominance in UK politics.
2011 The Space Shuttle was retired from service upon the conclusion of Atlantis's final flight on July 21, 2011. The U.S. has since relied primarily on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to transport supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station. A total of 135 Space Shuttle missions were flown from 1981 to 2011.
2023 The live-action Barbie movie was released in theaters on July 21, 2023. Directed by Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), it features Margot Robbie as Barbie navigating the real world after being expelled from a picture-perfect Barbie Land. The movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1.4 billion worldwide.
2023 Lionel Messi made his debut for American club Inter Miami on July 21, 2023, in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul. He scored two goals in the match, which Inter Miami won 3-0. Inter Miami had announced the signing of Messi on a two-and-a-half-year contract six days earlier.
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