Tukuk-OS📅 March 21
20 events · 12 births · 12 deaths
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What happened on March 21? Below are the notable events chosen by Wikipedia’s editors for this date, followed by celebrated births, deaths and the observances recognised around the world.
Events
- 2019 — A major explosion at a chemical plant in Yancheng, China, killed 78 people and injured 640 others.
- 2006 — A man smashed the statue of Phra Phrom at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, with a hammer, and was subsequently beaten to death by bystanders.
- 2006 — Jack Dorsey sent the first message on the social-media network Twitter.
- 1983 — In the West Bank, a number of Palestinian girls complained of breathing difficulties due to strange odors, leading to accusations of poison gas.
West Bank1983 West Bank fainting epidemicList of highly toxic gases
- 1980 — The American soap opera Dallas aired the episode "A House Divided", which led to eight months of international speculation on "Who shot J.R.?"
- 1968 — War of Attrition: The Battle of Karameh took place between the Israel Defense Forces and allied troops of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Jordanian Armed Forces.
- 1963 — The Federal Bureau of Prisons closed Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on Alcatraz Island (pictured) in San Francisco Bay, California.
Federal Bureau of PrisonsAlcatraz Federal PenitentiaryAlcatraz Island
- 1960 — Police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire on a group of unarmed black demonstrators who were protesting pass laws, killing 69 people and wounding 180 others.
- 1952 — The Moondog Coronation Ball, generally considered to be the first major rock and roll concert, took place at the Cleveland Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
- 1946 — The Los Angeles Rams signed Kenny Washington, making him the first African-American player in the National Football League since 1933.
Los Angeles RamsKenny Washington (American football)National Football League
- 1937 — A police squad, acting under orders from Governor of Puerto Rico Blanton Winship, opened fire on demonstrators protesting the arrest of Puerto Rican Nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos, killing 21 people and injuring 235 others.
Blanton WinshipPonce massacreNationalist Party of Puerto Rico
- 1918 — First World War: The German Army opened the Spring Offensive with Operation Michael, attempting to break through the Allied lines and to seize ports on the English Channel.
- 1913 — More than 360 were killed and 20,000 homes were destroyed in the Great Dayton Flood in Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
- 1874 — Queen's Park defeated Clydesdale 2–0 in the final of the inaugural Scottish Cup.
- 1861 — Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America, gave an extemporaneous speech laying out the Confederacy's rationale for seceding from the United States.
Alexander H. StephensConfederate States of AmericaCornerstone Speech
- 1844 — The Baháʼí calendar, used in the Baháʼí Faith, began.
- 1825 — During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette laid the cornerstone for the Nathanael Greene Monument in Savannah, Georgia.
Visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United StatesMarquis de LafayetteNathanael Greene Monument
- 1814 — War of the Sixth Coalition: During their march on Paris, Coalition forces defeated Napoleon's French army on the final day of the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube.
- 1788 — A large fire destroyed 856 of the 1,100 structures in New Orleans.
- 1556 — Thomas Cranmer, a former archbishop of Canterbury and one of the founders of Anglicanism, was burned at the stake for heresy in Oxford, England.
Births
- 2007 — Ethan Nwaneri, English footballer
- 2003 — Abbi Pulling, English racing driver
- 2000 — Jace Norman, American actor
- 2000 — Yoon San-ha, South Korean singer and actor
- 1998 — Miles Bridges, American basketball player
- 1997 — Nat Phillips, English footballer
- 1997 — Martina Stoessel, Argentine singer and actress
- 1996 — Aurora Mikalsen, Norwegian footballer
- 1995 — RJ Cyler, American actor
- 1995 — Nick Mullens, American football player
- 1995 — Mirco Müller, Swiss ice hockey player
- 1994 — Jasmin Savoy Brown, American actress
Deaths
- 2026 — Michael Lyster, Irish radio and television broadcaster (born 1954)
- 2026 — Rhoda Roberts, Australian arts executive (born 1959)
- 2025 — Kitty Dukakis, American author, First Lady of Massachusetts (born 1936)
- 2025 — George Foreman, American boxer, actor, and businessman (born 1949)
- 2023 — Willis Reed, American basketball player (born 1942)
- 2021 — Nawal El Saadawi, Egyptian secularist, feminist (born 1931)
- 2019 — Victor Hochhauser CBE, British music promoter (born 1923)
- 2019 — Gonzalo Portocarrero, Peruvian sociologist (born 1949)
- 2017 — Chuck Barris, American game show host and producer (born 1929)
- 2017 — Colin Dexter, English author (born 1930)
- 2017 — Martin McGuinness, Irish republican and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (born 1950)
Martin McGuinnessFirst Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
- 2017 — Mike Hall, British cyclist (born 1981)
Observances & holidays
- Arbor Day (Lesotho)
- Arbor Day (Portugal)
- Christian feast day: Augustine Zhao Rong
- Christian feast day: Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello
- Christian feast day: Passing of Saint Benedict (Order of Saint Benedict, pre-1970 Calendar)
- Christian feast day: Birillus
- Christian feast day: Enda of Aran
- Christian feast day: Nicholas of Flüe
- Christian feast day: Serapion of Thmuis
- Christian feast day: Thomas Cranmer (Anglicanism)
- Christian feast day: March 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Early music
- Education Freedom Day
- Harmony Day (Australia)
- Human Rights Day (South Africa)
- Independence Day (Namibia)
- International Colour Day (International)
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (International)
International Day for the Elimination of Racial DiscriminationLists of holidays
- International Day of Forests (International), by proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly
International Day of ForestsLists of holidaysUnited Nations General Assembly
- Mother's Day (most of the Arab world)
- Natalicio de Benito Juárez, one of Fiestas Patrias (Mexico)
- Oltenia Day (Romania)
- Rosie the Riveter Day (United States)
- Truant's Day (Poland, Faroe Islands)
- Vernal equinox related observances (see also March 20)
- World Day for Glaciers (International)
- World Down Syndrome Day (International)
- World Poetry Day (International)
- World Puppetry Day (International)
- Youth Day (Tunisia)
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