On This Day in History — June 21

Highlights of June 21

• 2000 — President Bill Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to 22 Asian Americans, mostly from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, for actions during World War II. Read more
• 1973 — The U.S. Supreme Court delivered its decision in the landmark case Miller v. California, establishing the Miller test for determining what is obscene material. Read more
• 1957 — Ellen Fairclough (pictured) became the first woman to be appointed to the cabinet of Canada. Read more
• 1948 — The Manchester Baby (replica pictured), the world's first stored-program computer, ran its first program. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: The main offensive of the unsuccessful Italian invasion of France began. Read more
• 1921 — Irish War of Independence: Most of the village of Knockcroghery in County Roscommon was burned by British forces. Read more
• 1919 — Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttled the German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow to prevent the ships from being seized and divided amongst the Allied Powers. Read more
• 1919 — During a general strike in Winnipeg, Canada, members of the Royal North-West Mounted Police attacked a crowd of strikers, armed with clubs and revolvers. Read more
• 1898 — The United States captured Guam from Spain in a bloodless event during the Spanish–American War. Read more
• 1890 — Rudyard Kipling's poem Mandalay was published. Read more
• 1864 — New Zealand Wars: A British victory against the Māori King Movement brought the Tauranga campaign to an end. Read more
• 1848 — In the Wallachian Revolution, Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell proclaimed a new republican government in present-day Romania. Read more
• 1826 — Greek War of Independence: A combined Egyptian and Ottoman army began an invasion of the Mani Peninsula, but were initially held off by the Maniots at the fortifications of Vergas. Read more
• 1788 — New Hampshire ratified the U.S. Constitution and was admitted as the ninth U.S. state. Read more
• 1575 — French Wars of Religion: Catholic forces defeated an armed group of Huguenots attempting to capture Besançon, from which they had previously been expelled. Read more
• 1529 — War of the League of Cognac: The French army under Francis de Bourbon was destroyed in Lombardy, Italy, by the Spanish army. Read more
• 1128 — William Clito defeated Thierry of Alsace in a battle over the succession to the title of Count of Flanders. Read more
• 217 BC — Second Punic War: Commanded by Hannibal, the Carthaginians ambushed a Roman army at the Battle of Lake Trasimene, capturing or killing 25,000 men. Read more

Events

• 2025 — A hot air balloon catches fire mid-flight and crashes in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil, killing 8 of the 21 on board. Read more
• 2012 — A boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsizes in the Indian Ocean between the Indonesian island of Java and Christmas Island, killing 17 people and leaving 70 others missing. Read more
• 2012 — An Indonesian Air Force Fokker F27 Friendship crashes near Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, killing 11. Read more
• 2009 — Greenland assumes self-rule. Read more
• 2006 — Pluto's newly discovered moons are officially named Nix and Hydra. Read more
• 2006 — A Yeti Airlines de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter crashes at Jumla Airport in Nepal, killing nine people. Read more
• 2005 — Edgar Ray Killen, who had previously been unsuccessfully tried for the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner, is convicted of manslaughter 41 years afterwards (the case had been reopened in 2004). Read more
• 2004 — SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight. Read more
• 2001 — A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicts 13 Saudis and a Lebanese in the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 American servicemen. Read more
• 2000 — Section 28 (of the Local Government Act 1988), outlawing the 'promotion' of homosexuality in the United Kingdom, is repealed in Scotland with a 99 to 17 vote. Read more
• 1993 — Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-57 to retrieve the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) satellite. It is also the first shuttle mission to carry the Spacehab module. Read more
• 1989 — The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, that American flag-burning is a form of political protest protected by the First Amendment. Read more
• 1985 — Braathens SAFE Flight 139 is hijacked on approach to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. Special forces arrest the hijacker and there are no fatalities. Read more
• 1982 — John Hinckley is found not guilty by reason of insanity for the attempted assassination of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Read more
• 1978 — The original production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Evita, based on the life of Eva Perón, opens at the Prince Edward Theatre, London. Read more
• 1973 — The Primer Congreso del Hombre Andino is inaugurated in Arica, Chile. Read more
• 1973 — In its decision in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller test for determining whether something is obscene and not protected speech under the U.S. constitution. Read more
• 1970 — Penn Central declares Section 77 bankruptcy in what was the largest U.S. corporate bankruptcy to date. Read more
• 1964 — Three civil rights workers, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner, are murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States, by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Read more
• 1963 — Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini is elected as Pope Paul VI. Read more
• 1957 — Ellen Fairclough is sworn in as Canada's first female Cabinet Minister. Read more
• 1952 — The Philippine School of Commerce, through a republic act, is converted to Philippine College of Commerce, later to be the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The Battle of Okinawa ends when the organized resistance of Imperial Japanese Army forces collapses in the Mabuni area on the southern tip of the main island. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: Tobruk falls to Italian and German forces; 33,000 Allied troops are taken prisoner. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: A Japanese submarine surfaces near the Columbia River in Oregon, firing 17 shells at Fort Stevens in one of only a handful of attacks by Japan against the United States mainland. Read more
• 1941 — Having defeated forces of Vichy France, Allied forces capture Damascus. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France. Read more
• 1930 — One-year conscription comes into force in France. Read more
• 1929 — An agreement brokered by U.S. Ambassador Dwight Whitney Morrow ends the Cristero War in Mexico. Read more
• 1921 — The Irish village of Knockcroghery is burned by British forces. Read more
• 1919 — The Royal Canadian Mounted Police fire a volley into a crowd of unemployed war veterans, killing two, during the Winnipeg general strike. Read more
• 1919 — Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttles the German fleet at Scapa Flow, Orkney. The nine sailors killed are the last casualties of World War I. Read more
• 1915 — The U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision in Guinn v. United States 238 US 347 1915, striking down Oklahoma grandfather clause legislation which had the effect of denying the right to vote to African-Americans. Read more
• 1900 — Boxer Rebellion: China formally declares war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan, as an edict issued from the Empress Dowager Cixi. Read more
• 1898 — The United States captures Guam from Spain. The few warning shots fired by the U.S. naval vessels are misinterpreted as salutes by the Spanish garrison, which was unaware that the two nations were at war. Read more
• 1864 — American Civil War: The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road begins. Read more
• 1848 — In the Wallachian Revolution, Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issue the Proclamation of Islaz and create a new republican government. Read more
• 1826 — Maniots defeat Egyptians under Ibrahim Pasha in the Battle of Vergas. Read more
• 1824 — Greek War of Independence: Egyptian forces capture Psara in the Aegean Sea. Read more
• 1813 — Peninsular War: Wellington defeats Joseph Bonaparte at the Battle of Vitoria. Read more
• 1798 — Irish Rebellion of 1798: The British Army defeats Irish rebels at the Battle of Vinegar Hill. Read more
• 1791 — King Louis XVI and his immediate family begin the Flight to Varennes during the French Revolution. Read more
• 1788 — New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States. Read more
• 1768 — James Otis Jr. offends the King and Parliament in a speech to the Massachusetts General Court. Read more
• 1749 — Halifax, Nova Scotia, is founded. Read more
• 1734 — In Montreal, New France, a slave known by the French name of Marie-Joseph Angélique is put to death, having been convicted of setting the fire that destroyed much of the city. Read more
• 1621 — Execution of 27 Czech noblemen on the Old Town Square in Prague as a consequence of the Battle of White Mountain. Read more
• 1582 — Sengoku period: Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful of the Japanese daimyōs, is forced to commit suicide by his own general Akechi Mitsuhide. Read more
• 1529 — French forces are driven out of northern Italy by Spain at the Battle of Landriano during the War of the League of Cognac. Read more
• 1307 — Külüg Khan is enthroned as Khagan of the Mongols and Wuzong of the Yuan. Read more
• 870 — Caliph al-Muhtadi is killed by rebellious troops and is succeeded by his cousin Al-Mu'tamid. Read more
• 533 — A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarios sails from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily. Read more
• 217 BC — A Carthaginian force under Hannibal ambushes and defeats a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius in the battle of lake Trasimene during the Second Punic War. Read more

Born on June 21

• 2011 — Lil Bub, American celebrity cat (died 2019) Read more
• 2007 — Nanou Philips, Belgian ASMR social media personality Read more
• 2001 — Alexandra Obolentseva, Russian chess player Read more
• 2000 — Dylan Brown, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1999 — Ky Rodwell, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1998 — Isabel Atkin, British-American freestyle skier Read more
• 1997 — Rebecca Black, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1997 — Derrius Guice, American football player Read more
• 1996 — Tyrone May, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1996 — Scottie Scheffler, American golfer Read more
• 1994 — Başak Eraydın, Turkish tennis player Read more
• 1993 — Hungrybox, Argentine-American esports player Read more
• 1992 — MAX, American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and model Read more
• 1992 — Hussein El Shahat, Egyptian professional footballer Read more
• 1991 — Gaël Kakuta, French footballer Read more
• 1991 — Lee Min-young, South Korean singer-songwriter, actress, and entertainer Read more
• 1990 — Ričardas Berankis, Lithuanian tennis player Read more
• 1990 — Sergei Matsenko, Russian chess player Read more
• 1990 — François Moubandje, Swiss footballer Read more
• 1990 — Håvard Nordtveit, Norwegian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Isabel Pires, Portuguese politician Read more
• 1989 — Abubaker Kaki, Sudanese runner Read more
• 1988 — Allyssa DeHaan, American basketball and volleyball player Read more
• 1988 — Alejandro Ramírez, American chess player Read more
• 1988 — Paolo Tornaghi, Italian footballer Read more
• 1988 — Thaddeus Young, American basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Pablo Barrera, Mexican footballer Read more
• 1987 — Sebastian Prödl, Austrian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Dale Thomas, Australian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Kim Ryeo-wook, South Korean singer Read more
• 1986 — Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy, Australian wheelchair basketball player Read more
• 1986 — Hideaki Wakui, Japanese baseball player Read more
• 1985 — Kris Allen, American musician, singer and songwriter Read more
• 1985 — Lana Del Rey, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1985 — Sentayehu Ejigu, Ethiopian runner Read more
• 1985 — Byron Schammer, Australian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Edward Snowden, American activist and academic Read more
• 1982 — Lee Dae-ho, South Korean baseball player Read more
• 1982 — William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne Read more
• 1982 — Jussie Smollett, American actor and singer Read more

Died on June 21

• 2024 — Frederick Crews, American essayist and literary critic (born 1933) Read more
• 2023 — Winnie Ewing, Scottish politician (born 1929) Read more
• 2018 — Charles Krauthammer, American columnist and conservative political commentator (born 1950) Read more
• 2016 — Pierre Lalonde, Canadian television host and singer (born 1941) Read more
• 2015 — Darryl Hamilton, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1964) Read more
• 2015 — Veijo Meri, Finnish author and poet (born 1928) Read more
• 2015 — Remo Remotti, Italian actor, playwright, and poet (born 1924) Read more
• 2015 — Alexander Schalck-Golodkowski, German soldier and politician (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Gunther Schuller, American horn player, composer, and conductor (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Yozo Ishikawa, Japanese politician, Japanese Minister of Defense (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Walter Kieber, Austrian-Liechtenstein politician, 7th Prime Minister of Liechtenstein (born 1931) Read more
• 2014 — Wong Ho Leng, Malaysian lawyer and politician (born 1959) Read more
• 2013 — James P. Gordon, American physicist and academic (born 1928) Read more
• 2013 — Elliott Reid, American actor and screenwriter (born 1920) Read more
• 2012 — Richard Adler, American composer and producer (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Abid Hussain, Indian economist and diplomat, Indian Ambassador to the United States (born 1926) Read more
• 2012 — Sunil Janah, Indian photographer and journalist (born 1918) Read more
• 2012 — Anna Schwartz, American economist and author (born 1915) Read more
• 2011 — Robert Kroetsch, Canadian author and poet (born 1927) Read more
• 2010 — Russell Ash, English author (born 1946) Read more
• 2010 — Irwin Barker, Canadian actor and screenwriter (born 1956) Read more
• 2010 — İlhan Selçuk, Turkish lawyer, journalist, and author (born 1925) Read more
• 2008 — Scott Kalitta, American race car driver (born 1962) Read more
• 2007 — Bob Evans, American businessman, founded Bob Evans Restaurants (born 1918) Read more
• 2006 — Jared C. Monti, American sergeant, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1975) Read more
• 2005 — Jaime Sin, Filipino cardinal (born 1928) Read more
• 2004 — Leonel Brizola, Brazilian engineer and politician, Governor of Rio de Janeiro (born 1922) Read more
• 2004 — Ruth Leach Amonette, American businesswoman (born 1916) Read more
• 2003 — Roger Neilson, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1934) Read more
• 2003 — Leon Uris, American soldier and author (born 1924) Read more
• 2002 — Timothy Findley, Canadian author and playwright (born 1930) Read more
• 2001 — John Lee Hooker, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1917) Read more
• 2001 — Soad Hosny, Egyptian actress and singer (born 1942) Read more
• 2001 — Carroll O'Connor, American actor and producer (born 1924) Read more
• 2000 — Alan Hovhaness, Armenian-American pianist and composer (born 1911) Read more
• 1999 — Kami, Japanese drummer (born 1973) Read more
• 1998 — Harry Cranbrook Allen, English historian (born 1917) Read more
• 1998 — Anastasio Ballestrero, Italian cardinal (born 1913) Read more
• 1998 — Al Campanis, American baseball player and manager (born 1916) Read more
• 1997 — Shintaro Katsu, Japanese actor, singer, director, and producer (born 1931) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Alban of Mainz; Christian feast day: Aloysius Gonzaga; Christian feast day: Engelmund of Velsen; Christian feast day: John Rigby; Christian feast day: Martin of Tongres; Christian feast day: Mewan; Christian feast day: Onesimos Nesib (Lutheran); Christian feast day: June 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of the Martyrs (Togo); Father's Day (Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Uganda, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates); Go Skateboarding Day; International Yoga Day (international); National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada); Solstice-related observances (see also June 20): Day of Private Reflection (Northern Ireland); Solstice-related observances (see also June 20): National Day (Greenland); Solstice-related observances (see also June 20): We Tripantu, a winter solstice festival in the southern hemisphere. (Mapuche, southern Chile); Solstice-related observances (see also June 20): Willkakuti, an Andean-Amazonic New Year (Aymara); Solstice-related observances (see also June 20): Fête de la Musique; World Humanist Day (Humanism); World Hydrography Day (international)

More from the Almanac

Sunrise & SunsetStar TransitMoon & Planting CalendarsAncient Measures