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On This Day in History — September 21
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Highlights of September 21
- 2013 — Unidentified gunmen began a three-day attack on the upmarket Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, resulting in the deaths of 67 people with at least another 175 wounded. Read more
- 2004 — American rock band Green Day released their seventh studio album, American Idiot. Read more
- 2001 — Several British Muslim youths in Peterborough, England, murdered 17-year-old Ross Parker, leading to debate over whether the British media failed to cover racially motivated crimes with white victims. Read more
- 2001 — America: A Tribute to Heroes was broadcast by over 35 network and cable channels, raising over $200 million for the victims of the September 11 attacks. Read more
- 1999 — A 7.7 Mw earthquake struck Jiji, Taiwan, killing 2,415 people, injuring more than 11,000 others and causing about NT$300 billion (US$10 billion) in damage across the island. Read more
- 1999 — The first chapter of Naruto, later one of the best-selling manga series, was published. Read more
- 1996 — The Defense of Marriage Act was passed by the United States Congress, prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriage, while allowing states to adopt any marital definition of their choosing. Read more
- 1968 — The Soviet Union's Zond 5 landed in the Indian Ocean, becoming the first spacecraft to safely return to Earth after travelling around the Moon. Read more
- 1965 — Portugal accepted a diplomatic mission from Southern Rhodesia despite objections by Britain, which had required the colony to implement black majority rule as a condition of independence. Read more
- 1938 — The Great New England Hurricane made landfall on Long Island, New York, killing an estimated 682 people and injuring 1,754 others. Read more
- 1937 — J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy children's novel The Hobbit, which later served as a prelude to The Lord of the Rings, was first published. Read more
- 1934 — The Muroto typhoon, the strongest in Japanese history at the time, made landfall on the mainland, killing more than 3,000 and leaving around 200,000 homeless. Read more
- 1934 — Chandrashekhar Agashe established the Brihan Maharashtra Sugar Syndicate Ltd., one of the oldest companies in India. Read more
- 1918 — World War I: The Battle of Nazareth ended with the British Empire victorious over the Ottomans. Read more
- 1897 — In response to a letter written by eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon, The New York Sun published an editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church stating, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: The Great Fire of New York (depicted) broke out during the British occupation of New York City, destroying up to 1,000 buildings. Read more
- 1675 — Led by Antonio de Vea, a Spanish naval expedition departed El Callao, Peru, for the fjords and channels of Patagonia to find whether rival colonial powers were in the region. Read more
- 1170 — Norman invasion of Ireland: English and Irish forces conquered Dublin, forcing Ascall mac Ragnaill, the last Norse–Gaelic king of Dublin, into exile. Read more
Events
- 2019 — A 5.6 Mw earthquake shakes the Albanian port of Durrës. Forty-nine people are injured in the capital, Tirana. Read more
- 2018 — LGBT rights activist Zak Kostopoulos is beaten to death on a busy street in Athens. Read more
- 2015 — Adventist Health System agreed to pay $118.7 million to settle allegations of fraud. It was the largest a hospital network has ever paid. Read more
- 2013 — Al-Shabaab Islamic militants attack the Westgate shopping mall in Kenya, killing at least 67 people. Read more
- 2012 — Three Egyptian militants open fire on a group of Israeli soldiers in a southern Israel cross-border attack. Read more
- 2003 — The Galileo spacecraft is terminated by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere. Read more
- 2001 — America: A Tribute to Heroes is broadcast by over 35 network and cable channels, raising over $200 million for the victims of the September 11 attacks. Read more
- 2001 — Ross Parker is murdered in Peterborough, England, by a gang of ten British Pakistani youths. Read more
- 1999 — The 7.7-magnitude Chi-Chi earthquake strikes central Taiwan, killing 2,400 people. Read more
- 1997 — St. Olaf's Church, a stone church from the 16th century in Tyrvää, Finland, is burnt down by a burglar. Read more
- 1996 — The Defense of Marriage Act is passed by the United States Congress. Read more
- 1995 — MIAT Flight 557 crashes near Mörön, Mongolia, killing 41 people. Read more
- 1993 — Russian president Boris Yeltsin triggers a constitutional crisis when he suspends parliament and scraps the constitution. Read more
- 1993 — A Transair Georgian Airlines Tu-134 is shot down by a missile in the Black Sea near Sokhumi, Georgia. Read more
- 1991 — Armenia gains independence from the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1984 — Brunei joins the United Nations. Read more
- 1981 — Belize is granted full independence from the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1981 — Sandra Day O'Connor is unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate as the first female Supreme Court justice. Read more
- 1977 — Malév Flight 203 crashes near Urziceni, Romania, killing 29 people. Read more
- 1976 — Orlando Letelier is assassinated in Washington, D.C. by Michael Townley, linked to the National Intelligence Directorate of Chile. Read more
- 1976 — Seychelles joins the United Nations. Read more
- 1972 — Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos begins authoritarian rule by declaring martial law. Read more
- 1971 — Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations. Read more
- 1969 — Mexicana de Aviación Flight 801, a Boeing 727-100 passenger plane, crashes during a landing attempt in Mexico City, killing 27 of the 118 occupants. Read more
- 1965 — The Gambia, Maldives and Singapore are admitted as members of the United Nations. Read more
- 1964 — Malta gains independence from the United Kingdom, but remains in the Commonwealth. Read more
- 1964 — The North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the world's fastest bomber, makes its maiden flight from Palmdale, California. Read more
- 1957 — Pamir, a four-masted barque, was shipwrecked and sank off the Azores during Hurricane Carrie. Read more
- 1953 — Lieutenant No Kum-sok, a North Korean pilot, defects to South Korea with his jet fighter. Read more
- 1942 — The Holocaust in Ukraine: On the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Nazis send over 1,000 Jews from Pidhaitsi to Bełżec extermination camp. Read more
- 1942 — The Holocaust in Ukraine: In Dunaivtsi, Ukraine, Nazis murder 2,588 Jews. Read more
- 1942 — The Holocaust in Poland: At the end of Yom Kippur, Germans order Jews to permanently move from Konstantynów to Biała Podlaska. Read more
- 1942 — The Boeing B-29 Superfortress makes its maiden flight. Read more
- 1939 — Romanian prime minister Armand Călinescu is assassinated by the Iron Guard. Read more
- 1938 — The Great Hurricane of 1938 makes landfall on Long Island in New York. The death toll is estimated at 500–700 people. Read more
- 1937 — J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is published for the first time. (September 22 is celebrated by some fans as Hobbit Day, however.) Read more
- 1934 — A large typhoon hits western Honshū, Japan, killing more than 3,000 people. Read more
- 1933 — Salvador Lutteroth establishes Mexican professional wrestling. Read more
- 1921 — A storage silo in Oppau, Germany, explodes, killing 500–600 people. Read more
- 1898 — Empress Dowager Cixi seizes power and ends the Hundred Days' Reform in China. Read more
- 1896 — Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan: British forces under the command of Horatio Kitchener take Dongola. Read more
- 1862 — Taiping Rebellion: The Ever Victorious Army defeats Taiping forces at the Battle of Cixi. Read more
- 1860 — Second Opium War: An Anglo-French force defeats Chinese troops at the Battle of Palikao. Read more
- 1843 — The crew of schooner Ancud, led by John Williams Wilson, takes possession of the Strait of Magellan on behalf of the Chilean government. Read more
- 1814 — War of 1812: British forces abandon their unsuccessful siege of Fort Erie. Read more
- 1809 — British Secretary of War Lord Castlereagh and Foreign Secretary George Canning meet in a duel on Putney Heath, with Castlereagh wounding Canning in the thigh. Read more
- 1792 — French Revolution: The National Convention abolishes the monarchy. Read more
- 1780 — American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold gives the British the plans to West Point. Read more
- 1776 — Part of New York City is burned shortly after being occupied by British forces. Read more
- 1745 — A British government army led by Sir John Cope is defeated in less than 15 minutes by the Jacobite forces of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Read more
- 1435 — The Treaty of Arras is promulgated, causing Burgundy to switch sides in the Hundred Years' War. Read more
- 1217 — Livonian Crusade: The Estonian leader Lembitu and Livonian leader Caupo of Turaida are killed in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day. Read more
- 1170 — Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland: The Kingdom of Dublin falls to Anglo-Norman invaders. Read more
- 455 — Emperor Avitus enters Italy with a Gallic army and consolidates his power. Read more
- 454 — Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III murders his general Flavius Aetius on instigation of eunuch Heraclius and senator Petronius Maximus. Read more
Born on September 21
- 2006 — Alisha Palmowski, British female racing driver Read more
- 1999 — Alexander Isak, Eritrean-Swedish professional footballer Read more
- 1999 — Wang Junkai, Chinese singer Read more
- 1999 — Lizzy McAlpine, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1998 — Máscara de Bronce, Mexican wrestler Read more
- 1998 — Yainer Díaz, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1995 — Bruno Caboclo, Brazilian basketball player Read more
- 1994 — Devin Williams, American baseball player Read more
- 1993 — Kirsty Gilmour, Scottish badminton player Read more
- 1993 — Kwon Mina, South Korean singer and actress Read more
- 1993 — Ante Rebić, Croatian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Kim Jong-dae, South Korean singer-songwriter Read more
- 1992 — Rodrigo Godínez, Mexican footballer Read more
- 1992 — Devyn Marble, American basketball player Read more
- 1991 — Anastassia Kovalenko, Estonian motorcycle racer Read more
- 1991 — Carlos Martínez, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Al-Farouq Aminu, American basketball player Read more
- 1990 — Danny Batth, English footballer Read more
- 1990 — Rob Cross, English darts player Read more
- 1990 — Ivan Dorschner, American-Filipino model and actor Read more
- 1990 — Sam Kasiano, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1990 — Allison Scagliotti, American actress and musician Read more
- 1990 — Christian Serratos, American actress Read more
- 1989 — Jason Derulo, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1989 — Sandor Earl, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1989 — Manny Harris, American basketball player Read more
- 1989 — Emma Watkins, Australian singer and actress Read more
- 1988 — Doug Baldwin, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistani politician Read more
- 1987 — Jimmy Clausen, American football player Read more
- 1987 — Anthony Don, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1987 — Marcelo Estigarribia, Paraguayan footballer Read more
- 1987 — Ryan Guzman, American actor and model Read more
- 1987 — Murilo Maccari, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Ashley Paris, American basketball player Read more
- 1987 — Courtney Paris, American basketball player Read more
- 1987 — Michał Pazdan, Polish footballer Read more
- 1987 — Ivelisse Vélez, Puerto Rican wrestler Read more
- 1986 — Faris Badwan, English singer-songwriter Read more
- 1986 — Lindsey Stirling, American violinist and composer Read more
Died on September 21
- 2026 — Angry Anderson, Australian singer and actor (born 1947) Read more
- 2026 — Terry Denton, Australian author and illustrator (born 1950) Read more
- 2024 — Raquel Blandón, Guatemalan lawyer and activist, First Lady of Guatemala (born 1943) Read more
- 2024 — Benny Golson, American saxophonist and composer (born 1929) Read more
- 2024 — Eddie Low, New Zealand country singer and musician (born 1943) Read more
- 2024 — Mercury Morris, American football player (born 1947) Read more
- 2023 — Walewska Oliveira, Brazilian volleyball player and Olympic champion (born 1979) Read more
- 2022 — Raju Srivastav, Indian comedian, actor and politician (born 1963) Read more
- 2021 — Willie Garson, American actor (born 1964) Read more
- 2020 — Arthur Ashkin, American scientist and Nobel laureate (born 1922) Read more
- 2018 — Trần Đại Quang, President of Vietnam (born 1956) Read more
- 2018 — Vitaliy Masol, Ukrainian Former Prime Minister (born 1928) Read more
- 2015 — Yoram Gross, Polish-Australian director and producer (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Ray Warleigh, Australian-English saxophonist and flute player (born 1938) Read more
- 2015 — Richard Williamson, American footballer and coach (born 1941) Read more
- 2014 — Michael Harari, Israeli intelligence officer (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Caldwell Jones, American basketball player and coach (born 1950) Read more
- 2014 — Sheldon Patinkin, American director and playwright (born 1935) Read more
- 2013 — Kofi Awoonor, Ghanaian author, poet, and diplomat (born 1935) Read more
- 2013 — Michel Brault, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1928) Read more
- 2013 — Harl H. Haas, Jr., American lawyer, jurist, and politician (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — Walter Wallmann, German lawyer and politician, Minister-President of Hesse (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — Ko Wierenga, Dutch lawyer and politician (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — José Curbelo, Cuban-American pianist and manager (born 1917) Read more
- 2012 — Yehuda Elkana, Israeli historian and philosopher (born 1934) Read more
- 2012 — Sven Hassel, Danish-German soldier and author (born 1917) Read more
- 2012 — Bill King, English commander, sailor, and author (born 1910) Read more
- 2012 — Tom Umphlett, American baseball player and manager (born 1930) Read more
- 2011 — Jun Henmi, Japanese author and poet (born 1939) Read more
- 2009 — Robert Ginty, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1948) Read more
- 2007 — Hallgeir Brenden, Norwegian skier (born 1929) Read more
- 2007 — Alice Ghostley, American actress (born 1923) Read more
- 2006 — Tasos Athanasiadis, Greek author (born 1913) Read more
- 2002 — Robert L. Forward, American physicist and science fiction author (born 1932) Read more
- 2000 — Jacques Flynn, Canadian lawyer and politician, 35th Canadian Minister of Justice (born 1915) Read more
- 2000 — Leonid Rogozov, Russian physician and surgeon (born 1934) Read more
- 1998 — Florence Griffith Joyner, American sprinter (born 1959) Read more
- 1995 — Rudy Perpich, American dentist and politician, 34th Governor of Minnesota (born 1928) Read more
- 1992 — Tarachand Barjatya, Indian film producer, founded Rajshri Productions (born 1914) Read more
- 1991 — Gordon Bashford, English engineer (born 1916) Read more
Holidays & observances
Autumnal equinox observances in the Northern Hemisphere, vernal equinox observances in the Southern Hemisphere (see September 22):
Spring Day (Argentina); Christian feast day:
Cadoc; Christian feast day:
Ephigenia of Ethiopia; Christian feast day:
Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert (one of the Korean Martyrs); Christian feast day:
Matthew the Evangelist (Western Church); Christian feast day:
Maura of Troyes; Christian feast day:
Nativity of the Theotokos (Eastern Orthodox Church, Julian calendar); Christian feast day:
September 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Arbor Day (Brazil); Commemoration of the Declaration of Martial Law (Philippines); Customs Service Day (Poland); Founder's Day and National Volunteer Day (Ghana); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Armenia from the Soviet Union in 1991.; Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Belize from the United Kingdom in 1981.; Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Malta from the United Kingdom in 1964.; International Day of Peace (International); Student's Day (Bolivia); Victory over the Golden Horde in the Battle of Kulikovo (Russia)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “September 21”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.