August 21 in History

Historical Events on August 21

1778 American Revolutionary War: British forces begin besieging the French outpost at Pondichéry.

1863 Lawrence, Kansas is destroyed by pro-Confederate guerrillas known as Quantrill's Raiders.

1914 World War I: The Battle of Charleroi, a successful German attack across the River Sambre that pre-empted a French offensive in the same area.

1942 World War II: The flag of Nazi Germany is planted atop Mount Elbrus, the highest peak of the Caucasus mountain range.

1957 The Soviet Union successfully conducts a long-range test flight of the R-7 Semyorka, the first intercontinental ballistic missile.

1959 United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union. Hawaii's admission is currently commemorated by Hawaii Admission Day

1991 Latvia declares renewal of its full independence after the occupation of Soviet Union.

1993 NASA loses contact with the Mars Observer spacecraft.

2013 Hundreds of people are reported killed by chemical attacks in the Ghouta region of Syria.

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Famous Birthdays on August 21

1936 Wilt Chamberlain

1980 Paul Menard

1986 Usain Bolt

1988 Robert Lewandowski

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Famous Deaths on August 21

1131 Baldwin II of Jerusalem

1762 Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

1775 Zahir al-Umar

1940 Leon Trotsky

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