All Events

Historical Events on May 21

  • Szlachta

    1674

    The nobility elect John Sobieski King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.

  • Slavery

    1851

    Slavery is abolished in Colombia, South America.

  • Lawrence, Kansas

    1856

    Lawrence, Kansas is captured and burned by pro-slavery forces.

  • American Civil War

    1863

    American Civil War: The Union Army succeeds in closing off the last escape route from Port Hudson, Louisiana, in preparation for the coming siege.

  • Paris Commune

    1871

    French troops invade the Paris Commune and engage its residents in street fighting. By the close of "Bloody Week", some 20,000 communards have been killed and 38,000 arrested.

  • Charles Lindbergh

    1927

    Charles Lindbergh touches down at Le Bourget Field in Paris, completing the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Amelia Earhart

    1932

    Bad weather forces Amelia Earhart to land in a pasture in Derry, Northern Ireland, and she thereby becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

  • American civil rights movement

    1961

    American civil rights movement: Alabama Governor John Malcolm Patterson declares martial law in an attempt to restore order after race riots break out.

  • Falklands War

    1982

    Falklands War: A British amphibious assault during Operation Sutton leads to the Battle of San Carlos.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on May 21

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on May 21

20. May

22. May