February, 21st in History

[Spiritus Temporis]

Events

Saturday 21, 2004:
The first European political party organization, the European Greens, is established in Rome.

Friday 21, 2003:
Over 100 concert goers die in a fire during a performance of the rock band Great White.

Monday 21, 2000:
David Letterman returns to The Late Show over a month after having an emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery.

Tuesday 21, 1995:
Steve Fossett lands in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada becoming the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon.

Sunday 21, 1988:
Jimmy Swaggart, on his own televangelism program being taped in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, confesses that he is guilty of an unspecified sin and will be temporarily leaving the pulpit.

Friday 21, 1975:
Watergate scandal: Former United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are sentenced to prison.

Thursday 21, 1974:
The last Israeli soldiers leave the west bank of the Suez Canal in carrying out a truce with Egypt.

Wednesday 21, 1973:
Over the Sinai Desert, Israeli fighter aircraft shoot down a Libyan Airlines jet killing 108.

Monday 21, 1972:
The Soviet unmanned spaceship Luna 20 lands on the Moon.

Sunday 21, 1971:
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances is signed at Vienna.

Saturday 21, 1970:
Swissair Flight 330: A mid-air bomb explosion and subsequent crash kills 38 passengers and nine crew members near Zürich, Switzerland.

Sunday 21, 1965:
Malcolm X is assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City by members of the Nation of Islam.

Sunday 21, 1960:
Cuban leader Fidel Castro nationalizes all businesses in Cuba.

Saturday 21, 1953:
Francis Crick and James D. Watson discover the structure of the DNA molecule.

Thursday 21, 1952:
Churchill government in the UK abolishes Identity Cards to "set the people free".

Saturday 21, 1948:
NASCAR is incorporated.

Friday 21, 1947:
In New York City Edwin Land demonstrates the first "instant camera", the Polaroid Land Camera, to a meeting of the Optical Society of America.

Sunday 21, 1937:
Initial flight of the first successful flying car, Waldo Waterman's Arrowbile; League of Nations bans foreign national "volunteers" in the Spanish Civil War.

Saturday 21, 1925:
The New Yorker publishes its first issue.

Monday 21, 1916:
World War I: In France the Battle of Verdun begins.

Tuesday 21, 1893:
Thomas Edison receives two U.S. patents for a "Cut Out for Incandescent Electric Lamps" and for a "Stop Device"

Saturday 21, 1885:
The newly completed Washington Monument is dedicated.

Thursday 21, 1878:
The first telephone book is issued in New Haven, Connecticut.

Sunday 21, 1875:
Jeanne Calment was born. She then went on to live for 122 years 164 days, the longest confirmed lifespan for any human being in history.

Saturday 21, 1874:
The Oakland Daily Tribune publishes its first newspaper.

Monday 21, 1848:
Karl Marx publishes the Communist Manifesto.

Monday 21, 1842:
John J. Greenough patents the sewing machine.

Tuesday 21, 1804:
The first self-propelling steam locomotive makes its outing at the Pen-y-Darren ironworks in Wales.

Thursday 21, 1743:
The premiere in London of George Frideric Handel's oratorio, "Samson".

Thursday 21, 1613:
Mikhail I is elected unanimously as Tsar by a national assembly, beginning the Romanov dynasty of Imperial Russia .

Sunday 21, 1543:
A combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeated a Muslim army led by Ahmed Gragn.

Friday 21, 1440:
The Prussian Confederation is formed.

Monday 21, 1431:
The trial of Joan of Arc begins.

Wednesday 21, 362:
Athanasius returns to Alexandria

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/21-february/on-this-day.html


People born on February 21

1986:
Charlotte Church, Welsh singer (b: February 21, 1986) (Biography of Charlotte Church)

1985:
Roberta Bennett, Irish landscape painter (b: February 21, 1985) (Biography of Roberta Bennett)

1983:
Braylon Edwards, American football player (b: February 21, 1983) (Biography of Braylon Edwards)

1979:
Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer (b: February 21, 1979) (Biography of Jennifer Love Hewitt)

1977:
Kevin Rose, American television host (b: February 21, 1977) (Biography of Kevin Rose)

1975:
Affirmed, American race horse (b: February 21, 1975 ; d: January 12, 2001) (Biography of Affirmed)

1974:
Roberto Heras, Spanish cyclist (b: February 21, 1974) (Biography of Roberto Heras)

1972:
Seo Taiji, Korean musician (b: February 21, 1972) (Biography of Seo Taiji)

1970:
Michael Slater, Australian cricketer (b: February 21, 1970) (Biography of Michael Slater)

1969:
Eric Wilson, American musician (Sublime) (b: February 21, 1969) (Biography of Eric Wilson)

1967:
Leroy Burrell, American sprinter (b: February 21, 1967) (Biography of Leroy Burrell)

1963:
William Baldwin, American actor (b: February 21, 1963) (Biography of William Baldwin)

1962:
David Foster Wallace, American author (b: February 21, 1962) (Biography of David Foster Wallace)

1961:
Chuck Palahniuk, American writer (b: February 21, 1961) (Biography of Chuck Palahniuk)
Christopher Atkins, American actor (b: February 21, 1961) (Biography of Christopher Atkins)
Martha Hackett, actress (b: February 21, 1961) (Biography of Martha Hackett)

1958:
Mary Chapin Carpenter, American singer (b: February 21, 1958) (Biography of Mary Chapin Carpenter)
Alan Trammell, baseball player and manager (b: February 21, 1958) (Biography of Alan Trammell)

1955:
Kelsey Grammer, American actor (b: February 21, 1955) (Biography of Kelsey Grammer)

1953:
William Petersen, American actor (b: February 21, 1953) (Biography of William Petersen)
Christine Ebersole, American actress (b: February 21, 1953) (Biography of Christine Ebersole)

1949:
Jerry Harrison, American musician (b: February 21, 1949) (Biography of Jerry Harrison)

1947:
Olympia Snowe, American politician (b: February 21, 1947) (Biography of Olympia Snowe)

1946:
Tyne Daly, American actress (b: February 21, 1946) (Biography of Tyne Daly)
Alan Rickman, English actor (b: February 21, 1946) (Biography of Alan Rickman)
Anthony Daniels, British actor (b: February 21, 1946) (Biography of Anthony Daniels)
Tricia Nixon Cox, Presidential daughter (b: February 21, 1946) (Biography of Tricia Nixon Cox)

1943:
David Geffen, American record producer (b: February 21, 1943) (Biography of David Geffen)

1942:
Margarethe von Trotta, French actor, film director and writer (b: February 21, 1942) (Biography of Margarethe von Trotta)

1941:
James Wong, Hong Kong composer (b: February 21, 1941) (Biography of James Wong)

1937:
King Harald V of Norway (b: February 21, 1937) (Biography of Harald V of Norway)
Gary Lockwood, American actor (b: February 21, 1937) (Biography of Gary Lockwood)

1936:
Barbara Jordan, American politician (b: February 21, 1936 ; d: January 17, 1996) (Biography of Barbara Jordan)

1934:
Rue McClanahan, American actress (b: February 21, 1934) (Biography of Rue McClanahan)

1933:
Nina Simone, American singer (b: February 21, 1933 ; d: April 21, 2003) (Biography of Nina Simone)

1927:
Hubert de Givenchy, French fashion designer (b: February 21, 1927) (Biography of Hubert de Givenchy)
Erma Bombeck, humorist (b: February 21, 1927 ; d: April 22, 1996) (Biography of Erma Bombeck)

1925:
Sam Peckinpah, American director (b: February 21, 1925 ; d: December 28, 1984) (Biography of Sam Peckinpah)

1924:
Robert Mugabe first Prime Minister of Zimbabwe (b: February 21, 1924) (Biography of Robert Mugabe)

1917:
Lucille Bremer, American actress (b: February 21, 1917) (Biography of Lucille Bremer)

1915:
Ann Sheridan, American actress (b: February 21, 1915 ; d: January 21, 1967) (Biography of Ann Sheridan)

1910:
Douglas Bader, British fighter pilot (b: February 21, 1910) (Biography of Douglas Bader)
Carmine Galante, Italian-born gangster (b: February 21, 1910) (Biography of Carmine Galante)

1907:
W. H. Auden, English poet (b: February 21, 1907 ; d: September 29, 1973) (Biography of W. H. Auden)

1903:
Anaïs Nin, French writer (b: February 21, 1903 ; d: January 14, 1977) (Biography of Anais Nin)
Fairfax M. Cone, American advertising executive (b: February 21, 1903) (Biography of Fairfax M. Cone)

1895:
Carl Peter Henrik Dam Danish biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b: February 21, 1895) (Biography of Carl Peter Henrik Dam)

1893:
Celia Lovsky, Russian-born actress (b: February 21, 1893) (Biography of Celia Lovsky)
Andrés Segovia, Spanish guitarist (b: February 21, 1893 ; d: June 2, 1987) (Biography of Andrés Segovia)

1885:
Sacha Guitry, Russian dramatist, writer, director and actor (b: February 21, 1885) (Biography of Sacha Guitry)

1880:
Waldemar Bonsels, German writer (b: February 21, 1880) (Biography of Waldemar Bonsels)

1875:
Jeanne Calment, oldest documented human being (b: February 21, 1875) (Biography of Jeanne Calment)

1867:
Otto Hermann Kahn, German millionaire and benefactor (b: February 21, 1867 ; d: March 29, 1934) (Biography of Otto Hermann Kahn)

1865:
John Haden Badley, author, educator, founder Bedales School (b: February 21, 1865 ; d: March 6, 1967) (Biography of John Haden Badley)

1844:
Charles-Marie Widor, French organist and composer (b: February 21, 1844 ; d: March 12, 1937) (Biography of Charles-Marie Widor)

1836:
Léo Delibes, French composer (b: February 21, 1836 ; d: January 16, 1891) (Biography of Léo Delibes)

1821:
Charles Scribner, publishing company founder (b: February 21, 1821) (Biography of Charles Scribner)

1801:
John Henry Newman, English Roman Catholic Cardinal (b: February 21, 1801) (Biography of John Henry Newman)

1791:
Carl Czerny, Austrian composer (b: February 21, 1791 ; d: July 15, 1857) (Biography of Carl Czerny)

1728:
Tsar Peter III of Russia, husband of Catherine the Great (b: February 21, 1728 ; d: July 6, 1762) (Biography of Peter III of Russia)

1705:
Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, British naval officer (b: February 21, 1705 ; d: October 16, 1781) (Biography of Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke)

1688:
Queen Ulrike Eleonora of Sweden (b: February 21, 1688) (Biography of Ulrike Eleonora of Sweden)

1675:
Franz Xaver Josef von Unertl, Bavarian politician (b: February 21, 1675 ; d: January 22, 1750) (Biography of Franz Xaver Josef von Unertl)

1621:
Rebecca Nurse, American accused witch (b: February 21, 1621 ; d: June 19, 1692) (Biography of Rebecca Nurse)

1556:
Sethus Calvisius, German calendar reformer (b: February 21, 1556 ; d: November 24, 1615) (Biography of Sethus Calvisius)

1484:
Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg (b: February 21, 1484 ; d: July 11, 1535) (Biography of Joachim I of Brandenburg)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/21-february/births.html

[Spiritus Temporis]

People who died on February 21

2005:
Ara Berberian (d: February 21, 2005) (Biography of Ara Berberian)
Eugene Scott (d: February 21, 2005) (Biography of Eugene Scott)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante (d: February 21, 2005) (Biography of Guillermo Cabrera Infante)

2004:
Guido Molinari (d: February 21, 2004) (Biography of Guido Molinari)
John Charles (d: February 21, 2004) (Biography of John Charles)

2002:
John Thaw, British actor (b: January 3, 1942 ; d: February 21, 2002) (Biography of John Thaw)

1996:
Morton Gould, American composer (b: December 10, 1913 ; d: February 21, 1996) (Biography of Morton Gould)

1991:
Dame Margot Fonteyn, English ballet dancer (b: May 18, 1919 ; d: February 21, 1991) (Biography of Margot Fonteyn)

1984:
Michail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov (d: February 21, 1984) (Biography of Michail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov)

1974:
Tim Horton, Canadian hockey player and entrepreneur (b: January 12, 1930 ; d: February 21, 1974) (Biography of Tim Horton)

1968:
Howard Walter Florey, Australian scientist (b: September 24, 1898 ; d: February 21, 1968) (Biography of Howard Walter Florey)

1967:
Charles Beaumont (d: February 21, 1967) (Biography of Charles Beaumont)

1965:
Malcolm X, American civil rights activist (b: May 19, 1925 ; d: February 21, 1965) (Biography of Malcolm X)

1945:
Eric Liddell, Scottish runner (b: January 16, 1902 ; d: February 21, 1945) (Biography of Eric Liddell)

1944:
Ferenc Szisz, Hungarian-born race car driver (b: September 20, 1873 ; d: February 21, 1944) (Biography of Ferenc Szisz)

1938:
George Ellery Hale, American astronomer (b: June 29, 1868 ; d: February 21, 1938) (Biography of George Ellery Hale)

1926:
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, Dutch physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: September 21, 1853 ; d: February 21, 1926) (Biography of Heike Kamerlingh Onnes)

1846:
Emperor Ninko of Japan, (b. 1846) (b: March 16, 1800 ; d: February 21, 1846) (Biography of Emperor Ninko of Japan)

1824:
Eugène de Beauharnais, son of Napoleon's wife, Josephine (b: September 3, 1781 ; d: February 21, 1824) (Biography of Eugène de Beauharnais)

1715:
Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, Governor of the Province of Maryland (b: August 27, 1637 ; d: February 21, 1715) (Biography of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore)

1677:
Baruch Spinoza, Dutch philosopher (b: November 24, 1632 ; d: February 21, 1677) (Biography of Baruch Spinoza)

1668:
John Thurloe (d: February 21, 1668) (Biography of John Thurloe)

1595:
Robert Southwell (d: February 21, 1595) (Biography of Robert Southwell)

1554:
Hieronymus Bock (d: February 21, 1554) (Biography of Hieronymus Bock)

1543:
Ahmed Gragn (d: February 21, 1543) (Biography of Ahmed Gragn)

1513:
Pope Julius II (b: December 5, 1443 ; d: February 21, 1513) (Biography of Pope Julius II)

1471:
John of Rokycan (d: February 21, 1471) (Biography of John of Rokycan)

1437:
King James I of Scotland (b: December 10, 1394 ; d: February 21, 1437) (Biography of James I of Scotland)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/21-february/deaths.html