Europa
- Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
On October 21, 1805, the British Royal Navy, under Admiral Horatio Nelson, decisively defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar off the coast of Spain. This victory ended Napoleon’s plans to invade England and established British naval supremacy for decades. Admiral Nelson was mortally wounded during the battle, becoming a national hero in Britain. - World War II: Capture of Aachen (1944)
On October 21, 1944, American forces captured the German city of Aachen after intense fighting. This was the first major German city to fall to the Allies, marking a turning point in the Western European campaign. - First French Women Vote (1945)
In the 1945 French legislative elections held on October 21, French women voted for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the history of women’s rights in Europe. - 1209: Otto IV was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Innocent III.
- 1512: Martin Luther joined the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg, a key moment leading up to the Protestant Reformation.
- 1097: Crusaders began the Siege of Antioch during the First Crusade, with several European leaders involved.
America
- 1774: First Display of the Word “Liberty” on a Flag
In Taunton, Massachusetts, colonists raised a flag bearing the word “Liberty” in defiance of British rule. This early act of protest became a powerful symbol of the American push for independence and foreshadowed the coming revolution. - 1797: Launch of the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”)
The U.S. Navy frigate Constitution was launched in Boston Harbor. The ship, later nicknamed “Old Ironsides,” remains the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat and is a symbol of early American naval strength. - 1879: Thomas Edison Perfects the Electric Light Bulb
Thomas Edison successfully tested and perfected a workable electric light bulb at his Menlo Park, New Jersey laboratory, revolutionizing modern life and industry. - 1892: First Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in U.S. Schools
Schoolchildren across the United States recited the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time, marking a new tradition in American civic life. - 1868: Hayward Earthquake in California
A major earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area, centered on the Hayward Fault. The event caused significant destruction and loss of life, highlighting California’s seismic risks. - 1902: United Mine Workers Strike Ends
The five-month-long anthracite coal miners’ strike ended after President Theodore Roosevelt intervened, marking the first time a U.S. president mediated a labor dispute. The settlement led to better wages and working conditions for miners. - 1915: U.S. Protests British Interference with Shipping
The U.S. government formally protested British interference with American shipping during World War I, reflecting the diplomatic challenges of neutrality before America entered the war. - 1917: First U.S. Troops in Combat in World War I
American soldiers saw their first action on the front lines in France, marking the beginning of direct U.S. involvement in World War I. - 1944: Premiere of Walter Piston’s “Fugue on a Victory Tune”
The patriotic wartime composition by American composer Walter Piston premiered in New York City, contributing to the cultural morale during World War II. - 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis – Kennedy Alerts Americans
President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation, alerting Americans to the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and announcing a naval blockade, escalating the Cuban Missile Crisis. - 1975: Coast Guard Academy Admits First Women
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy allowed women to enroll for the first time, marking a milestone in gender equality for the U.S. military. - 1980: Philadelphia Phillies Win First World Series
The Phillies won their first World Series in franchise history, a major event in American sports.
Asia
- Battle of Sekigahara (Japan, 1600)
On October 21, 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated rival Japanese clans at the Battle of Sekigahara. This decisive victory paved the way for Ieyasu to become shōgun, establishing the Tokugawa shogunate, which would rule Japan for over 250 years. - Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind), 1943
On October 21, 1943, Indian nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) in Singapore. This government-in-exile sought to gain international recognition and support for Indian independence from British rule and was backed by Japan during World War II. - Japanese Army Coup Attempt (1931)
On this day in 1931, a secret society within the Imperial Japanese Army launched an abortive coup d’état attempt, reflecting the increasing militarization and political turmoil in pre-war Japan. - Korean War: Battle of Yongju (1950)
Heavy fighting began between British and Australian forces and North Korean troops during the Battle of Yongju on October 21, 1950, marking a significant engagement in the Korean War. - North Korea Establishes New Capital (1942)
North Korean Premier Kim Il-Sung established a new capital at Sinuiju, on the Yalu River opposite the Chinese city of Antung, on October 21, 1942. - Martyr’s Day in India
October 21 is observed as Martyr’s Day in India to honor police personnel who have died in the line of duty. - In 1392, Emperor Go-Kameyama abdicated in favor of Go-Komatsu in Japan, ending the Nanboku-chō period and unifying the imperial line.
- In 1760, Katsushika Hokusai, the renowned Japanese artist, was born.
Africa
- African Human Rights Day (Since 1986)
October 21 is celebrated annually as African Human Rights Day to commemorate the day the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights came into effect in 1986. The Charter, adopted in 1981, is the foundational document for the African human rights system and has been ratified by nearly all African Union member states. The day serves as a moment for reflection and recommitment to the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights across the continent. - Somalia Coup (1969)
On October 21, 1969, Major General Siad Barre led a bloodless military coup in Somalia, a day after the assassination of President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke. Barre’s takeover marked the beginning of a long period of military rule in Somalia. - Oscar Pistorius Conviction (2014, South Africa)
On October 21, 2014, South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in prison for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The case drew global attention and sparked debates on justice and celebrity in South Africa. - Transvaal Women’s Satyagraha (1913, South Africa)
On this day in 1913, women involved in the Satyagraha movement in the Transvaal (now part of South Africa) began defiance activities, including hawking without licenses and crossing the Natal border to encourage resistance against discriminatory laws. - Sudan Pro-Democracy Protests (Recent Years)
October 21 has become a symbolic date for pro-democracy demonstrations in Sudan. In 2021, for example, hundreds of thousands marched in Khartoum and other cities demanding full civilian rule, underscoring the ongoing struggle for democracy in the country.
This day in history: 21 october