May 21
1471 - King Henry VI of England died in the Tower of London at age 49.
1542 - Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto died while searching for gold on the banks of the Mississippi River.
1881 - Clara Barton founded what would become the American Red Cross.
1924 - In a case that drew much notoriety, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a “thrill killing” carried out by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb (Bobby’s cousin).
1927 - Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, traveling from New York to Paris aboard his monoplane, The Spirit of St. Louis in 33 1/2 hours.
1932 - Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland in 15 hours.
1941 - A German U-boat sank the American merchant steamship SS Robin Moor in the South Atlantic after the ship’s passengers and crew were allowed to board lifeboats.
1955 - Chuck Berry recorded his first single, “Maybellene,” for Chess Records in Chicago.
1956 - The first hydrogen bomb to be dropped by air exploded over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
1972 - Michelangelo’s Pieta, on display at the Vatican, was damaged by a hammer-wielding man who shouted he was Jesus Christ.
1979 - Former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk; outrage over the verdict sparked rioting. (White was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison; he ended up serving five years and took his own life in 1985.)
1989 - In Hong Kong, approximately 1 million people took to the streets to show their support for students protesting for democratic reforms in China's Tiananmen Square.
1991 - Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian prime minister, was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
1998 - Indonesian President Suharto resigned.
1999 - Soap opera actress Susan Lucci finally won a Daytime Emmy Award on her 19th nomination.
2003 - Christine Todd Whitman announced her resignation as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
2017 - The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus received its final standing ovation as it performed its last show, at the Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, ending its 146-year existence.
2021 - Thousands of Palestinians rallied after a cease-fire took effect in the latest Gaza war; the 11 days of fighting left more than 250 people dead, the vast majority Palestinians, and brought widespread destruction to the Gaza Strip.
Birthdays
28 - Josh Allen (football player)
32 - Hutch Dano (actor)
33 - Sarah Ramos (actress)
34 - Scott Leavenworth (actor)
37 - Cody Johnson (singer)
37 - Ashlie Brillault (actress)
38 - David Ajala (actor)
41 - Brandi Maxiell (reality star)
58 - Lisa Edelstein (actress)
65 - Nick Cassavetes (actor)
67 - Judge Reinhold (actor)
72 - Mr. T (actor)
76 - Carol Potter (actress)
76 - Leo Sayer (singer)
77 - Bill Champlin (musician)
83 - Ron Isley (singer)
===================================
Today in Sports History - May 21
1881 - The United States Lawn Tennis Association was formed in New York City.
1904 - The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris.
1930 - Babe Ruth (New York Yankees) hit three consecutive home runs.
1943 - The Chicago White Sox and the Washington Senators played the fastest 9 inning night game in American League history. The game was finished in 89 minutes.
1952 - The Brooklyn Dodgers scored 15 runs in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds. The final score was 19-1.
1979 - The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers to win a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.
1981 - The New York Islanders defeat the Minnesota North Stars to win a second consecutive Stanley Cup.
1997 - Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox recorded his 200th career pitching victory.
2016 - On same card, American boxer Jermell Charlo KOs John Jackson in 8th to claim vacant WBC super welterweight title, and Jermall Charlo beats Austin Trout on points to retain IBF version; first twins to hold world championships in same weight division.
1471 - King Henry VI of England died in the Tower of London at age 49.
1542 - Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto died while searching for gold on the banks of the Mississippi River.
1881 - Clara Barton founded what would become the American Red Cross.
1924 - In a case that drew much notoriety, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a “thrill killing” carried out by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb (Bobby’s cousin).
1927 - Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, traveling from New York to Paris aboard his monoplane, The Spirit of St. Louis in 33 1/2 hours.
1932 - Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland in 15 hours.
1941 - A German U-boat sank the American merchant steamship SS Robin Moor in the South Atlantic after the ship’s passengers and crew were allowed to board lifeboats.
1955 - Chuck Berry recorded his first single, “Maybellene,” for Chess Records in Chicago.
1956 - The first hydrogen bomb to be dropped by air exploded over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
1972 - Michelangelo’s Pieta, on display at the Vatican, was damaged by a hammer-wielding man who shouted he was Jesus Christ.
1979 - Former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk; outrage over the verdict sparked rioting. (White was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison; he ended up serving five years and took his own life in 1985.)
1989 - In Hong Kong, approximately 1 million people took to the streets to show their support for students protesting for democratic reforms in China's Tiananmen Square.
1991 - Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian prime minister, was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
1998 - Indonesian President Suharto resigned.
1999 - Soap opera actress Susan Lucci finally won a Daytime Emmy Award on her 19th nomination.
2003 - Christine Todd Whitman announced her resignation as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
2017 - The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus received its final standing ovation as it performed its last show, at the Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, ending its 146-year existence.
2021 - Thousands of Palestinians rallied after a cease-fire took effect in the latest Gaza war; the 11 days of fighting left more than 250 people dead, the vast majority Palestinians, and brought widespread destruction to the Gaza Strip.
Birthdays
28 - Josh Allen (football player)
32 - Hutch Dano (actor)
33 - Sarah Ramos (actress)
34 - Scott Leavenworth (actor)
37 - Cody Johnson (singer)
37 - Ashlie Brillault (actress)
38 - David Ajala (actor)
41 - Brandi Maxiell (reality star)
58 - Lisa Edelstein (actress)
65 - Nick Cassavetes (actor)
67 - Judge Reinhold (actor)
72 - Mr. T (actor)
76 - Carol Potter (actress)
76 - Leo Sayer (singer)
77 - Bill Champlin (musician)
83 - Ron Isley (singer)
===================================
Today in Sports History - May 21
1881 - The United States Lawn Tennis Association was formed in New York City.
1904 - The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris.
1930 - Babe Ruth (New York Yankees) hit three consecutive home runs.
1943 - The Chicago White Sox and the Washington Senators played the fastest 9 inning night game in American League history. The game was finished in 89 minutes.
1952 - The Brooklyn Dodgers scored 15 runs in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds. The final score was 19-1.
1979 - The Montreal Canadiens defeat the New York Rangers to win a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.
1981 - The New York Islanders defeat the Minnesota North Stars to win a second consecutive Stanley Cup.
1997 - Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox recorded his 200th career pitching victory.
2016 - On same card, American boxer Jermell Charlo KOs John Jackson in 8th to claim vacant WBC super welterweight title, and Jermall Charlo beats Austin Trout on points to retain IBF version; first twins to hold world championships in same weight division.