All Events

Historical Events on May 21

  • John III Sobieski

    1674

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

  • Colombia

    1851

    Slavery is abolished in Colombia, South America.

  • Siege of Port Hudson

    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.

  • Bloody Week

    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.

  • Leopold and Loeb

    1924

    University of Chicago students Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, Jr. murder 14-year-old Bobby Franks in a "thrill killing".

  • 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.

  • John Malcolm Patterson

    1961

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

  • Butyric acid

    1998

    In Miami, five abortion clinics are attacked by a butyric acid attacker.

  • Atlantic slave trade

    2001

    French Taubira law is enacted, officially recognizing the Atlantic slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on May 21

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on May 21

20. May

22. May