On this date in world history

October 21 in History

Browse historical events, births, deaths and battles recorded on October 21. Every item below is rendered from the World History Database into this page's initial HTML.

Events: 168Births: 5Deaths: 9Battles: 26

Historical Events on October 21

1147
Siege of Lisbon
Afonso I · Portugal · Lisbon

After four months, the Moorish rulers agreed to surrender (October 21), because the Crusaders siege tower reached their wall (thus causing a one day standstill) and because of hunger within the city, which was sheltering populations displaced from Santarem as well as "the leading citizens of Sintra, Almada, and Palmela"

1422
Regency
John of Bedford · England

Appointed Regent for Henry VI

1435
Treaty of Arras
Philipe the Good · France · Arras

Philipe receives the Somme towns and is exempted from homage to the crown

1517
95 Theses
Martin Luther · Germany · Wittenberg

Luther is said to have posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany

1517
Reformation, The
Martin Luther · Germany · Wittenberg

Luther is said to have posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany

1521
95 Theses
Martin Luther · Germany · Wittenberg

Pope Leo X wishes for Martin Luther to recant 41 of these theses, which Luther famously refused to do before the Diet of Worms in 1521, thus symbolically initiating the Protestant reformation

1521
Diet of Worms
Martin Luther · Germany · Worms

Pope Leo X wishes for Martin Luther to recant 41 of these theses, which Luther famously refused to do before the Diet of Worms in 1521, thus symbolically initiating the Protestant reformation

1521
Reformation, The
Martin Luther · Germany · Wittenberg

Pope Leo X wishes for Martin Luther to recant 41 of these theses, which Luther famously refused to do before the Diet of Worms in 1521, thus symbolically initiating the Protestant reformation

1527
Award
Francis I · France · Paris

Henry VIII approves the election of Francis I to the Order of the Garter

1527
Election
Francis I · France · Paris

Henry VIII approves the election of Francis I to the Order of the Garter

1591
Capture of Nijmegen
Maurice of Nassau · Netherlands · Nijmegen

Captures Nijmegen

1652
Return to Paris
Louis XIV · France · Paris

Returns to Paris after royal authority recovers.

1798
Cairo Revolt
Napoleon I · France · Cairo

A major uprising erupted in Cairo against French rule, and Napoleon's forces suppressed the revolt after intense fighting.

1805
Algesiras
Charles Rene Magon · France · Trafalgar

Is killed while commanding the French rear division.

1805
Bahama
Dionisio Alcala Galiano · Spain · Trafalgar

Is killed while commanding the Spanish ship Bahama.

1805
Body Preserved
William Beatty · Great Britain · HMS Victory

Preserves Nelson's body for return to Britain.

1805
Body Preserved
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · HMS Victory

Nelson's body is preserved for the voyage home after Trafalgar.

1805
Bucentaure
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve · France · Trafalgar

Commands from the flagship Bucentaure.

1805
Capture of Villeneuve
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve · France · Trafalgar

Is captured after Bucentaure surrenders.

1805
Command After Nelson
Cuthbert Collingwood · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Assumes command after Nelson is mortally wounded.

1805
England Expects
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Orders the famous signal before battle begins.

1805
England Expects
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Signals that England expects every man will do his duty.

1805
England Expects
John Pasco · Great Britain · HMS Victory

Raises Nelson's signal from HMS Victory.

1805
Escape from Trafalgar
Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley · France · Trafalgar

Escapes with part of the French van.

1805
Fatal Wound
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · HMS Victory

Is fatally wounded by a marksman during the battle.

1805
French Resistance
Jean Jacques Magon · France · Trafalgar

French ships fight through Nelson's attack.

1805
HMS Agamemnon
Edward Berry · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Agamemnon at Trafalgar.

1805
HMS Belleisle
William Hargood · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands the battered HMS Belleisle at Trafalgar.

1805
HMS Bellerophon
John Cooke · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Is killed while commanding HMS Bellerophon at Trafalgar.

1805
HMS Britannia
Charles Bullen · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Britannia in the lee column.

1805
HMS Canopus
Thomas Louis · Great Britain · Gibraltar

Misses Trafalgar after being detached for supplies.

1805
HMS Colossus
James Nicoll Morris · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Colossus in the fighting.

1805
HMS Conqueror
Israel Pellew · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Conqueror and receives Villeneuve's surrender.

1805
HMS Euryalus
Henry Blackwood · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands the frigate Euryalus during the battle.

1805
HMS Mars
George Duff · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Is killed while commanding HMS Mars.

1805
HMS Neptune
Thomas Fremantle · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Neptune in Nelson's column.

1805
HMS Orion
Edward Codrington · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Orion in the weather column.

1805
HMS Prince
Richard Grindall · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Prince during the battle.

1805
HMS Revenge
Robert Moorsom · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Revenge during the battle.

1805
HMS Royal Sovereign
Edward Rotheram · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Captains Collingwood's flagship at Trafalgar.

1805
HMS Spartiate
Francis Laforey · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Spartiate at Trafalgar.

1805
HMS Temeraire
Eliab Harvey · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Temeraire in support of Victory.

1805
HMS Tonnant
Charles Tyler · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Tonnant and is wounded in battle.

1805
HMS Victory
Thomas Hardy · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands HMS Victory during the battle.

1805
HMS Victory
Thomas Hardy · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Serves as Victory's captain beside Nelson during Trafalgar.

1805
HMS Victory
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Commands the British fleet from HMS Victory at Trafalgar.

1805
Invasion of England
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Nelson is killed but the battle helps end immediate invasion fears.

1805
Invasion of Great Britain
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Villeneuve leaves Cadiz but is defeated by Nelson off Trafalgar.

1805
Invasion of Great Britain
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve · France · Trafalgar

His defeat ends Napoleon's practical invasion threat against Britain.

1805
Invasion of Great Britain
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve · France · Trafalgar

Leaves Cadiz and is defeated by Nelson off Cape Trafalgar.

1805
Neptuno
Cayetano Valdes · Spain · Trafalgar

Commands Neptuno and is wounded during the action.

1805
Principe de Asturias
Federico Gravina · Spain · Trafalgar

Commands from Principe de Asturias and is badly wounded.

1805
Royal Sovereign
Cuthbert Collingwood · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Breaks the enemy line in HMS Royal Sovereign.

1805
San Juan Nepomuceno
Cosme Damian Churruca · Spain · Trafalgar

Is killed while commanding San Juan Nepomuceno.

1805
Santissima Trinidad
Francisco Javier Uriarte · Spain · Trafalgar

Commands Santissima Trinidad after earlier officers are disabled.

1805
Spanish Staff
Antonio Escano · Spain · Trafalgar

Serves as senior Spanish staff officer under Gravina.

1838
Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada
Martin van Buren · United States of America · Washington

Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada

1838
Neutrality
Martin van Buren · United States of America · Washington

Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada

1838
Proclamation of Neutrality
Martin van Buren · United States of America · Washington

Issues a second neutrality proclamation directed toward Canada

1869
Arrest of Jose Perez
Jose Perez · Cuba

Arrested and incarcerated in the national jail, following an accusation of treason and bribery from the Spanish Government

1869
Treason
Jose Perez · Cuba

Arrested and incarcerated in the national jail, following an accusation of treason and bribery from the Spanish Government

1879
Irish National Land League
Charles Stewart Parnell · Great Britain

Elected president of Davitts newly founded Irish National Land League, signing a militant Land League address campaigning for land reform

1905
Trafalgar Centenary
John Fisher · Great Britain · London

Uses naval commemoration while reforming the Royal Navy.

1905
Trafalgar Centenary
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · London

Trafalgar centenary events commemorate Nelson and the victory.

1912
Capture of Lemnos
Pavlos Kountouriotis · Greece · Lemnos

Occupies Lemnos as a base near the Dardanelles.

1916
Assassination of Karl von Sturgkh
Karl von Sturgkh · Austria

Assassination of Karl von Sturgkh

1917
Garrison Commissars Appointed
Nikolai Ilyich Podvoisky · Russia · Petrograd

Podvoisky helps extend Military Revolutionary Committee authority by placing commissars with key Petrograd military units.

1917
Garrison Control
Leon Trotsky · Russia · Petrograd

The Soviet claims authority over the Petrograd garrison during the crisis.

1917
Garrison Order
Leon Trotsky · Russia · Petrograd

Claims authority over Petrograd garrison orders through the Soviet.

1918
Dismissal
Georges Clemanceau · France

Advocates the dismissal of Pershing

1918
Registration Directorate
Simon Aralov · Russia

Appointed as the first Head of the Registration Directorate, later to be known as the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)

1918
Registration Directorate
Leon Trotsky · Russia

The predecessr of the GRU is created under the sponsorship of Leon Trotsky, who was then the civilian leader of the Red Army; it was originally known as the Registration Directorate. Given the task of handling all military intelligence, particularly the collection of intelligence of military or political significance from sources outside the Soviet Union

1918
Resignation of William Maxwell Aitken
William Maxwell Aitken · Great Britain

Resigns as Minister of Information due to ill health

1921
Peace
David Lloyd George · Great Britain

Anglo-Irish peace talks begin

1923
British Rhineland Objection
Gustav Stressman · Germany · Aachen

British disapproval contributes to the failure of the Rhineland separatist plan.

1923
Constitution of Germany
Gustav Stressman · Germany · Berlin

A Rhineland Republic supported by Belgium & France is declared at Aachen

1923
French Separatist Support
Gustav Stressman · Germany · Aachen

French backing assists separatists seeking an independent Rhine Republic.

1923
Occupation
Gustav Stressman · Germany

With French support, separatists try to declare an independent "Rhine Republic" in Aachen, the plan fails due to resistance by the population and the British disapproval

1923
Rhine Republic
Gustav Stressman · Germany · Ruhr

With French support, separatists try to declare an independent "Rhine Republic" in Aachen, the plan fails due to resistance by the population and the British disapproval

1923
Rhineland Popular Resistance
Gustav Stressman · Germany · Aachen

Popular resistance helps defeat the separatist Rhineland project.

1923
Rhineland Republic Declaration
Gustav Stressman · Germany · Aachen

A separatist Rhineland Republic is declared at Aachen with French and Belgian support.

1923
Rule of Ruhr
Gustav Stressman · Germany · Ruhr

With French support, separatists try to declare an independent "Rhine Republic" in Aachen, the plan fails due to resistance by the population and the British disapproval

1927
Plenum of Central Committee
Leon Trotsky · Russia · Moscow

Forces a discussion of Lenins Testament at the Plenum. Criticizes Stalin at the Plenum. Claims the Politburo has betrayed the Revolution

1936
Signs a secret protocol with Ciano outlining a common policy for Germany
Constantin Freiher von Neurath · Germany · Berlin

Signs a secret protocol with Ciano outlining a common policy for Germany & Italy

1938
Capture of Canton
Konoe Fumimaro · Japan · Canton

Japanese troops occupy Canton

1938
Capture of Canton
Chiang Kai-Shek · China · Canton

Japanese forces capture Guangzhou, threatening China’s remaining coastal supply routes.

1938
Invasion of China
Konoe Fumimaro · Japan · Canton

Japanese troops occupy Canton

1939
Advisory Committee on Uranium
Lyman Briggs · United States of America · Washington

First meeting of the Uranium Committee, headed by Lyman Briggs of the National Bureau of Standards, 6000 dollars is budgeted for neutron experiments

1939
Advisory Committee on Uranium
Franklin Delano Roosevelt · United States of America · Washington

First meeting of the Uranium Committee, headed by Lyman Briggs of the National Bureau of Standards, 6000 dollars is budgeted for neutron experiments

1939
Invasion of Czech
Adolf Hitler · Germany · Berlin

Gives the armed forces orders for the liquidation of Czech

1939
Invasion of Memel
Adolf Hitler · Germany · Berlin

Gives the armed forces orders for the invasion of Memel

1939
Manhattan Project
Lyman Briggs · United States of America · Washington

First meeting of the Uranium Committee, headed by Lyman Briggs of the National Bureau of Standards, 6000 dollars is budgeted for neutron experiments

1939
Mobilization
Adolf Hitler · Germany · Berlin

Gives the armed forces orders for the defence of Germany

1939
Uranium Committee
Lyman Briggs · United States of America · Washington

First meeting of the Uranium Committee, headed by Lyman Briggs of the National Bureau of Standards, 6000 dollars is budgeted for neutron experiments

1939
Uranium Committee
Lyman Briggs · United States of America · Washington

Chairs the first Uranium Committee meeting.

1939
Uranium Committee
Franklin Delano Roosevelt · United States of America · Washington

First meeting of the Uranium Committee, headed by Lyman Briggs of the National Bureau of Standards, 6000 dollars is budgeted for neutron experiments

1942
Revenue Act of 1942
Henry Morgenthau · United States of America · Washington

The Act greatly expands the number of Americans subject to federal income tax.

1943
Government
Subhas Chandra Bose · India

Subhas Chandra Bose proclaims the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore on 21 October 1943.

1943
K-25 First Concrete
Percival C. Keith · United States of America · Oak Ridge

The first concrete is poured for the K-25 gaseous-diffusion plant building at Oak Ridge.

1943
Provisional Government
Subhas Chandra Bose · India

Bose establishes the Provisional Government of Free India as the political authority aligned with the Indian National Army.

1944
Capture of Aachen
Dwight David Eisenhower · United States of America · Aachen

The US 1st & 30th divisions of infantry capture Aachen

1944
Capture of Aachen
Adolf Hitler · Germany · Aachen

The Allies liberate Aachen

1944
Deposed in Coup
Andres Ignacio Menendez · El Salvador · San Salvador

Menendez is overthrown by Osmín Aguirre y Salinas

1944
End of Bjorn Thordarson Government
Bjorn Thordarson · Iceland · Reykjavik

The Bjorn Thordarson Government ends, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Iceland.

1944
First Army
Courtney Hicks Hodges · United States of America · Aachen

Hodges First Army captures Aachen, the 1st breach of the Siegfried Line

1944
Provisional President Takes Office
Osmín Aguirre · El Salvador · San Salvador

Osmín Aguirre becomes provisional President after removing Menendez

1944
Second Olafur Thors Government
Olafur Thors · Iceland · Reykjavik

Begins the Second Olafur Thors Government and serves as Prime Minister of Iceland.

1944
Stilwell Recalled
Chiang Kai-Shek · China · Chongqing

Secures the recall of General Joseph Stilwell from his China commands after prolonged disputes over strategy, authority and military reform.

1946
First Visit to Taiwan
Chiang Kai-Shek · China · Taiwan

Visits Taiwan for the first time and attends events marking the anniversary of the island’s transfer from Japanese administration.

1946
Reform of Land Ownership
Shigeru Yoshida · Japan · Tokyo

Second Land Reform Act

1950
Chairs a Soviet Bloc meeting in Prague to discuss the future of
Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov · Russia · Prague

Chairs a Soviet Bloc meeting in Prague to discuss the future of Germany

1956
Arrest of Dedan Kimathi
Dedan Kimathi · Kenya

The last Mau Mau leader, Dedan Kimath is captured by Kikuyu Tribal Police in Nyeri with 13 remaining guerrillas, and is subsequently hanged in early 1957, having been sentenced to death by a court presided over by the British Chief Consul

1956
Mau Mau
Dedan Kimathi · Kenya

The last Mau Mau leader, Dedan Kimath is captured by Kikuyu Tribal Police in Nyeri with 13 remaining guerrillas, and is subsequently hanged in early 1957, having been sentenced to death by a court presided over by the British Chief Consul

1956
Sevres Delegation Authorised
David Ben-Gurion · Israel · Jerusalem

Ben-Gurion authorises senior Israeli participation in secret talks with Britain and France at Sevres.

1957
Execution
Dedan Kimathi · Kenya

The last Mau Mau leader, Dedan Kimath is captured by Kikuyu Tribal Police in Nyeri with 13 remaining guerrillas, and is subsequently hanged in early 1957, having been sentenced to death by a court presided over by the British Chief Consul

1959
Botkinskaya Psychiatric Ward
Lee Harvey Oswald · United States of America · Moscow

Following his wrist injury, Lee spent three days in Botkinskaya Hospital's psychiatric ward before doctors transferred him to another department.

1959
Moscow Self Harm Incident
Lee Harvey Oswald · United States of America · Moscow

After being told to leave Moscow, Oswald cut his left wrist and was taken unconscious to Botkinskaya Hospital.

1959
Soviet Visa Expiration Order
Lee Harvey Oswald · United States of America · Moscow

On October 21, 1959, Soviet officials informed Oswald that his visa had expired and ordered him to leave Moscow within two hours.

1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
John Fitzgerald Kennedy · United States of America · White House

Kennedy reviewed the quarantine proclamation, military rules, and the planned address to the nation.

1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
John A. McCone · United States of America · Washington

McCone assessed the growing operational capability of the Soviet missile deployment while the administration refined its response.

1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
Theodore Chaikin Sorensen · United States of America · White House

Sorensen refined Kennedy's television address so that the missile evidence, quarantine, and warning to Moscow were presented clearly.

1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
Walter Campbell Sweeney · United States of America · White House

Sweeney advised Kennedy that air strikes could not guarantee destruction of every operational missile.

1962
Second Eisenhower Crisis Briefing
John A. McCone · United States of America · Washington

McCone again briefed Eisenhower, this time explaining the administration's decision to combine a naval quarantine with demands for removal of the Soviet missiles.

1963
Foreign Missile and Space Analysis Center
John A. McCone · United States of America · Langley

McCone directed creation of the Foreign Missile and Space Analysis Center to strengthen independent CIA assessment of foreign missile and space capabilities.

1967
March on the Pentagon
David Dellinger · United States of America · Washington

Helps organize the antiwar March on the Pentagon

1967
March on the Pentagon
Norman Mailer · United States of America · Washington

Participates in the March on the Pentagon and later writes about it

1969
Bombing of Eliat
Golda Meir · Israel · Eliat

The Israeli destroyer "Eilat" is targeted by an Egyptian surface-to-surface missile, 47 Israeli sailors are killed. Israel retaliates by shelling Egyptian refineries along the Suez Canal, the "War of Attrition," which lasts until August 1970

1969
Bombing of Suez Canal
Golda Meir · Israel · Suez Canal

Israel retaliates by shelling Egyptian refineries along the Suez Canal, the "War of Attrition," which lasts until August 1970

1969
Suez Canal
Golda Meir · Israel · Eilat

Israel retaliates by shelling Egyptian refineries along the Suez Canal, the "War of Attrition," which lasts until August 1970

1969
Tacnazo
Eduardo Frei Montalva · Chile · Santiago

Confronts a military protest led by General Roberto Viaux at the Tacna Regiment.

1972
Paris European Summit
Giuseppe Medici · Italy · Paris

Supports the summit conclusions setting new objectives for European integration.

1972
Paris Summit Political Cooperation
Walter Scheel · Germany · Paris

Supports stronger political cooperation as the Paris summit sets new objectives for European integration.

1973
Ceasefire
Henry Alfred Kissinger · United States of America · Moscow

Negotiates ceasefire terms with Leonid Brezhnev that lead to United Nations Security Council Resolution 338.

1973
Peace Conference
Anwar Sadat · Egypt · Cairo

Considers the US-Soviet ceasefire proposal later embodied in Resolution 338.

1973
Saturday Night Massacre
Robert Bork · United States of America

Nixon contacted the Solicitor General, Robert Bork, and ordered him, as acting head of the Justice Department in the wake of the previous resignations, to fire Cox. Bork reluctantly complied.

1973
Saturday Night Massacre
Robert Bork · United States of America

The firing of Special Prosecutor Cox, and the flurry of high-profile Justice Department resignations over the weekend caused the press to dub this event, the "Saturday Night Massacre."

1973
Saturday Night Massacre
Archibald Cox · United States of America

Nixon contacted the Solicitor General, Robert Bork, and ordered him, as acting head of the Justice Department in the wake of the previous resignations, to fire Cox. Bork reluctantly complied.

1973
Saturday Night Massacre
Archibald Cox · United States of America

The firing of Special Prosecutor Cox, and the flurry of high-profile Justice Department resignations over the weekend caused the press to dub this event, the "Saturday Night Massacre."

1973
Saturday Night Massacre
Richard Milhous Nixon · United States of America

Nixon contacted the Solicitor General, Robert Bork, and ordered him, as acting head of the Justice Department in the wake of the previous resignations, to fire Cox. Bork reluctantly complied.

1973
Saturday Night Massacre
Richard Milhous Nixon · United States of America

The firing of Special Prosecutor Cox, and the flurry of high-profile Justice Department resignations over the weekend caused the press to dub this event, the "Saturday Night Massacre."

1976
Deputy Party Leader
Michael Mackintosh Foot · Great Britain

Appointed Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

1976
Election
Michael Mackintosh Foot · Great Britain

Defeats Shirley Williams by 166 votes to 128 for the Labour Party Deputy Leadership

1976
Election
Shirley Williams · Great Britain

Michael Foot defeats Shiley Williams by 166 votes to 128 for the Deputy Leadership

1979
Moshe Dayan, Israeli Foreign Secretary, submits his resignation
Menachem Begin · Israel

Moshe Dayan, Israeli Foreign Secretary, submits his resignation

1979
Moshe Dayan, Israeli Foreign Secretary, submits his resignation
Moshe Dayan · Israel

Moshe Dayan, Israeli Foreign Secretary, submits his resignation

1979
Resignation of Moshe Dayan
Menachem Begin · Israel

Moshe Dayan, Israeli Foreign Secretary, submits his resignation

1979
Resignation of Moshe Dayan
Moshe Dayan · Israel

Moshe Dayan, Israeli Foreign Secretary, submits his resignation

1981
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Karolos Papoulias · Greece

Karolos Papoulias is appointed Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.

1981
Prime Minister of Greece
Andreas Papandreou · Greece

Andreas Papandreou is sworn in as Prime Minister after PASOK's election victory.

1983
Conference of NUM
Arthur Scargill · Great Britain · London

The NUM Delegate Conference votes for an overtime ban

1987
October Central Committee Plenum Speech
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin · Russia · Moscow

Criticizes party conservatism and the emerging personality cult around Mikhail Gorbachev at a Central Committee plenum.

1989
Conference of CHOGM
Charles Powell · Great Britain · Kuala Lumpur

Drafts a statement outlining the British oppostion to sanctions against South Africa

1991
Dismissal as Prime Minister
Etienne Tshisekedi · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Kinshasa

Mobutu dismisses Tshisekedi after a brief confrontation over executive authority.

1991
JFK
Earling Carothers "Jim" Garrison · United States of America

Garrisons investigation again received widespread attention through Oliver Stones 1991 film, JFK, which was largely based on Garrisons book On the Trail of the Assassins as well as Jim Marrs Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy

1992
Pit Closures Review
Michael Heseltine · Great Britain · London

Faces Commons debate on proposed pit closures and the Government review of the coal industry.

1994
US North Korea Agreed Framework
William Jefferson Bill Clinton · United States of America · Geneva

The United States and North Korea conclude the Agreed Framework addressing North Korea's nuclear programme.

1995
Lieutenant General
Pervez Musharraf · Pakistan

Pervez Musharraf is promoted to lieutenant general.

2005
Trafalgar Bicentenary
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar Square

Bicentenary events commemorate the battle and Nelson.

2013
Gauge-Gravity Black Hole Interior
Donald Marolf · United States of America

With Joseph Polchinski, argues that typical black holes in gauge-gravity duality may possess firewalls at the horizon.

2013
Gauge-Gravity Black Hole Interior
Joseph Polchinski · United States of America

With Donald Marolf, develops a gauge-gravity argument supporting firewalls in typical black hole states.

2015
2016 Race Declined
Joseph Robinette Biden · United States of America · Washington

Announces he will not run for president in 2016.

2019
General Election
Justin Trudeau · Canada · Ottawa

Wins a 2nd term as Prime Minister with a Liberal minority government.

2019
General Election - General Election
Justin Trudeau · Canada · Ottawa

Wins a 2nd term as Prime Minister with a Liberal minority government.

2019
General Election Election Outcome
Justin Trudeau · Canada · Ottawa

General election outcome recorded for Justin Trudeau: Wins a 2nd term as Prime Minister with a Liberal minority government.

2019
General Election Government
Justin Trudeau · Canada · Ottawa

Government context for this general election: Wins a 2nd term as Prime Minister with a Liberal minority government.

2023
Gaganyaan TV-D1
S. Somanath · India · Sriharikota

The TV-D1 mission tests the Gaganyaan crew escape system in flight during S. Somanath's chairmanship.

2024
Change NHS Consultation
Keir Starmer · Great Britain · London

The Government launches a national consultation to shape the NHS ten-year plan.

2025
Prime Minister of Japan
Sanae Takaichi · Japan · Tokyo

Becomes Japan's first female prime minister.

Births on October 21

1328
Birth of Hongwu
Hongwu · China · Haozhou

Hongwu is born as Zhu Yuanzhang during the Yuan dynasty

1328
Birth of Zhu Yuanzhang
Zhu Yuanzhang · China · Haozhou

Birth of Zhu Yuanzhang later the Hongwu Emperor

1874
Birth of Henri Guisan
Henri Guisan · Switzerland

Birth of Henri Guisan

1971
Birth of Jade Jagger
Bianca Jagger · Great Britain

Birth of Jade Jagger, Bianca Jagger, gives birth to Mick Jaggers daughter Jade Jagger

1971
Birth of Jade Jagger
Mick Jagger · Great Britain

Birth of Jade Jagger, Bianca Jagger, gives birth to Mick Jagger's daughter Jade Jagger

Deaths on October 21

1422
Death of Henry VI
Henry VI · France

Henry VI is declared King of France & John, Duke of Bedford, his Regent

1805
Death of Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · HMS Victory

Dies aboard HMS Victory after learning the battle is won.

1805
Death of Nelson
William Beatty · Great Britain · HMS Victory

Attends Nelson after he is fatally wounded.

1805
Death of Nelson
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · HMS Victory

Dies after learning that victory is secured.

1916
Death of Karl von Sturgkh
Karl von Sturgkh · Austria

Death of Karl von Sturgkh, assassinated

1957
Death of Dedan Kimathi
Dedan Kimathi · Kenya

The last Mau Mau leader, Dedan Kimath is captured by Kikuyu Tribal Police in Nyeri with 13 remaining guerrillas, and is subsequently hanged in early 1957, having been sentenced to death by a court presided over by the British Chief Consul

1969
Death of Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac · United States of America

Death of Jack Kerouac

1980
Death of Vulko Velev Chervenkov
Vulko Velev Chervenkov · Bulgaria

Death of Vulko Velev Chervenkov

1992
Death of Earling Carothers Jim Garrison
Earling Carothers "Jim" Garrison · United States of America

Death of Earling Carothers "Jim" Garrison

Battles on October 21

1550
Battle of Sekigahara
Ieyasu · Japan · Sekigahara

Victory helps Ieyasu to consolidate his rule over Honshu. Ieyasus 74,000 troops defeat a coalition force of 82,000. 40,000 confederates are killed

1550
Battle of Sekigahara
Terumoto Mori · Japan · Sekigahara

Fights at the Battle of Sekigahara

1600
Battle of Sekigahara
Ieyasu · Japan · Sekigahara

Defeats his opponents & becomes ruler of Japan

1639
Battle of Downs
Olivares · Spain · Downs

The Spanish fleet off The Netherlands is defeated by the French. The seagoing route to the Rhine is closed off to Spain

1639
Battle of Downs
Antonio de Oquendo · Spain · Downs

The Spanish fleet off The Netherlands is defeated by the French. The seagoing route to the Rhine is closed off to Spain

1639
Battle of Downs
Martin Van Tromp · Netherlands · Downs

Defeats the Spanish fleet under Antonio de Oquendo

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Charles IV · Spain · Trafalgar

Spain loses heavily in the combined fleet defeat.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Cuthbert Collingwood · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Leads the lee column and takes command after Nelson is wounded.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Federico Gravina · Spain · Trafalgar

Commands Spanish forces in the combined fleet at Trafalgar.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Many French and Spanish ships surrender without any British ship being lost.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Nelson is killed but the British fleet wins a decisive victory.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

The victory helps protect Britain from French invasion plans.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Traps Villeneuve outside Cadiz and forces battle off Cape Trafalgar.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Horatio Nelson · Great Britain · Trafalgar

Villeneuve leaves Cadiz and Nelson brings the combined fleet to battle.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve · France · Trafalgar

British forces capture or destroy many allied ships without losing a ship.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve · France · Trafalgar

Commands the combined fleet defeated at Trafalgar.

1805
Battle of Trafalgar
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve · France · Trafalgar

Commands the combined Franco-Spanish fleet defeated at Trafalgar.

1899
Battle of Elandslaagte
John Denton Pinkstone French · Great Britain · Elandslaagte

Fights at the Battle of Elandslaagte

1899
Battle of Elandslaagte
John Denton Pinkstone French · Great Britain · Elandslaagte

Helps defeat Boer forces at Elandslaagte.

1899
Battle of Elandslaagte
John Denton Pinkstone French · Great Britain · Ypres

French wins cavalry reputation before becoming Earl of Ypres.

1899
Battle of Elandslaagte
Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton · Great Britain · Elandslaagte

Hamilton helps direct the British infantry attack that defeats the Boer force at Elandslaagte.

1899
Battle of Elandslaagte
Johannes Kock · South Africa · Elandslaagte

Is mortally wounded after defeat at Elandslaagte.

1899
Battle of Elandslaagte
George Stuart White · Great Britain · Elandslaagte

Forced back by a Boer force led by Transvaal General Joubert

1914
Battle of Langemarck
Otto von Below · Germany · Ypres

German reserve corps attack near Ypres.

1944
Battle of Aachen
Heinrich Himmler · Germany · Aachen

Attempts to hold the German line to the Swiss border

1944
Battle of Aachen
Courtney Hicks Hodges · United States of America · Aachen

Hodges First Army captures Aachen, the 1st breach of the Siegfried Line

Provenance

About these date records

These entries are read from the World History Database date API and written into static HTML when the date pages are generated. Records may contain an exact day and month, person, country, place, event label and description. The database is continually reviewed and normalised; specialist or primary sources should be consulted for scholarly citation.

Search the date database · Search the full database · Browse chronology