1420
Diplomacy
Treaty of Troyes Signed
The treaty recognized Henry V of England as heir to the French throne, attempting to unite the two nations during the Hundred Years' War.
✉️ On This Day May 21
People gather in plazas — five arrivals, five beginnings
31 historical moments · one line of insight
1502
Exploration
Discovery of Saint Helena
Portuguese explorer João da Nova discovered this uninhabited South Atlantic island, which later gained immense fame as the site of Napoleon's exile.
1792
Disaster
Mount Unzen Eruption
The eruption of Mount Unzen in Japan triggered a mega-tsunami, killing over 15,000 people in the nation's worst volcanic disaster.
1819
Education
Elizabeth Blackwell Born — First Woman Doctor
Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England. After graduating from medical school in the US in 1849, she became the first woman doctor in American history and fought for women's medical education throughout her life. One woman's defiance opened a century's door.
1851
Protest
Colombia Abolishes Slavery
The Colombian government officially passed a law abolishing slavery, marking a significant milestone in the history of human rights in Latin America.
1871
Protest
Bloody Week of the Paris Commune begins
French government troops entered Paris to suppress the Commune, initiating a week of intense street fighting that led to the fall of the worker's government.
1881
Humanitarian
American Red Cross Founded
Nurse Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. Based on her experience caring for wounded soldiers in the Civil War, she established the principle of equal medical aid for all. The lifework of one woman called "the Angel of the Battlefield."
1881
Sports
US Tennis Association Founded
The US Tennis Association was established to standardize rules and organize tournaments, laying the foundation for major events like the US Open.
1894
Business
Manchester Ship Canal Opened
Queen Victoria officially opened the Manchester Ship Canal, transforming the inland city into a major port and significantly boosting industrial growth.
1904
Sports
FIFA Founded in Paris
Representatives from seven European countries gathered in Paris to found FIFA, establishing the massive organization that governs international football today.
1908
Film
First Horror Movie Premieres
The first silent horror film adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde premiered in Chicago, demonstrating how cinema could effectively evoke fear.
1921
Science
Birth of Andrei Sakharov
Andrei Sakharov, the father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb who later won the Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights activism, was born.
1924
Crime
Leopold and Loeb Murder
Two wealthy Chicago students murdered a young boy out of intellectual curiosity, sparking significant debates on forensic psychology and capital punishment.
1927
Aviation
Lindbergh Arrives in Paris
Lindbergh, having departed New York the day before, landed at Le Bourget Airport. A crowd of 150,000 greeted him, and one person's solo flight gathered people from both sides of the Atlantic in a single plaza. A moment when the definition of "hero" was rewritten.
1932
Aviation
Amelia Earhart Lands After Transatlantic Flight
Amelia Earhart, departing Newfoundland on May 20, landed in Northern Ireland after 14 hours 56 minutes. As the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, the US Congress awarded her the Distinguished Flying Cross.
1932
News
First Democratic National Convention
The first Democratic National Convention was held in Baltimore, establishing the foundational political system for nominating a party's presidential candidate.
1969
Film
Midnight Cowboy Released
It remains the only X-rated film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, offering a gritty and realistic portrayal of society's dark side.
1972
Art
Michelangelo's Pietà Attacked
A man attacked Michelangelo's masterpiece Pietà with a hammer in St. Peter's Basilica, leading to the sculpture being permanently protected behind bulletproof glass.
1979
Protest
White Night Riots
Outraged by the lenient sentencing of Harvey Milk's killer, citizens in San Francisco rioted, marking a powerful turning point for LGBTQ+ rights.
1980
Film
The Empire Strikes Back Released
The Star Wars sequel featuring cinema's most shocking plot twist premiered, elevating the science fiction genre in both special effects and storytelling.
1982
Diplomacy
British Forces Land at San Carlos
British troops landed at San Carlos Water during the Falklands War, launching a major counteroffensive against Argentina in a fierce territorial conflict.
1991
Modern History
Rajiv Gandhi, Indian PM, Assassinated
Former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber during election campaigning. The 46-year-old politician's death was the second family tragedy after his mother Indira Gandhi's assassination (1984), a turning point in South Asian politics.
1991
News
Mengistu Haile Mariam Flees
Mengistu Haile Mariam, the longtime strongman of Ethiopia, fled to Zimbabwe amidst rebel advances, signaling a major shift in African political landscapes.
1992
TV
Johnny Carson's Penultimate Show
The king of late-night TV, Johnny Carson, hosted his penultimate episode featuring Robin Williams, preparing to bid farewell to decades of broadcasting.
1996
Disaster
MV Bukoba Sinks
The severely overloaded passenger ferry MV Bukoba capsized on Lake Victoria in Tanzania, killing over 800 people in one of Africa's worst maritime disasters.
1998
News
Suharto Resigns in Indonesia
After 32 years in power, Indonesian President Suharto resigned amidst massive pro-democracy protests and severe economic crisis, reshaping Asian politics.
2003
Disaster
Northern Algeria Earthquake
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck northern Algeria, killing over 2,000 people and exposing severe dangers of poor construction standards and infrastructure.
2006
Diplomacy
Montenegro Independence Referendum
Citizens of Montenegro voted to dissolve their state union with Serbia, peacefully redrawing the map of the Balkan Peninsula.
2012
Science
Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse
A spectacular annular solar eclipse, known as the Ring of Fire, was observed across Asia and North America, captivating millions of skywatchers.
2017
Diplomacy
Trump's First Foreign Trip — Saudi Arabia
US President Donald Trump chose Saudi Arabia as the destination of his first foreign trip, signing a $110 billion arms deal — an unusual choice for a US president's inaugural overseas visit.
2021
Music
BTS Releases 'Butter'
Korean group BTS released their second English single 'Butter,' instantly breaking YouTube viewership records and dominating the global music charts.
A line for today
"Courage often starts alone — but ends in a plaza where people gather."
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