October 21st: All Facts & Events That Happened Today In History

HISTORICAL EVENTS

• 1805: The Battle of Trafalgar takes place, resulting in a decisive victory for the British navy.
• 1879: Thomas Edison successfully tests the electric incandescent light bulb for the first time.
• 1945: Women in France are granted the right to vote for the first time.
• 1965: American poet and author Allen Ginsberg performs his famous poem “Howl” for the first time in public.
• 2003: NASA’s Galileo spacecraft intentionally crashes into Jupiter, ending its mission after 14 years of exploration.

SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS

• 1902: The American physicist and chemist, Irving Langmuir, discovers the monolayer film, a significant advancement in surface chemistry.
• 1929: Edwin Hubble announces his discovery of the redshift in the light spectrum of distant galaxies, providing evidence for the expansion of the universe.
• 1994: The Japanese mathematician, Shinichi Mochizuki, presents his groundbreaking work on the theory of prime numbers known as “Inter-universal Teichmüller theory”.
• 2004: The first private manned spaceflight, SpaceShipOne, completes its first successful space mission, reaching an altitude of 100 kilometers.
• 2015: Scientists from the LIGO project announce the first direct detection of gravitational waves, confirming a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

POLITICAL MILESTONES

• 1797: The USS Constitution, also known as “Old Ironsides,” is launched as one of the first six frigates authorized by the United States Congress.
• 1945: Women in France are granted the right to vote for the first time.
• 1966: In South Africa, Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd is assassinated in Parliament by Dimitri Tsafendas, a parliamentary messenger.
• 1986: The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, lifts martial law after 14 years of authoritarian rule.
• 2011: Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi is captured and killed during the Battle of Sirte, marking the end of his regime.

CULTURAL EVENTS

• 1854: The famous poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is published in The Examiner.
• 1925: The silent film “The Phantom of the Opera,” starring Lon Chaney, is released and becomes a classic of the horror genre.
• 1965: Bob Dylan’s influential single “Like a Rolling Stone” is released, revolutionizing the concept of songwriting in popular music.
• 1994: The Disney animated movie “The Lion King” becomes the highest-grossing animated film of all time at that point.
• 2013: The British rock band Coldplay releases their sixth studio album, “Ghost Stories,” which receives critical acclaim and commercial success.

BIRTHS

• 1772: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet and philosopher.
• 1833: Alfred Nobel, Swedish chemist and engineer, founder of the Nobel Prizes.
• 1940: Geoff Boycott, English cricketer and commentator.
• 1956: Carrie Fisher, American actress, and writer, known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise.
• 1980: Kim Kardashian, American media personality, businesswoman, and socialite.

NOTABLE DEATHS

• 1793: Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, is executed by guillotine during the French Revolution.
• 1924: Vladimir Lenin, Russian revolutionary, and politician, dies of a stroke.
• 1959: Jack Kerouac, American writer and poet, known for his novel “On the Road,” passes away.
• 1976: Carlo Gambino, Italian-American mobster and head of the Gambino crime family, dies of natural causes.
• 2009: Lou Albano, American professional wrestler and actor, known for his role as Mario in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show, passes away.

Conclusion

October 21st has witnessed significant historical events, scientific breakthroughs, political milestones, cultural events, and remarkable births and deaths. These occurrences have shaped our world in various ways, from the Battle of Trafalgar to the discovery of the redshift in galaxies, the granting of voting rights to women, and the release of influential cultural works like “Like a Rolling Stone” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” Births such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Alfred Nobel have brought immense contributions, while the deaths of Marie Antoinette and Vladimir Lenin have marked turning points in history. October 21st serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of events that have shaped our past and continue to impact our present and future.

FAQs

Q: What significance does October 21st hold in history?

A: October 21st is marked by various historical events, scientific breakthroughs, political milestones, cultural events, and notable births and deaths that have shaped our world and left a significant impact on different fields.

Q: What are some notable events that occurred on October 21st?

A: Some notable events that have taken place on October 21st include the Battle of Trafalgar, the first successful test of the electric incandescent light bulb by Thomas Edison, and the granting of voting rights to women in France.

Q: Who were some notable figures born on October 21st?

A: Notable figures born on October 21st include English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel, and American actress and writer Carrie Fisher.

Q: What scientific breakthroughs have occurred on October 21st?

A: October 21st witnessed significant scientific breakthroughs such as the discovery of the monolayer film by Irving Langmuir and the first direct detection of gravitational waves by scientists from the LIGO project.

Q: Which cultural events are associated with October 21st?

A: Cultural events associated with October 21st include the publication of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and the release of the Disney animated movie “The Lion King.