✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 202nd day of the year

July 21

A look at July 21 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Emperor Wen of Sui and James Cooke Brown, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♋ZodiacCancer ◈BirthstoneRuby ❀Birth flowerLarkspur
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2024

    Joe Biden

    U.S. President Joe Biden announces he will no longer seek a second term and withdraws from the 2024 election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as she launches her own presidential campaign.

    President of the United
  2. 2010

    Barack Obama

    U.S. President Barack Obama signs the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

    President of the United
  3. 1972

    The Troubles

    The Troubles: Bloody Friday: The Provisional IRA detonate 22 bombs in central Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom in the space of 80 minutes, killing nine and injuring 130.

    1960s–1998 conflict in Northern
  4. 1960

    Sirimavo Bandaranaike

    Sirimavo Bandaranaike is sworn in as prime minister of Ceylon, becoming the world's first democratically elected female head of government.

    Prime Minister of Sri
  5. 1952

    1952 Kern County earthquake

    The 7.3 Mw Kern County earthquake strikes Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing 12 and injuring hundreds.

    7.3 earthquake in the
  6. 1944

    World War II

    World War II: Battle of Guam: American troops land on Guam, starting a battle that will end on August 10.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1861

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run: At Manassas Junction, Virginia, the first major battle of the war begins and ends in a victory for the Confederate army.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  8. 1645

    Qing dynasty

    Qing dynasty regent Dorgon issues an edict ordering all Han Chinese men to shave their forehead and braid the rest of their hair into a queue identical to those of the Manchus.

    Manchu-led dynasty of China
  9. 365

    AD 365

    The 365 Crete earthquake affected the Greek island of Crete with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), causing a destructive tsunami that affects the coasts of Libya and Egypt, especially Alexandria. Many thousands are killed.

    Calendar year
  10. 230

    Pope Pontian

    Pope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. After being exiled to Sardinia, he became the first pope to resign his office.

    Head of the Catholic
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Famous birthday twins

Born on July 21

Emperor Wen of Sui

b. 541

emperor of the Sui dynasty

James Cooke Brown

b. 1921

American sociologist and author

Ernest Hemingway

b. 1899

American novelist, short story writer, and journalist, Nobel Prize laureate

Anna de' Medici, Archduchess of Austria

b. 1616

Archduchess consort of Further Austria

Taco (musician)

b. 1955

Indonesian-born Dutch singer and entertainer

John Atta Mills

b. 1944

Ghanaian lawyer and politician, 3rd President of Ghana

DeAndre Jordan

b. 1988

American basketball player

Stefan Schumacher

b. 1981

German cyclist

Deaths

  • 2014Hans-Peter Kaul, German lawyer and judge
  • 1966Philipp Frank, Austrian-American physicist, mathematician, and philosopher, Vienna Circle member
  • 1944Claus von Stauffenberg, German soldier who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler
  • 1798François Sébastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of Clerfayt, Austrian field marshal
  • 1796Robert Burns, Scottish poet and songwriter
  • 1425Manuel II Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Albert John Luthuli (Episcopal Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Arbogast
  • —Christian feast day: Barhadbesciabas
  • —Christian feast day: Carlos of Brazil (Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Daniel (Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Lawrence of Brindisi
  • —Christian feast day: Praxedes
  • —Christian feast day: Victor of Marseilles

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