Johann Sebastian Bach
b. 1685
German Baroque composer and musician
On This Day · The 80th day of the year
March 21
March 21 carries 10 recorded events spanning between 1788 and 2019. A fire in New Orleans leaves most of the town in ruins.
Compiled & reviewed by Roman Tailor · Last reviewed July 13, 2026
What happened on March 21?
March 21 is the 80th day of the year. It marks 10 notable events in history, dated between 1788 and 2019. Famous people born on March 21 include Johann Sebastian Bach, Emperor Taizu of Song and Joseph Fourier.
The shape of the day
March 21's recorded history is unusually compressed, gathered within recent centuries rather than reaching into antiquity. Its center of gravity is the 20th century, and conflict is a recurring thread.
Aries is the sign for March 21 — read more on the Aries page, or see March's birthstone & birth flower.
Released on March 21
Movies, games, albums & shows2025
- Game Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land
- Game Bleach: Rebirth of Souls
2024
- TV 3 Body Problem
2023
- Game The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Ch 2: Retribution
- Game Tchia
- Movie John Wick: Chapter 4
Release data from TMDB & IGDB.
Events
10 notable moments- 1788
Great New Orleans Fire (1788)
A fire in New Orleans leaves most of the town in ruins.
- 1844
Baháʼí calendar
The Baháʼí calendar begins. This is the first day of the first year of the Baháʼí calendar. It is annually celebrated by members of the Baháʼí Faith as the Baháʼí New Year or Náw-Rúz.
- 1861
Alexander H. Stephens
Alexander H. Stephens gives the Cornerstone Speech.
- 1918
World War I
World War I: The first phase of the German spring offensive, Operation Michael, begins.
- 1928
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh is presented with the Medal of Honor for the first solo trans-Atlantic flight.
- 1945
World War II
World War II: British troops liberate Mandalay, Burma.
- 1946
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams sign Kenny Washington, making him the first African American player in professional American football since 1933.
- 1990
Namibia
Namibia becomes independent after 75 years of South African rule.
- 2000
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II makes his first ever pontifical visit to Israel.
- 2019
2019 Xiangshui chemical plant explosion
The 2019 Xiangshui chemical plant explosion occurs, killing at least 47 people and injuring 640 others.
Famous birthday twins
Born on March 21Emperor Taizu of Song
b. 927
Emperor of China from 960 to 976
Joseph Fourier
b. 1768
French mathematician and physicist
Ayrton Senna
b. 1960
Brazilian race car driver
Cenk Uygur
b. 1970
Turkish-American political activist
Matthew Broderick
b. 1962
American actor
Lothar Matthäus
b. 1961
German footballer and manager
Ronaldinho
b. 1980
Brazilian footballer
Deaths
- 2017Martin McGuinness
- 2013Pietro Mennea
- 1998Galina Ulanova
- 1945Arthur Nebe
- 1936Alexander Glazunov
- 1556Thomas Cranmer
Holidays & observances
- —Arbor Day (Lesotho)
- —Arbor Day (Portugal)
- —Christian feast day: Augustine Zhao Rong
- —Christian feast day: Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello
- —Christian feast day: Passing of Saint Benedict (Order of Saint Benedict, pre-1970 Calendar)
- —Christian feast day: Birillus
- —Christian feast day: Enda of Aran
- —Christian feast day: Nicholas of Flüe
Historical facts, event summaries, and biographical lines above are adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. DateLore adds curation, structure, and original editorial commentary. DateLore is not affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.
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