TODAY IN HISTORY: SEPTEMBER 21

 

September 21

 

September 21 is a date that holds significance in history, culture, and various events around the world. From significant battles to important scientific discoveries, it is a day that has left a lasting impact. This article will explore some notable events that have taken place on September 21.

In 1792, the French Revolution was in full swing, and it was on September 21 that the French National Convention abolished the French monarchy and proclaimed the First French Republic. This marked a pivotal moment in history, as it symbolized the end of an era and the beginning of a new form of governance.

On September 21, 1937, the infamous Volkswagen Beetle was first unveiled to the public. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, this iconic car became one of the most popular vehicles in history. Its distinctive design and affordable price made it accessible to the masses, and it became a symbol of Germany's economic recovery after World War II.

In the world of music, September 21 is the birthday of the legendary American singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Known for his introspective and poetic lyrics, Cohen's music touched the souls of millions. His songs, such as \Hallelujah\ and \Suzanne,\ continue to be celebrated and covered by artists around the world.

Moreover, September 21 has been marked as International Day of Peace by the United Nations since 1982. This day serves as an opportunity to promote peace, ceasefires, and non-violence across the globe. Various events and activities are organized to raise awareness and encourage dialogue among communities and nations.

Turning to the natural world, September 21 also marks the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This astronomical event signals the transition from summer to fall, where daylight hours become equal to nighttime. It is a time when nature enters a period of transformation, as trees shed their leaves and animals prepare for the approaching winter.

September 21 has seen its fair share of notable birthdays as well. American author and poet H.G. Wells, well-known for his science fiction novels including \The War of the Worlds\ and \The Time Machine,\ was born on this day in 1866. His imaginative and thought-provoking works continue to captivate readers to this day.

Furthermore, September 21 is a significant day in the sporting world. In 1985, American basketball player, Shaquille O'Neal, was born. One of the most dominant centers in NBA history, O'Neal's impact on the game cannot be understated. His physical presence, skill, and charismatic personality made him a household name and a true icon of the sport.

In the realm of science and exploration, on September 21, 1970, the Soviet Union's Luna 16 spacecraft successfully returned to Earth. Making it the first unmanned mission to retrieve samples of the Moon's surface and bring them back to our planet, this achievement was a major breakthrough in space exploration.

In conclusion, September 21 is a day that has witnessed significant events across multiple fields. From historic milestones to memorable births, it is a date that showcases the diversity and richness of the world we live in. Whether it is through cultural celebrations, scientific advancements, or sporting achievements, September 21 remains a date worth commemorating.

Here are some more events on this day:

455 – Emperor Avitus enters Rome with a Gallic army and consolidates his power.

1170 – The Kingdom of Dublin falls to Norman invaders.

1217 – Livonian Crusade: The Estonian leader Lembitu and Livonian leader Kaupo the Accursed are killed in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day.

1435 – The Congress of Arras causes Burgundy to switch sides in the Hundred Years' War.

1745 – A Hanoverian army is defeated, in ten minutes, by the Jacobite forces of Prince Charles Edward Stuart

1776 – Part of New York City is burned shortly after being occupied by British forces.

1780 – American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold gives the British the plans to West Point.

1792 – French Revolution: The National Convention abolishes the monarchy.

1809 – British Secretary of War Lord Castlereagh and Foreign Secretary George Canning meet in a duel on Putney Heath, with Castlereagh wounding Canning in the thigh.

1843 – The crew of schooner Ancud, led by John Williams Wilson, takes possession of the Strait of Magellan on behalf of the Chilean government.

1860 – Second Opium War: An Anglo-French force defeats Chinese troops at the Battle of Palikao.

1896 – Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan: British forces under the command of Horatio Kitchener take Dongola.

1898 – Empress Dowager Cixi seizes power and ends the Hundred Days' Reform in China.

1921 – A storage silo in Oppau, Germany, explodes, killing 500–600 people.

1933 – Salvador Lutteroth establishes Mexican professional wrestling.

1934 – A large typhoon hits western Honshū, Japan, killing more than 3,000 people.

1938 – The Great Hurricane of 1938 makes landfall on Long Island in New York. The death toll is estimated at 500–700 people.

1939 – Romanian Prime Minister Armand Călinescu is assassinated by the Iron Guard.

1942 – The Holocaust in Ukraine: On the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Nazis send over 1,000 Jews of Pidhaitsi to Bełżec extermination camp.

1942 – The Holocaust in Ukraine: In Dunaivtsi, Ukraine, Nazis murder 2,588 Jews.

1942 – The Holocaust in Poland: At the end of Yom Kippur, Germans order Jews to permanently move from Konstantynów to Biała Podlaska.

1942 – The Boeing B-29 Superfortress makes its maiden flight.

1953 – Lieutenant No Kum-sok, a North Korean pilot, defects to South Korea with his jet fighter.

1957 – Pamir, a four-masted barque, was shipwrecked and sank off the Azores during Hurricane Carrie.

1964 – Malta gains independence from the United Kingdom, but remains in the Commonwealth.

1964 – The North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the world's fastest bomber, makes its maiden flight from Palmdale, California.

1965 – The Gambia, Maldives and Singapore are admitted as members of the United Nations.

1971 – Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations.

1972 – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos begins authoritarian rule by declaring martial law.

1976 – Orlando Letelier is assassinated in Washington, D.C because had been a member of the former Chilean Marxist government.

1976 – Seychelles joins the United Nations.

1981 – Belize is granted full independence from the United Kingdom.

1981 – Sandra Day O'Connor is unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate as the first female Supreme Court justice.

1984 – Brunei joins the United Nations.

1991 – Armenia gains independence from the Soviet Union.

1993 – Russian President Boris Yeltsin triggers a constitutional crisis when he suspends parliament and scraps the constitution.

1996 – The Defense of Marriage Act is passed by the United States Congress.

1997 – St. Olaf's Church, a stone church from the 16th century in Tyrvää, Finland, was burnt down by a burglar.

1999 – The Chi-Chi earthquake occurs in central Taiwan, leaving about 2,400 people dead.

2001 – America: A Tribute to Heroes is broadcast by over 35 network and cable channels, raising over $200 million for the victims of the September 11 attacks.

2001 – Ross Parker is murdered in Peterborough, England, by a gang of ten British Pakistani youths.

2003 – The Galileo spacecraft is terminated by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere.

2012 – Three Egyptian militants open fire on a group of Israeli soldiers in a southern Israel cross-border attack.

2013 – Al-Shabaab Islamic militants attack the Westgate shopping mall in Kenya, killing at least 67 people.

2018 – Killing of Zak Kostopoulos, LGBT rights activist beaten to death on a busy street in Athens

2019 – A 5.6 M_w earthquake shakes the Albanian port of Durrës. Forty-nine people are injured in the capital, Tirana.