Vintage News · Odd history for January 21

What Happened On January 21

Q: What happened on January 21?

1960: Little Joe 1B, a Mercury spacecraft, lifts off from Wallops Island, Virginia, with Miss Sam, a female rhesus monkey, on board. 1824: The Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast during the First Anglo-Ashanti War. 1789: The first American novel, The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth by William Hill Brown, is printed in Boston. 1535: Following the Affair of the Placards, the French king leads an anti-Protestant procession through Paris. 1997: The U.S. House of Representatives voted 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined. 1931: Isaac Isaacs (pictured) became the first Australian-born governor-general of Australia. 2017: Over 400 cities across America and 160+ countries worldwide participate in a large-scale women's march, including in Portland, on Donald Trump's first full day as President of the United States. 2005: In Belmopan, Belize, the unrest over the government's new taxes erupts into riots. 1997: The U.S. House of Representatives votes 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined. 1954: The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is launched in Groton, Connecticut by Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady of the United States.

49 events and 442 births, refreshed daily. OddlyTrue's own archive for 21 January →

January 20 January 22

10 odd things that happened on January 21

1960 Oddly true
Little Joe 1B, a Mercury spacecraft, lifts off from Wallops Island, Virginia, with Miss Sam, a female rhesus monkey, on board.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1824 First ever
The Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast during the First Anglo-Ashanti War.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1789 First ever
The first American novel, The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth by William Hill Brown, is printed in Boston.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1535 Oddly true
Following the Affair of the Placards, the French king leads an anti-Protestant procession through Paris.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1997 First ever
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1931 First ever
Isaac Isaacs (pictured) became the first Australian-born governor-general of Australia.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2017 First ever
Over 400 cities across America and 160+ countries worldwide participate in a large-scale women's march, including in Portland, on Donald Trump's first full day as President of the United States.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2005 Oddly true
In Belmopan, Belize, the unrest over the government's new taxes erupts into riots.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1997 First ever
The U.S. House of Representatives votes 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1954 First ever
The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is launched in Groton, Connecticut by Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady of the United States.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

2025A fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu Province, Turkey, results in 78 people dead and 51 injured. Wikipedia →
2023Huu Can Tran, 72, opens fire in a dance studio in Monterey Park, California, killing eleven people and injuring nine others before later committing suicide. It is the worst mass shooting in Los Angeles County since the 2008 Covina massacre. Wikipedia →
2017Over 400 cities across America and 160+ countries worldwide participate in a large-scale women's march, including in Portland, on Donald Trump's first full day as President of the United States. Wikipedia →
2014Rojava conflict: The Jazira Canton declares its autonomy from the Syrian Arab Republic. Wikipedia →
2011Anti-government demonstrations take place in Tirana, Albania. Four people die from gunshots, allegedly fired from armed police protecting the Prime Minister's office. Wikipedia →
2009Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip, officially ending a three-week war it had with Hamas. However, intermittent fire by both sides continues in the weeks to follow. Wikipedia →
2005In Belmopan, Belize, the unrest over the government's new taxes erupts into riots. Wikipedia →
2004NASA's MER-A (the Mars Rover Spirit) ceases communication with mission control. The problem lies in the management of its flash memory and is fixed remotely from Earth on February 6. Wikipedia →
2003A 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes the Mexican state of Colima, killing 29 and leaving approximately 10,000 people homeless. Wikipedia →
2000Ecuador: After the Ecuadorian Congress is seized by indigenous organizations, Col. Lucio Gutiérrez, Carlos Solorzano and Antonio Vargas depose President Jamil Mahuad. Gutierrez is later replaced by Gen. Carlos Mendoza, who resigns and allows Vice-President Gustavo Noboa to succeed Mahuad. Wikipedia →
1999War on drugs: In one of the largest drug busts in American history, the United States Coast Guard intercepts a ship with over 4,300 kilograms (9,500 lb) of cocaine on board. Wikipedia →
1997The U.S. House of Representatives votes 395–28 to reprimand Newt Gingrich for ethics violations, making him the first Speaker of the House to be so disciplined. Wikipedia →
1986Conservative protestors attack a mock shanty town that had been erected on the Green at Dartmouth College as part of anti-apartheid protests. Wikipedia →
1985Galaxy Airlines Flight 203 crashes near Reno–Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada, killing 70 people. Wikipedia →
1981Production of the DeLorean sports car begins in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Wikipedia →
1980Iran Air Flight 291 crashes in the Alborz Mountains while on approach to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, Iran, killing 128 people. Wikipedia →
1976Commercial service of Concorde begins with the London-Bahrain and Paris-Rio routes. Wikipedia →
1971The current Emley Moor transmitting station, the tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom, begins transmitting UHF broadcasts. Wikipedia →
1968Vietnam War, Battle of Khe Sanh: One of the most publicized and controversial battles of the war begins. Wikipedia →
1968A B-52 bomber crashes near Thule Air Base, contaminating the area after its nuclear payload ruptures. One of the four bombs remains unaccounted for after the cleanup operation is complete. Wikipedia →
1963The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad ends operation. Wikipedia →
1960Little Joe 1B, a Mercury spacecraft, lifts off from Wallops Island, Virginia, with Miss Sam, a female rhesus monkey, on board. Wikipedia →
1960Avianca Flight 671 crashes at Montego Bay, Jamaica airport, killing 37 people. Wikipedia →
1960A coal mine collapses at Holly Country, South Africa, killing 435 miners. Wikipedia →
1954The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is launched in Groton, Connecticut by Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady of the United States. Wikipedia →
1951The catastrophic eruption of Mount Lamington in Papua New Guinea claims 2,942 lives. Wikipedia →
1950American lawyer and government official Alger Hiss is convicted of perjury. Wikipedia →
1948The Flag of Quebec is adopted and flown for the first time over the National Assembly of Quebec. The day is marked annually as Québec Flag Day. Wikipedia →
1945The Trade Union Council of Transcarpathian Ukraine is founded in Mukachevo. Wikipedia →
1942The Jewish resistance organization, Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye, based in the Vilna Ghetto is established. Wikipedia →
1941Sparked by the murder of a German officer in Bucharest, Romania, the day before, members of the Iron Guard engage in a rebellion and pogrom killing 125 Jews. Wikipedia →
1932Finland and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression treaty. Wikipedia →
1931Sir Isaac Isaacs is sworn in as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia. Wikipedia →
1925Albania declares itself a republic. Wikipedia →
1919A revolutionary Irish parliament is founded and declares the independence of the Irish Republic. One of the first engagements of the Irish War of Independence takes place. Wikipedia →
1915Kiwanis International is founded in Detroit. Wikipedia →
1911The first Monte Carlo Rally takes place. Wikipedia →
1908New York City passes the Sullivan Ordinance, making it illegal for women to smoke in public, only to have the measure vetoed by the mayor. Wikipedia →
1893The Tati Concessions Land, formerly part of Matabeleland, is formally annexed to the Bechuanaland Protectorate, now Botswana. Wikipedia →
1854The RMS Tayleur sinks off Lambay Island on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Australia with great loss of life. Wikipedia →
1824The Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast during the First Anglo-Ashanti War. Wikipedia →
1793After being found guilty of treason by the French National Convention, Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine. Wikipedia →
1789The first American novel, The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth by William Hill Brown, is printed in Boston. Wikipedia →
1774Abdul Hamid I becomes Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of Islam. Wikipedia →
1749The Teatro Filarmonico in Verona is destroyed by fire, as a result of a torch being left behind in the box of a nobleman after a performance. It is rebuilt in 1754. Wikipedia →
1720Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Stockholm. Wikipedia →
1535Following the Affair of the Placards, the French king leads an anti-Protestant procession through Paris. Wikipedia →
1525The Swiss Anabaptist Movement is founded when Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptize each other in the home of Manz's mother in Zürich, breaking a thousand-year tradition of church-state union. Wikipedia →
763Following the Battle of Bakhamra between Alids and Abbasids near Kufa, the Alid rebellion ends with the death of Ibrahim, brother of Isa ibn Musa. Wikipedia →

From The Guardian Archives — On This Day

2022The Guardian
Activision Blizzard employees form first of its kind Game Workers Alliance Union
The announcement, in an industry where unions are rare, came on the heels of Microsoft’s acquisition of the company
Read on The Guardian →
2016The Guardian
Glory days of Chinese steel leave behind abandoned mills and broken lives
The full effect of China’s economic decline on the world is unclear, but for the steel city of Tangshan the future al…
Read on The Guardian →
1887The New York Times
ARMY ORDERS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.--Major B.F. Pope has been ordered from Washington to Fort Clark, Texas, for duty; First Lieut. F…
Read on NYTimes.com →

Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API

Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.