12 History Lessons + 3 Births & 6 Deaths for May 21, 2025
Today’s History:
- 1420 – Treaty of Troyes: France disinherits its own dauphin and recognizes Henry V of England as heir to the French throne.
- 1881 – The American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton.
- 1927 – Charles Lindbergh lands in Paris, completing the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from New York.
- 1932 – Amelia Earhart lands in Ireland, becoming the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic.
- 1934 – Oskaloosa, Iowa, becomes the first U.S. city to fingerprint all its citizens.
- 1966 – The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is declared illegal by the Northern Ireland government.
- 1972 – Michelangelo’s Pietà is damaged by a hammer-wielding vandal at St. Peter’s Basilica.
- 1991 – Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber.
- 1998 – The Republic of Indonesia’s long-time President Suharto resigns amid protests and economic crisis.
- 2005 – Kingda Ka, the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, opens at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.
- 2017 – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performs its final show after 146 years.
- 2022 – Australia’s Labor Party wins a general election, and Anthony Albanese becomes Prime Minister.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1944 – Mary Robinson, first female President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (81)
- 1952 – Mr. T, American actor and wrestler (The A-Team, Rocky III) (73)
- 1992 – Tom Daley, British Olympic gold medalist diver (33)
Today’s Deaths:
- 1542 – Hernando de Soto, Spanish explorer and conquistador (Age ~46)
- 1935 – Jane Addams, American social reformer, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (Age 74)
- 1973 – Noah Beery Jr., American character actor (The Rockford Files) (Age 81)
- 1983 – Eric Brown, British test pilot and World War II naval aviator (Age 74)
- 1991 – Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (Age 46)
- 2000 – Barbara Cartland, prolific English romance novelist (Age 98)
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