April 21st

753 BC
Romulus and Remus found Rome (traditional date).
Founding of Rome
2011
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., announced he would step down amid a developing ethics probe while insisting he'd done nothing wrong.
John Ensign
2004
Five suicide attackers detonated car bombs against police buildings in Basra, Iraq, killing at least 74 people.
Terrorist incidents in Iraq in 2004
1997
The ashes of Timothy Leary, Gene Roddenberry, and 22 others blasted into space for the first space funerals.
1995
Timothy McVeigh was arrested in connection with the Oklahoma City bombing.
Timothy McVeigh
1992
Robert Alton Harris became the first person executed by the state of California in 25 years as he was put to death in the gas chamber for the 1978 murder of two teenage boys.
Robert Alton Harris
1989
Thousands of Chinese crowd into Beijing's Tiananmen Square cheering students demanding greater political freedom.
Baltic Way
1980
Rosie Ruiz, the first woman to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon, was disqualified when officials discovered she had jumped into the race about a mile from the finish.
Boston Marathon
1977
The musical "Annie," based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie," opened on Broadway.
Annie (musical)
1975
South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned.
Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
1967
Dictator Georgios Papadopoulos assumes power in Greece. During his six-year reign, thousands of political opponents were incarcerated and tortured.
Georgios Papadopoulos
1960
Brazil inaugurated its new capital, Brasilia, transferring the seat of national government from Rio de Janeiro.
Federal District (Brazil)
1934
The Surgeon's photo, allegedly showing the Loch Ness Monster, is published in the Daily Mail. In reality, the famous image depicts a toy submarine with a head and neck made of wood putty.
Loch Ness Monster
1918
World War I: German fighter ace Baron Manfred von Richthofen "The Red Baron", shot down and killed over Vaux sur Somme in France, Canadian pilot Arthur Roy Brown credited with the kill.
Roy Brown (RAF officer)
1910
Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), author of the novel Huckleberry Finn, died at the age of 74.
Mark Twain
1863
Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Bahá'í Faith, enters gardens of Rivden, near Baghdad. Makes the declaration of aha'u'llah during 12 days spent there.
1836
Texans led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas' independence.
Texas–Indian wars
1816
Charlotte Bronte, author of "Jane Eyre," was born in Thornton, England.
Charlotte Brontë
1792
Brazilian revolutionary Tiradentes, is hanged, drawn and quartered in Rio de Janeiro.
April 21
1789
John Adams was sworn in as the first vice president of the United States.
Mr. President (title)
1649
The Maryland Toleration Act, which provided for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly.
Protestant Revolution (Maryland)
1526
Battle at Panipat: Central Asian conqueror Babur defeats Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, establishing the Mughal Empire in India.
Babur
1509
Henry VIII is crowned King of England. In popular culture, the monarch is known mainly for his six marriages, two of which ended with the wife's execution.
Henry VIII of England
2021 · hello todayhappened.com