August 21: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse carved a path across the entire continental United States—an event that hadn't happened in nearly a century.
About August 21
August 21 is a day of profound shifts in global history. In 1192, Minamoto no Yoritomo became the de facto ruler of Japan, inaugurating centuries of shogun-led government. Fast forward to 1770, and James Cook formally claimed eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales and reshaping the map of the Pacific. Centuries later, in 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the executive order welcoming Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state, completing the modern American flag.
The date also bears witness to pivotal acts of courage and resistance. In 1791, enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue, led by Dutty Boukman, held a Vodou ceremony that ignited the Haitian Revolution—the most successful slave rebellion in history. In 1991, Latvia declared the renewal of its full independence after decades of Soviet occupation, a bold move that coincided with the dramatic collapse of a coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow.
From the world of culture and science, August 21 stands out for the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa by a Louvre employee, a crime that made Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece globally famous. In 1944, the Dumbarton Oaks Conference convened in Washington, D.C., laying the essential groundwork for the United Nations. And for those born under the fiery sign of Leo, this date gave the world Count Basie, whose big-band swing defined an era of American music.
Holidays & Observances on August 21
- Ninoy Aquino Day (Philippines)
- Youth Day (Morocco)
- World Senior Citizen's Day
Fun & National Days on August 21
- National Spumoni Day — Treat yourself to a slice of this molded, multi-layered Italian ice cream dessert with candied fruits and nuts.
- National Sweet Tea Day — Pour a tall glass of iced southern comfort and enjoy the simple, refreshing perfection of sweet tea.
- Poet's Day — Celebrate by reading a favorite verse or scribbling down a few stanzas of your own creation.
- National Brazilian Blowout Day
- National Kool-Aid Day
- National Men's Grooming Day
- National Senior Citizens Day
On This Day in History
- 1192 — Minamoto no Yoritomo became Sei-i Taishōgun, establishing Japan's first shogunate and beginning centuries of military rule.
- 1680 — Pueblo Indians captured Santa Fe from Spanish colonizers during the Pueblo Revolt, driving European settlers from present-day New Mexico.
- 1770 — Explorer James Cook formally claimed eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming the territory New South Wales.
- 1791 — Enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue, led by Dutty Boukman, held a Vodou ceremony sparking the Haitian Revolution against French colonial slavery.
- 1858 — Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas held their first famous debate in Ottawa, Illinois, confronting the issue of slavery's expansion.
- 1888 — William Seward Burroughs patented the first successful adding machine in the United States, revolutionizing office accounting and calculation.
- 1911 — Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee, stole the Mona Lisa, a brazen heist that ultimately made Leonardo da Vinci's portrait globally renowned.
- 1944 — The Dumbarton Oaks Conference opened in Washington, D.C., serving as a crucial planning meeting for the establishment of the United Nations.
- 1959 — President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union, completing the American flag.
- 1983 — Philippine opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. was assassinated at Manila International Airport, igniting protests that toppled the Marcos regime.
- 1991 — Latvia declared the renewal of its full independence after fifty years of Soviet occupation, the same day a coup against Gorbachev collapsed.
- 2017 — A total solar eclipse traversed the continental United States from coast to coast, the first of its kind in 99 years, captivating millions.
Famous Birthdays on August 21
- 1904 — Count Basie, Legendary American jazz pianist and bandleader whose swinging rhythms defined the big-band era.
- 1936 — Wilt Chamberlain, Dominant NBA center who scored 100 points in a single game, one of basketball's all-time greats.
- 1938 — Kenny Rogers, Beloved American country singer-songwriter and actor famous for hits like 'The Gambler' and 'Islands in the Stream.'
- 1944 — Peter Weir, Acclaimed Australian film director of cinematic classics including 'Dead Poets Society' and 'The Truman Show.'
- 1956 — Kim Cattrall, English-Canadian actress best known for her iconic role as Samantha Jones in 'Sex and the City.'
- 1961 — Stephen Hillenburg, Marine biologist turned animator who created the wildly popular Nickelodeon cartoon 'SpongeBob SquarePants.'
- 1967 — Serj Tankian, Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer and multi-instrumentalist, frontman for the metal band System of a Down.
- 1967 — Carrie-Anne Moss, Canadian actress who achieved international fame playing Trinity in the groundbreaking 'Matrix' film trilogy.
- 1973 — Sergey Brin, Russian-American computer scientist who co-founded Google, fundamentally transforming how the world accesses information.
- 1986 — Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter widely regarded as the fastest man in history, holding world records in the 100m and 200m dashes.