What happened on 21 March?

Take a look at what happened on this day, 21 March in history. From a variety of achievements, and milestones throughout human history to groundbreaking inventions and events that shaped the world we live in today.

Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day.

ON THIS DAY: 21 MARCH

1990 | Namibia became independent of South Africa, and Sam Nujoma became president.

1983 | The West Bank fainting epidemic started in 1983, with Israelis and Palestinians accusing one another of using poison gas. Nevertheless, it was eventually discovered that psychological illnesses were primarily to blame.

1946 | Kenny Washington became the first African American player in professional American football since 1933 when the Los Angeles Rams signed him in 1946.

1943 | Rudolf von Gersdorff, a Wehrmacht officer, planned to kill Adolf Hitler with a suicide bomb in 1943, but the operation failed because he managed to disarm the weapon in time and avoid detection.

1970 | San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto declared April 22nd to be the first Earth Day.

ALSO READ: What happened on 20 March?

BIRTHDAYS

1975 | South African rugby union player, Corné Krig.

1962 | South African anti-Apartheid, pro-LGBT-rights and HIV/AIDS activist; founder of Treatment Action Campaign, Zackie Achmat.

1996 | Tanzanian journalist, Godson Zakayo Mbilinyi.

2000 | American actor, Jace Norman.

1944 | French actress, Marie-Christine Barrault.

ON THIS DAY: DEATHS

2005 | American police officer and actor, Barney Martin, 82.

2015 | Canadian actress, Alberta Watson, 60.

2017 | American game show host and producer, Chuck Barris, 88.

2010 | German director and manager, Wolfgang Wagner, 91.

2011 | American singer-songwriter, Loleatta Holloway, 65.

SPORTS

1987 | Dutch team PSV Eindhoven sold midfielder/defender Ruud Gullit on this day to AC Milan for a then-record £6 million transfer price.

ENTERTAINMENT

2005 | The final episode of “The Osbournes” aired on MTV on this day, capping a four-season run.

AFRICA FACT

The first African city to use electric waste collection trucks is Rabat, Morocco.