What happened on 21 May?

Look at what happened on this day, 21 May in history. From various 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 May

1981 | The membership list of Propaganda Due, an unlawful pseudo-Masonic lodge that was connected to various crimes and enigmas in Italy, was made public by the Italian authorities.

1991 | Dr. Wilson Carswell, the government’s medical advisor, shocked the nation by revealing that 100 000 people in South Africa have the HIV virus.

2005 | Kingda Ka, the tallest roller coaster in the world, debuted in Jackson Township’s Six Flags Great Adventure.

2010 | IKAROS, a solar-sail spacecraft, was launched by JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

2014 | On the Taipei MRT’s Bannan Line, four people were killed in a random shooting and 24 others were injured.

ALSO READ: What happened on 20 May?

BIRTHDAYS

1988 | Estonian triple jumper, Kaire Leibak.

1981 |South African opera and concert singer, Jacques le Roux.

1992 | German footballer, Philipp Grüneberg.

1992 | South African swimmer, Myles Brown.

1997 | South African rugby union footballer, Len Massyn.

DEATHS

2002 | French-American sculptor and painter, Niki de Saint Phalle, 72.

2006 | American singer-songwriter and guitarist, Billy Walker, 77.

2012 | American singer-songwriter, Eddie Blazonczyk, 71.

2014 | Malaysian son of Badlishah of Kedah, Tunku Annuar, 75.

2020 | Fifth President of George Mason University, Alan Merten, 79.

SPORTS

2002 | On this day England draw against South Korea in pre-World Cup friendly match. England’s goal was scored by Michael Owen.

ENTERTAINMENT

2003 | Ike Turner, American musician was refused entry into Japan on this day because of a past drug conviction.

AFRICA FACT

From April 2023, Angola overtook Nigeria to become Africa’s largest oil producer.