February 21 facts for kids

February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 313 days remain until the end of the year (314 in leap years).

February 21st is a day filled with many interesting events throughout history, from important inventions to major world changes. Many famous people were also born or passed away on this day.

Important Events on February 21st

Major Historical Moments Before 1900

• 1613 – Mikhail I became the new leader of Imperial Russia. This was the start of the Romanov dynasty, a powerful family that ruled Russia for over 300 years!
• 1797 – About 1,400 French soldiers tried to invade Britain at Fishguard. However, they were quickly defeated by 500 British soldiers who were ready for them.
• 1804 – The very first self-moving steam locomotive (a train engine) made its first trip in Wales. Imagine the excitement of seeing a machine move all by itself!
• 1808 – Russian troops crossed into Sweden, starting the Finnish War. Because of this war, Sweden lost the eastern part of its country, which became Finland.
• 1828 – The first newspaper to use the Cherokee syllabary (a writing system for the Cherokee language) was published. It was called the Cherokee Phoenix. This was a big step for the Cherokee people!
• 1842 – The first U.S. patent for a sewing machine was given to John Greenough. This invention made it much easier to make clothes and other fabric items.
• 1848 – Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published their famous book, The Communist Manifesto. This book shared ideas about how society and government could be organized.
• 1878 – The very first telephone directory was created in New Haven, Connecticut. It listed names and phone numbers so people could find each other.
• 1885 – The Washington Monument, a tall stone tower built to honor George Washington, was officially opened in Washington D.C.

World Events from 1901 to Today

• 1916 – During World War I, a very long and tough battle called the Battle of Verdun began in France.
• 1918 – The last known Carolina parakeet, a colorful bird, died at the Cincinnati Zoo. This meant the species was extinct.
• 1925 – The famous magazine The New Yorker published its very first issue.
• 1945 – During World War II, the Brazilian army bravely defeated German forces in the Battle of Monte Castello in Italy.
• 1947 – Edwin H. Land showed off the first "instant camera" to a group of scientists. This camera could take a picture and print it right away!
• 1948 – NASCAR, the organization for stock car racing, was officially started.
• 1952 – The British government decided to get rid of identity cards.
• 1952 – Students in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) protested for their right to speak the Bengali language. This event is now remembered as the Bengali Language Movement.
• 1958 – The well-known peace symbol was designed by Gerald Holtom. It was created for a protest against nuclear weapons.
• 1972 – United States President Richard Nixon visited China. This was a very important trip that helped improve relations between the two countries.
• 1972 – The Soviet robotic spacecraft Luna 20 successfully landed on the Moon.
• 1995 – Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean in a hot air balloon. What an amazing adventure!
• 2022 – Russian President Vladimir Putin declared two regions in Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, as independent. He then moved troops into these areas, which was condemned by the United Nations.

Famous People Born on February 21st

Births Before 1900

• 1484 – Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg, a German ruler.
• 1728 – Peter III of Russia, an emperor of Russia.
• 1788 &Francis Ronalds, a British scientist who invented the first working electric telegraph.
• 1794 – Antonio López de Santa Anna, a Mexican general and president.
• 1801 – John Henry Newman, an important English cardinal.
• 1836 – Léo Delibes, a French composer.
• 1875 – Jeanne Calment, a French woman who lived to be the oldest verified person ever!
• 1881 – Kenneth J. Alford, an English soldier and composer, famous for his marches.
• 1893 – Andrés Segovia, a very famous Spanish classical guitarist.
• 1895 – Henrik Dam, a Danish scientist who won the Nobel Prize for discovering Vitamin K.

Births from 1901 to Today

• 1903 – Anaïs Nin, a French-American writer known for her diaries.
• 1907 – W. H. Auden, a well-known English-American poet.
• 1910 – Douglas Bader, a brave English pilot who flew in World War II despite losing both his legs.
• 1921 – John Rawls, an important American philosopher.
• 1924 – Robert Mugabe, who became the second President of Zimbabwe.
• 1925 – Sam Peckinpah, an American film director.
• 1927 – Erma Bombeck, a funny American journalist and author.
• 1929 – Chespirito, a beloved Mexican actor and producer.
• 1933 – Nina Simone, an amazing American singer, songwriter, and pianist.
• 1934 – Rue McClanahan, an American actress, famous for her role in The Golden Girls.
• 1937 – Harald V of Norway, the current King of Norway.
• 1946 – Anthony Daniels, the English actor who plays C-3PO in Star Wars.
• 1946 – Alan Rickman, a famous English actor.
• 1955 – Kelsey Grammer, an American actor, known for playing Frasier Crane.
• 1958 – Mary Chapin Carpenter, an American singer-songwriter.
• 1962 – Chuck Palahniuk, an American novelist.
• 1963 – William Baldwin, an American actor.
• 1964 – Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly, American astronauts who are twin brothers!
• 1976 – Michael McIntyre, a popular English comedian.
• 1979 – Jennifer Love Hewitt, an American actress.
• 1979 – Jordan Peele, an American actor, comedian, and director.
• 1980 – Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the current King of Bhutan.
• 1986 – Charlotte Church, a Welsh singer and actress.
• 1987 – Ashley Greene, an American actress.
• 1987 – Elliot Page, a Canadian actor.
• 1991 – Riyad Mahrez, an Algerian football player.
• 1996 – Sophie Turner, an English actress, known for Game of Thrones.

People Who Passed Away on February 21st

Deaths Before 1900

• 1437 – James I of Scotland, the King of Scotland.
• 1513 – Pope Julius II, a very important Pope during the Renaissance.
• 1595 – Robert Southwell, an English priest and poet.
• 1677 – Baruch Spinoza, a Dutch philosopher.
• 1846 – Emperor Ninkō of Japan.

Deaths from 1901 to Today

• 1918 – Incas, the last known Carolina parakeet, marking the extinction of the species.
• 1926 – Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, a Dutch physicist who won the Nobel Prize for his work with very cold temperatures.
• 1934 – Augusto César Sandino, a Nicaraguan rebel leader.
• 1941 – Frederick Banting, a Canadian doctor who won the Nobel Prize for discovering insulin, which helps people with diabetes.
• 1945 – Eric Liddell, a Scottish runner and rugby player, whose story was told in the movie Chariots of Fire.
• 1958 – Duncan Edwards, a talented English football player.
• 1965 – Malcolm X, an important American minister and activist who fought for civil rights.
• 1968 – Howard Florey, an Australian scientist who won the Nobel Prize for helping develop penicillin, a life-saving medicine.
• 1974 – Tim Horton, a Canadian ice hockey player who later co-founded the popular Tim Hortons coffee and donut chain.
• 1984 – Mikhail Sholokhov, a Russian novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• 1993 – Inge Lehmann, a Danish scientist who discovered that the Earth has a solid inner core.
• 1999 – Gertrude B. Elion, an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize for developing important new medicines.
• 2016 – Eric Brown, a Scottish-English pilot who flew more types of aircraft than anyone else in history.
• 2018 – Billy Graham, a very famous American evangelist.
• 2019 – Peter Tork, an American musician and actor from the band The Monkees.

Holidays and Celebrations on February 21st

• Armed Forces Day in South Africa.
• Birthday of King Harald V in Norway.
• Father Lini Day in Vanuatu.
• Language Movement Day in Bangladesh.
• International Mother Language Day is celebrated worldwide by UNESCO.
• The first day of the Birth Anniversary of Fifth Druk Gyalpo in Bhutan, celebrated until February 23.
• The first day of the Musikahan Festival in Tagum City, Philippines, celebrated until February 27.

See also

In Spanish: 21 de febrero para niños