All Events

Historical Events on October 21

  • Battle of Trafalgar

    1805

    Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Trafalgar: A British fleet led by Vice Admiral Lord Nelson defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet under Admiral Villeneuve.

  • Battle of Ball's Bluff

    1861

    American Civil War: Battle of Ball's Bluff: Union forces under Colonel Edward Baker are defeated by Confederate troops in the second major battle of the war.

  • Incandescent light bulb

    1879

    Thomas Edison applies for a patent for his design for an incandescent light bulb.

  • Women's suffrage

    1945

    Women's suffrage: Women are allowed to vote in France for the first time.

  • 27th British Commonwealth Brigade

    1950

    Korean War: Heavy fighting begins between British and Australian forces from the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and the North Korean 239th Regiment during the Battle of Yongju.

  • Dwight D. Eisenhower

    1959

    U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order transferring Wernher von Braun and other German scientists from the United States Army to NASA.

  • Vietnam War

    1967

    Vietnam War: More than 100,000 war protesters gather in Washington, D.C.. Similar demonstrations occur simultaneously in Japan and Western Europe.

  • Iran-Contra affair

    1986

    In Lebanon, pro-Iran kidnappers claim to have abducted American writer Edward Tracy (he is released in August 1991).

  • Agreed Framework

    1994

    North Korea nuclear weapons program: North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on October 21

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on October 21

20. October

22. October