June Carter Cash
Musical Monikers
Madonna
Justin Bieber
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
July 21
Events on This Day
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1925
88 years ago
Tennessee teacher John Scopes is convicted after he teaches Darwin's theory of evolution, a violation of state law. The ruling is eventually overturned.
-
1961
52 years ago
On the spacecraft Liberty Bell 7, Gus Grissom pilots the second American-manned suborbital flight.
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2001
12 years ago
Madonna kicks off the North American leg of her Drowned World Tour, performing songs like "Music," "Frozen" and "Don't Tell Me."
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2007
6 years ago
J.K. Rowling releases the final book in the Harry Potter series. It becomes the fastest-selling book of all time, selling 15 million copies in 24 hours.
July 21
Born on This Day
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Ernest Hemingway
- In these groups:
- Numerous Nuptials
- Imbibers
- Famous Cancerians
Ernest Hemingway
Author / 1899 - 1961
Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway is seen as one of the great American 20th century novelists, and is known for works like A Farewell to Arms and The Old Man and the Sea.
Born: July 21, 1899
Birthplace: Cicero (now in Oak Park), Illinois, United States
Occupation: Author -
Janet Reno
- In these groups:
- Girl Scouts
- Influential Women of Washington
- Famous Cancerians
Janet Reno
Lawyer / 1938 -
Janet Reno broke new ground in 1993 as the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney General, serving under President Bill Clinton.
1938 | 74 years old
Lawyer -
Don Knotts
- In these groups:
- Famous Puppeteers
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
Don Knotts
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian / 1924 - 2006
Don Knotts was a comedic actor of film and television known for his roles on TV's The Andy Griffith Show and Three's Company.1924 | 81 years old
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian -
Robin Williams
- In these groups:
- Vegans
- USO Entertainers
- Best Supporting Actor Oscar Winners
Robin Williams
Actor, Comedian / 1951 -
Actor and comedian Robin Williams is known for his fast-paced, improvisational performance style. He performed in films like Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society.
Born: July 21, 1951
Age: 61 years old
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation: Actor, Comedian -
Josh Hartnett
- In these groups:
- Sparks On The Set
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
Josh Hartnett
Film Actor, Television Actor / 1978 -
With a string of big-budget titles to his credit, actor Josh Hartnett has emerged from the crowd of 1990s teen heartthrobs to become a sought after leading man.
1978 | 34 years old
Film Actor, Television Actor -
Cat Stevens
- In these groups:
- Musical Monikers
- Name Changers
- People with Animal Names
Cat Stevens
Songwriter, Singer, Philanthropist / 1948 -
Folk singer Cat Stevens wrote the song "The First Cut is the Deepest" in the '60s. Since then it has become a hit for four different artists.1948 | 64 years old
Songwriter, Singer, Philanthropist
July 21
Died on This Day
-
Alan Shepard
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Astronauts
- Famous People Named Alan
Alan Shepard
Astronaut, Entrepreneur / 1923 - 1998
Alan Shepard became one of the original seven Mercury program astronauts in 1959. He later commanded the Apollo 14 flight.
Died: July 21, 1998
Age: 74 years old
Place: Monterey, California , United States
Occupation: Astronaut, Entrepreneur -
Robert Burns
- In these groups:
- Famous Scottish People
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous People Named Robert
Robert Burns
Folk Hero, Poet / 1759 - 1796
Poet Robert Burns is considered one of the most famous characters of Scotland's cultural history. He is best known as a pioneer of the Romantic movement.
1796 | 37 years old
Folk Hero, Poet -
Robert Ingersoll
- In these groups:
- Famous Military Veterans
- Famous Leos
- Famous People Named Robert
Robert Ingersoll
Political Leader / 1833 - 1899
Robert Ingersoll was an American politician and orator best known as "the great agnostic" who popularized criticism of the Bible and scientific rationalism.
1899 | 65 years old
Political Leader
Email Updates
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Play Nowprofile name: Ernest Hemingway profile occupation: Author
profile id: 9455589
profile name: Janet Reno profile occupation: Lawyer
profile id: 9542240
profile name: Don Knotts profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian
profile id: 9532797
profile name: Robin Williams profile occupation: Actor, Comedian
profile id: 9542492
profile name: Josh Hartnett profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor
profile id: 16548027
profile name: Cat Stevens profile occupation: Songwriter, Singer, Philanthropist
profile id: 37917
profile name: Alan Shepard profile occupation: Astronaut, Entrepreneur
profile id: 9232194
profile name: Robert Burns profile occupation: Folk Hero, Poet
profile id: 9349321
profile name: Robert Ingersoll profile occupation: Political Leader
profile id: 17183774
profile name: John Scopes profile occupation: Educator
profile id: 259488
profile name: Gus Grissom profile occupation: Astronaut
profile id: 9394994
profile name: Madonna profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 40998
profile name: J.K. Rowling profile occupation: Author
profile id: 9352646
profile name: Jesse James profile occupation: Murderer
profile id: 9340144
profile name: Adolf Hitler profile occupation: Dictator
profile id: 9464240
profile name: Diana Ross profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 9320468
profile name: Wayne Gretzky profile occupation: Hockey Player
profile id: 5446
profile name: Albert Brooks profile occupation: Television Actor
profile id: 177232
profile name: Philip Seymour Hoffman profile occupation: Television Actor
profile id: 37123
profile name: Cootie Williams profile occupation: Trumpet Player
profile id: 40363
profile name: Thomas Eakins profile occupation: Sculptor
Your Connections
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Upcoming Birthdays
-
Albert Brooks
- In these groups:
- Actors Turned Directors
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
Albert Brooks
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director / 1947 -
For 40 years, Actor and comedian Albert Brooks has worked steadily in Hollywood, appearing both in other people's movies and in his own self-directed projects.
July 22, 1947
Television Actor -
Philip Seymour Hoffman
- In these groups:
- Actors Turned Directors
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
- Oscar-Winning Portrayals
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Director / 1967 -
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has gained recognition for his work in a series of successful films including Capote and Doubt.
July 23, 1967
Television Actor -
Cootie Williams
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous Trumpet Players
- Famous People Named Williams
Cootie Williams
Trumpet Player / 1908 - 1985
Cootie Williams was a jazz trumpeter best known for his longtime work and recorded legacy with composer and bandleader Duke Ellington.
July 24, 1908
Trumpet Player -
Thomas Eakins
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous Painters
- Famous Photographers
Thomas Eakins
Painter, Photographer, Sculptor / 1844 - 1916
Thomas Eakins was a naturalist figure painter, portraitist and sculptor. He is considered one of the most influential artists in U.S. history.
July 25, 1844
Sculptor
Famous Cancerians
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Albert Brooks
- In these groups:
- Actors Turned Directors
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
Albert Brooks
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director / 1947 -
For 40 years, Actor and comedian Albert Brooks has worked steadily in Hollywood, appearing both in other people's movies and in his own self-directed projects.
July 22, 1947
Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director -
Omar Epps
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actors
- Famous Film Actors
Omar Epps
Film Actor, Television Actor / 1973 -
Actor Omar Epps is best known as Dr. Eric Foreman on the TV show House, but his first role was in the film Juice opposite Tupac Shakur.July 20, 1973
Film Actor, Television Actor
