May 21, 2027: National Pizza Party Day, National Strawberries And Cream Day, National Waitstaff Day, National American Red Cross Founder’s Day, National Memo Day, National Endangered Species Day

National Days on May 21, 2027

Born on May 21

People born on May 21

1972

The Notorious B.I.G.

Also known as Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G. an American rapper and songwriter. He's widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time with his vivid storytelling, sharp lyrics, and effortless flow.

1955

Stan Lynch

Original drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

1952

Mr. T

Actor and retired professional wrestler The A-Team and Clubber Lang in film Rocky III.

1907

John Wayne

Known as the "Duke" in Hollywood, Marion Robert Morrison was an American actor who became a legend for his roles in Westerns and war movies during Hollywood's Golden Age.

1912

John Curtis Gowan

Psychologist whose studies of gifted children were the foundation of analysis of highly intelligent adolescence.

1907

John C. Allen

Roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters in the 1960s

1878

Glenn Hammond Curtiss

Founder of the U.S. aviation industry and inventor of the hydroplane.

1920

Forrest White

Co-founder of the Music Man Company and known for his association with Fender Musical Instrument Corporation.

1855

Ella Stewart Udall

The first telegraphist in Arizona territory.

1923

Bettye Danoff

Professional golfer and a co-founder of the LPGA Tour.

Historical Events on May 21

Events that occurred on May 21 throughout history

1819

May 21, 1819

The first bicycles, called swift walkers, are introduced in the U.S. . The bicycles were pedal-less, requiring riders to move quickly by pushing their feet against the ground.

1846

May 21, 1846

The first 1st steamship, The Cormorant, arrives in Honolulu, Hawaii. The steamship allowed for regular, faster service for cargo, mail, and travelers, fostering the development of "Boat Days" in Honolulu, where crowds gathered for arrivals.

1861

May 21, 1861

The Confederate Capital is moved from Montgomery, Alabama, to Richmond, Virginia.

1881

May 21, 1881

The U.S. National Lawn Tennis Association is established in NYC, New York, to regulate the growing game of lawn tennis in the U.S. and organize formal championships. Today, the organization is know as the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) and governing body for tennis and runs the U.S. Open.

1881

May 21, 1881

Clara Barton establishes the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. to provide disaster relief and emergency aid in peacetime, not just war.

1908

May 21, 1908

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde premieres in Chicago and becomes the first horror movie in the U.S.

1917

May 21, 1917

Leo Pinckney is the first American drafted during WWI shortly after the U.S. declared war and enacted the Selective Service Act of 1917.

1918

May 21, 1918

The U.S. House of Representatives passes amendment allowing women to vote. While the 19th Amendment legally barred states from denying the vote based on sex, millions of women of color, particularly in the South, continued to face discriminatory voting restrictions for decades until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

1934

May 21, 1934

Oskaloosa, Iowa, becomes the first city in the U.S. to fingerprint its citizens. The bill was aimed at identifying kidnapped children and stopping criminals during the Great Depression.

1980

May 21, 1980

Jean Marie Butler becomes the first woman to graduate from U.S. Coast Guard. She was also the first woman to graduate from any U.S. armed forces service academy.

1992

May 21, 1992

Johnny Carson hosts his last episode of the Tonight Show after 30 seasons. Over 50 million people tuned it to watch the episode. No guests were on the final show, instead focusing on highlights from 4,531 episodes.

2005

May 21, 2005

The tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Ka, opens opens at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. The roller coaster was officially closed on November 10, 2024.

2017

May 21, 2017

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus perform their final show at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The circus started in 1919 when the Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth.

2019

May 21, 2019

Washington state becomes the first state to legalize human composting. The process involves placing a body in a vessel with materials like wood chips, alfalfa, and straw to break down into nutrient-rich soil. The soil produced can be returned to families for use in planting trees, flowers, or for conservation efforts, providing a way to return nutrients back to the land.