Paris, France. Several significant events have occurred on May 21 across sport, aviation milestones, political violence, public protests, and natural and maritime disasters.
FIFA founded
In 1904, FIFA, football’s international governing body, was established in Paris.
Solo transatlantic flights
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first pilot to fly the Atlantic solo, from Long Island, New York, to Paris.
In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo, from Newfoundland to Ireland.
U.S. court sentence in Robert Kennedy murder case
In 1969, Sirhan B. Sirhan was sentenced to death by a U.S. court for the 1968 murder of Robert Kennedy. The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Pieta statue damaged in Rome
In 1972, Michaelangelo’s statue of the Virgin Mary holding the dead Christ, known as Pieta, was smashed in Rome.
Hong Kong demonstration
In 1989, one million people, a sixth of the population of Hong Kong, demonstrated in support of rebellious students in Beijing after authorities clamped martial law on the capital.
Rajiv Gandhi killed in bombing
In 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian prime minister, was killed by a bomb hidden in a bouquet of flowers while campaigning for elections in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
Lake Victoria ferry disaster
In 1996, a Tanzanian ferry capsized on Lake Victoria near the western town of Mwanza. Of the estimated 1,000 on board only 114 survived in east Africa’s worst marine disaster.
Algeria earthquake
In 2003, an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck Algeria in the capital and nearby towns, killing 2,251 and injuring 10,243.
Which of these May 21 events do you want to learn more about?
