February 21st in History
The partially completed Washington Monument, circa 1860 (Photo: Mathew Brady/Levin Handy)
Today in History
- The first self-propelling steam locomotive makes its first run (1804)
- Marx and Engels publish The Communist Manifesto (1848)
- The first telephone directory is issued (1878)
- The Washington Monument is dedicated (1885)
- NASCAR is incorporated (1948)
- Nixon visits China (1972)
Birthdays
- Antonio López de Santa Anna, Mexican general and politician (1794)
- Charles Scribner, publisher (1821)
- Andrés Segovia, guitarist (1893)
- Anaïs Nin, Luther (1903)
- W. H. Auden, poet (1907)
- Ann Sheridan, actress (1915)
- Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean politician (1924)
- Sam Peckinpah, director (1925)
- Erma Bombeck, columnist (1972)
- Hubert de Givenchy, fashion designer (1972)
- Rue McClanahan, actress (1934)
- Richard A. Lupoff, author (1935)
- Alan Rickman, actor (1946)
- Kelsey Grammer, actor (1955)
- Mary Chapin Carpenter, musician (1958)
Deaths
- Baruch Spinoza, philosopher (1677)
- Malcolm X, minister and civil rights activist (1965)
- Tim Horton, ice hockey player and restauranteur (1974)
Holidays and Celebrations
- Armed Forces Day (South Africa)
- Father Lini Day (Vanuatu)
- International Mother Language Day (UNESCO)
- National Biscuits and Gravy Day (US)
February 21 is the 52nd day of the year. There are 313 days (314 in leap years) remaining until the end of the year.