📅 February 21

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What happened on February 21? Below are the notable events chosen by Wikipedia’s editors for this date, followed by celebrated births, deaths and the observances recognised around the world.

Events

• 1973 — After accidentally straying into the airspace of the Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula, Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 was shot down by two Israeli fighter aircraft, killing 108 of the 113 people on board.

  Israeli occupation of the Sinai PeninsulaLibyan Arab Airlines Flight 114Fighter aircraft

• 1965 — American Black nationalist Malcolm X (pictured) was assassinated while giving a speech in New York City's Audubon Ballroom.

  Black nationalismMalcolm XAssassination of Malcolm X

• 1952 — A number of student protesters demanding the establishment of Bengali as an official language were killed by police in Dhaka, East Pakistan.

  Bengali language movementBengali languageDhaka

• 1929 — Nanjing decade: In the first battle of the Warlord Rebellion in northeastern Shandong against the Nationalist government of China, a 24,000-strong rebel force led by Zhang Zongchang was defeated at Zhifu by 7,000 NRA troops.

  Nanjing decadeWarlord Rebellion in northeastern ShandongNationalist government

• 1919 — Bavarian socialist Kurt Eisner, who had organized the German Revolution that overthrew the Wittelsbach monarchy and established Bavaria as a republic, was assassinated.

  BavariaKurt EisnerGerman revolution of 1918–1919

• 1866 — Lucy Hobbs Taylor (pictured) became the first woman to receive a doctorate from a dental college.

  Lucy Hobbs TaylorDoctorateDental school

• 1862 — American Civil War: The Confederate Army began an attempt to gain control of the Southwest with a major victory in the Battle of Valverde.

  American Civil WarConfederate States ArmyNew Mexico campaign

• 1828 — The inaugural issue of the Cherokee Phoenix, the first newspaper in a Native American language, was published.

  Cherokee PhoenixNative Americans in the United States

• 1746 — Jacobite rising of 1745: The siege of Inverness ended with British forces surrendering to the Jacobite army.

  Jacobite rising of 1745Siege of Inverness (1746)

• 1437 — King James I of Scotland was murdered at Perth in a failed coup by his uncle and former ally Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl.

  James I of ScotlandPerth, ScotlandWalter Stewart, Earl of Atholl

Births

• 2007 — Leeseo, South Korean singer

  Leeseo

• 1999 — Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, Thai actor and singer

  Metawin Opas-iamkajorn

• 1996 — Noah Rubin, American tennis player

  Noah Rubin (tennis)

• 1996 — Sophie Turner, English actress

  Sophie Turner

• 1994 — Tang Haochen, Chinese tennis player

  Tang Haochen

• 1994 — Hayley Orrantia, American actress and singer-songwriter

  Hayley Orrantia

• 1994 — Wendy, South Korean singer

  Wendy (singer)

• 1993 — Steve Leo Beleck, Cameroonian footballer

  Steve Leo Beleck

• 1993 — Davy Klaassen, Dutch footballer

  Davy Klaassen

• 1992 — Phil Jones, English footballer

  Phil Jones (footballer, born 1992)

• 1991 — Joe Alwyn, English actor

  Joe Alwyn

• 1991 — Riyad Mahrez, Algerian footballer

  Riyad Mahrez

Deaths

• 2026 — Rondale Moore, American football player (born 2000)

  Rondale Moore

• 2025 — Clint Hill, American Secret Service agent (born 1932)

  Clint Hill (Secret Service)

• 2025 — Lynne Marie Stewart, American actress (born 1946)

  Lynne Marie Stewart

• 2024 — John Bahnsen, United States Army brigadier general and decorated veteran of the Vietnam War (born 1934)

  John Bahnsen

• 2021 — Mireya Arboleda, Colombian classical pianist (born 1928)

  Mireya Arboleda

• 2021 — Kevin Dann, Australian rugby league player (born 1958)

  Kevin Dann

• 2019 — Stanley Donen, American film director (born 1924)

  Stanley Donen

• 2019 — Peter Tork, American musician and actor (born 1942)

  Peter Tork

• 2018 — Billy Graham, American evangelist (born 1918)

  Billy Graham

• 2017 — Jeanne Martin Cissé, Guinean teacher and politician (born 1926)

  Jeanne Martin Cissé

• 2016 — Eric Brown, Scottish-English captain and pilot (born 1919)

  Eric Brown (pilot)

• 2015 — Aleksei Gubarev, Russian general, pilot, and astronaut (born 1931)

  Aleksei Gubarev

Observances & holidays

• Armed Forces Day (South Africa)

  Armed Forces Day

• Birthday of King Harald V (Norway)

  Harald VNorway

• Christian feast day: Felix of Hadrumetum

  Felix of Hadrumetum

• Christian feast day: Pepin of Landen

  Pepin of Landen

• Christian feast day: Peter Damian

  Peter Damian

• Christian feast day: Randoald of Grandval

  Randoald of Grandval

• Christian feast day: February 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

  February 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

• Father Lini Day (Vanuatu)

  Public holidays in VanuatuVanuatu

• Language Movement Day (Bangladesh)

  Language Movement DayBangladesh

• International Mother Language Day (UNESCO)

  International Mother Language DayUNESCO

• The first day of the Birth Anniversary of Fifth Druk Gyalpo, celebrated until February 23. (Bhutan)

  Public holidays in BhutanBhutan

• The first day of the Musikahan Festival, celebrated until February 27. (Tagum City, Philippines)

  Tagum

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