August 21 in History
August 21 is the birthday of Piper Rockelle (2007) and the anniversary of the death of Sowcar Janaki (2026). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for August 21, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Philip II of France was born in 1165, while Alberic, Archbishop of Utrecht died in 784.
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Famous people born on August 21
Famous people who died on August 21
2014
Steven R. Nagel (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American test pilot, astronaut and engineer (1946–2014)
2010
Rodolfo Enrique Fogwill (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Argentine author and businessman (1941-2010)
2007
Elizabeth P. Hoisington (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
20th-century United States Armed Forces officer
2006
Paul Fentener van Vlissingen (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Dutch businessman and writer (1941–2006)
What happened on August 21
- 2017
A solar eclipse traverses the continental United States.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2013
Hundreds of people are reported killed by chemical attacks in the Ghouta region of Syria.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2000
American golfer Tiger Woods wins the 82nd PGA Championship and becomes the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in a calendar year.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1995
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529, an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, attempts to divert to West Georgia Regional Airport after the left engine fails, but the aircraft crashes in Carroll County near Carrollton, Georgia, killing nine of the 29 people on board.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1994
Royal Air Maroc Flight 630 crashes in Douar Izounine, Morocco, killing all 44 people on board.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1993
NASA loses contact with the Mars Observer spacecraft.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
Latvia declares renewal of its full independence after its occupation by the Soviet Union since 1940.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
Coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev collapses.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1988
The 6.9 Mw Nepal earthquake shakes the Nepal–India border with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), leaving 709–1,450 people killed and thousands injured.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1986
Carbon dioxide gas erupts from volcanic Lake Nyos in Cameroon, killing up to 1,800 people within a 20-kilometre (12 mi) range.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1983
Philippine opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. is assassinated at Manila International Airport (now renamed Ninoy Aquino International Airport in his honor).
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1982
Lebanese Civil War: The first troops of a multinational force lands in Beirut to oversee the Palestine Liberation Organization's withdrawal from Lebanon.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1971
A bomb exploded in the Liberal Party campaign rally in Plaza Miranda, Manila, Philippines with several anti-Marcos political candidates injured.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1968
Cold War: Nicolae Ceaușescu, leader of the Socialist Republic of Romania, publicly condemns the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, encouraging the Romanian population to arm itself against possible Soviet reprisals.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1968
James Anderson Jr. posthumously receives the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to an African American U.S. Marine.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on August 21
- 1165 — Philip II of France (died 1223)
- 1481 — Jorge de Lencastre, Duke of Coimbra (died 1550)
- 1535 — Shimazu Yoshihiro, Japanese general (died 1619)
Died on August 21
- 784 — Alberic, Archbishop of Utrecht
- 913 — Tang Daoxi, Chinese general
- 1131 — King Baldwin II of Jerusalem
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for August 21
Quick answers
Who was born on August 21? Piper Rockelle (2007), Kenji Fan (2002), Zion Suzuki (2002).
Who died on August 21? Sowcar Janaki (2026), Nancy Kassebaum (2026), Zolani Tete (2026).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in August? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the August 21 historical article above.
Ancestry
Holiday Sale: 65% off AncestryDNA. Offer ends 11/19. Terms apply.
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