March 21 in History
March 21 is the birthday of Ethan Nwaneri (2007) and the anniversary of the death of Michael Lyster (2026). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for March 21, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Emperor Taizu of Song was born in 927, while Benedict of Nursia, Italian saint died in 543 or 547.
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Famous people born on March 21
Famous people who died on March 21
2026
Michael Lyster (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Irish radio and television broadcaster (1954–2026)
2021
Nawal El Saadawi (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Egyptian feminist writer, activist, physician and psychiatrist (1931–2021)
2017
Martin McGuinness (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Irish republican politician and IRA leader (1950–2017)
2015
James C. Binnicker (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
James C. Binnicker, American sergeant (born 1938)
2014
Ignatius Zakka I (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
122nd Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (1980–2014)
What happened on March 21
- 2022
China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 crashes in Guangxi, China, killing 132 people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
The 2019 Xiangshui chemical plant explosion occurs, killing at least 47 people and injuring 640 others.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2006
The social media site Twitter (now officially named X) is founded.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2000
Pope John Paul II makes his first ever pontifical visit to Israel.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1999
Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1994
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change enters into force.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1990
Namibia becomes independent after 75 years of South African rule.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1989
Transbrasil Flight 801 crashes into a slum near São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, killing 25 people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1986
Debi Thomas becomes the first African American to win the World Figure Skating Championships.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1985
Canadian paraplegic athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen begins his circumnavigation of the globe in a wheelchair in the name of spinal cord injury medical research.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1983
The first cases of the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic begin; Israelis and Palestinians accuse each other of poison gas, but the cause is later determined mostly to be psychosomatic.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1980
Cold War: American President Jimmy Carter announces a United States boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet–Afghan War.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1970
The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by Joseph Alioto, Mayor of San Francisco.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1970
San Diego Comic-Con, the largest pop and culture festival in the world, hosts its inaugural event.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1968
Battle of Karameh in Jordan between the Israel Defense Forces and the combined forces of the Jordanian Armed Forces and PLO.
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 March 21
- 927 — Emperor Taizu of Song (died 976)
- 1474 — Angela Merici, Italian educator and saint (died 1540)
- 1501 — Anne Brooke, Baroness Cobham, English noble (died 1558)
Died on March 21
- 543 or 547 — Benedict of Nursia, Italian saint (born 480)
- 867 — Ælla, king of Northumbria
- 867 — Osberht, king of Northumbria
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for March 21
Quick answers
Who was born on March 21? Ethan Nwaneri (2007), Abbi Pulling (2003), Jace Norman (2000).
Who died on March 21? Michael Lyster (2026), Rhoda Roberts (2026), Kitty Dukakis (2025).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in March? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the March 21 historical article above.
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Ancestry
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